Dear Capital Campaign Supporters,
Even prior to the government shutdown, food insecurity rates were at a more than 10-year high across our region and nation. Since October 1, we’ve seen an even larger spike in need due to furloughed federal employees, including service members, experiencing paycheck disruptions and a pause in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits going out to recipients in November. With inspired support from people like you, we’ve shown up for our communities whenever and wherever we’ve been needed most during this difficult time. As SNAP resumes and the government reopens, we anticipate recovery will take some time. We’ll be sending out 80+ additional truckloads of food across our service area during November and December to continue meeting the record-high need and ensure everyone has enough to eat during the holiday season and cold weather months.
Sourcing, receiving, and distributing this additional food has been a logistical challenge that our operations team has worked tirelessly to overcome, and it highlights our need for a purpose-built facility more than ever. Our new building could not come soon enough. The savings from consolidating our operations under one roof and the capacity to receive and distribute additional food, including a larger variety of fresh and frozen items, are needed now more than ever. We are ready to walk into our new home, roll up our sleeves, and get to work to scale up our efforts and ensure every person in our community thrives.
Thanks to your investment and support, we are just 8% away from reaching our capital campaign goal to make this vision a reality. To help us get across the finish line, we’re thrilled to announce a matching gift opportunity from The Broe Family. They will match every gift now through December 31, dollar for dollar, up to $2.5 million! Will you help us spread the word?
“For nearly five decades, Food Bank of the Rockies has worked tirelessly to be a critical food source for families in need. Their mission to fight hunger has never been more important. As a Colorado family, we are inspired by the work that the Food Bank does each day. We have seen the incredible impact Food Bank of the Rockies has on our community, and we are proud to help make the new distribution center a reality. We ask our fellow neighbors to join us! We will match every dollar donated to Food Bank of the Rockies’ capital campaign, up to $2.5 million, from now through December. Together, we can help Food Bank of the Rockies provide critically needed hunger relief. Please help us feed families in need throughout the Rockies.”
– The Broe Family
This matching gift campaign will bring us even closer to opening the doors of our new home to nourish our community and strengthen Colorado’s charitable food ecosystem for decades to come. We hope The Broe Family’s support will inspire you to share the news. Additionally, be sure to join us for grand opening festivities the first week of February. Please be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks. I can’t wait to welcome you to our new home knowing that together, we made this impactful investment in the communities we serve a reality.
With gratitude,
Erin Pulling
A Note from Supporters Doug and Alice Wilhelm
We see our support of their mission, and the construction of this new building, as a part of our legacy. We are looking forward to an emotional moment when the facility launches and is able to make an even bigger impact for people across the Rockies. No person should go hungry. As this is the time of year when many of us think about what causes we will donate to, we would greatly encourage any donor to Food Bank of the Rockies to take advantage of the EZTC benefit by being a part of this historic campaign.
With thanks,
Doug and Alice Wilhelm
For anyone wanting to take advantage of the Enterprise Zone Tax Credits like Doug and Alice, we have great news! Our capital campaign is still able to offer EZTC, which grants you a state tax credit valued at 25% of your donation to the project in the year you make the gift. It’s an amazing incentive that will be offered through 2027 and is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. Thank you for considering maximizing your impact with this benefit! Be sure to make a multi-year pledge to take advantage of this opportunity. Pledges are available for gifts of $15,000 or more. For more information, please reach out to Jared Ross, Capital Campaign Manager, at jross@foodbankrockies.org or 720-657-8554.
A Brighter, More Sustainable Future
In 1978, seeing how much good food was being wasted instead of given to people experiencing hunger, Kathy Hackwith Groth began collecting bread from grocery stores and distributing it to neighbors in need. With that, Colorado Food Clearing House — now Food Bank of the Rockies — was created.
Nourishing our communities sustainably is at the heart of all we do. By consolidating operations under a single energy-efficient roof, investing in solar power, and focusing on reducing our overall waste through composting and getting food out the door quickly, we’re on the path toward a more sustainable way of distributing food across our region.
What does sustainability look like in the new building?
- 90% solar powered operations (eventually reaching 100%)
- $500,000+ annual savings from the consolidation of operations under one roof and new sustainability features
- 49+ million pounds of food rescued annually, with room for more
- 189 tons of cardboard recycled annually
We aspire to reduce our carbon footprint every day. From investing in electric vehicles to innovating fresh ways to do more with less, we will stay true to our sustainability roots for years to come.
Don’t forget to join us the first week of February for grand opening festivities. Please be on the lookout for more information over the coming weeks.