April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, a time we recognize and celebrate the incredible people across our network who help make our shared work possible. Last year, volunteers donated more than 142,000 hours to Food Bank of the Rockies, the equivalent of 68 full-time employees. We are so grateful for each and every volunteer, and for the essential role they play in ensuring food gets out to our network of Hunger Relief Partners and, ultimately, to our neighbors.
From preparing the pallets of food you order through Agency Express, sorting large donations into Repack Boxes, cooking meals for after-school programs, or supporting other efforts behind the scenes, our volunteers show up every day. Their time and care help ensure that food reaches you, and therefore reaches neighbors quickly, efficiently, and with dignity.
We know nearly every Hunger Relief Partner relies on volunteers in one way or another, and some are entirely volunteer led. Thank you to all volunteers, for your efforts to support our shared goal of nourishing neighbors. We are incredibly proud to be in this work together with you.
Thank you,
Corporate & Community Engagement Team at Food Bank of the Rockies
Important Dates
Closures:
- Monday, May 25 – Food Bank of the Rockies is closed all day for Memorial Day
- Friday, May 29 – Food Bank of the Rockies is open until 11:15 a.m. for order pick-up and Fresh Food Center due to month-end closure
Hunger Relief Partner Orientations:
- Tuesday, May 5, 10:00 a.m. – Hunger Relief Partner Orientation (virtual)
- Wednesday, May 13, 1:00 p.m. – Hunger Relief Partner Orientation (in-person tour + orientation)
- Thursday, May 21, 1:00 p.m. – Hunger Relief Partner Orientation (virtual)
To sign up for orientation or for questions about any of the dates above, contact partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org. For our full, detailed calendars, please click here.
Building Belonging Lunch & Learn: Extreme Weather Preparedness
- Wednesday, April 29, 12:00–1:00 p.m. (MT) – See below for more information
- Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2408541517684?p=O6UdkvaltrxCAWnXAc
Feeding Colorado Advocacy and Policy Update
Feeding Colorado is the state association of the five Feeding America food banks serving all of Colorado and Wyoming.
National Agriculture Week was last month, and Feeding Colorado and Food Bank of the Rockies recently gave Robert Sakata, Colorado’s Acting Commissioner of Agriculture, and members of their team a tour of the new facility. The discussion included potential projects and opportunities to work together, underscoring the close relationships the network maintains with farmers and agriculture producers across Colorado.
Colorado’s state budget shortfall has grown to more than $1.5 billion, which will force the legislature to make much deeper cuts. Current fiscal year tax revenues are now estimated to be about $350 million lower than anticipated. Coupled with a jump in Medicaid expenses since the end of the last legislative session, the shortfall grew by about $650 million relative to fall projections. Colorado’s tax code is largely tied to the federal tax code, meaning federal tax cuts in H.R. 1 prompted state tax cuts. For this reason, the state legislature will need to cut around $265 million more for the next fiscal year. That leaves more than $1 billion in changes necessary before the budget is balanced, in a best-case scenario. Our network continues to advocate for the Community Food Assistance Provider Grant, which provides food banks with funding to purchase food for the network and support local farmers and retailers.
Food Bank of the Rockies attended Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association’s (CFVGA) 12th Annual Conference in February to highlight the important connections between agriculture and the statewide anti-hunger network. We are proud to work closely with farmers and ranchers to strengthen Colorado’s statewide food system.
Program Updates
Partner Solutions
Partner Dock Conduct and Safety Policies
Food Bank of the Rockies is fully committed to providing a safe working environment for all people with whom we work and partner, including Hunger Relief Partners, employees, and volunteers.
Our culture of safety excellence is upheld by our safety standards and our zero-accidents objective. We value open communication, active participation in compliance, and continuous improvement. When it comes to safety, we are all hands on deck. We are particularly grateful for the partners who have come to us with concerns and ideas to improve our safety procedures.
The partner dock is a high-traffic area of our distribution center. Partners must stay outside of the pick-up dock (Docks A-C) when loading their vehicles. Please use caution when shopping and loading vehicles. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure a safe working environment.
- No cellphone use is allowed in the warehouse. Please leave the building if you need to make a call or use your phone.
- No headphones are allowed in the warehouse.
- Do not distract equipment operators. This includes asking staff members questions. Please wait until they have stopped operating any equipment if you have a question.
- Closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times.
- Hoods should not be worn in the Fresh Food Center or on the dock.
- Watch for debris, wet surfaces, and tripping hazards when walking in the Fresh Food Center.
- Carts must be controlled at all times. Please do not shove carts.
- Climbing in or on the racks, pallets, crates, wire bins, gaylords, or boxes is strictly prohibited.
- Consumption of food, drink, and chewing gum is prohibited in the warehouse.
- No running in the warehouse.
- Children under the age of 15 are not permitted to take part in vehicle loading or be in the
- Fresh Food Center. Children aged 16-17 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Partners must enter only through regular doors, and never open dock doors. Entering through open dock doors can cause accidents if there is active loading.
- Shopping times are strictly enforced. Partners are allotted 15 minutes to shop in the Fresh Food Center. Please exit the Fresh Food Center when shopping time is up and wait to be checked out.
- All Hunger Relief Partner representatives are expected to conduct themselves professionally and in a respectful manner when interacting with Food Bank of the Rockies staff, volunteers, and other partners.
Partners who do not follow these guidelines will be asked to leave. Repeated failure to follow conduct and safety guidelines may result in limited access to the Fresh Food Center or termination of an organization’s Hunger Relief Partnership agreement.
For any questions regarding placing or picking up your order or shopping at the Fresh Food Center, please reach out to partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org or call (303) 375-5867.
Community Centered Innovation
Building Belonging Lunch & Learn: Extreme Weather Preparedness
April 29, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 PM (MT)
Join Food Bank of the Rockies for a Building Belonging Lunch & Learn focused on extreme weather preparedness, including wildfire risk, high winds, air quality, and power disruptions.
Hear from experts and partners across the region, including:
- Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control (CDPS)
- Local fire service leadership (Front Range)
- Additional community partners supporting emergency response and preparedness
Together, we’ll share practical strategies and real-world insights to help your organization prepare a response for extreme weather while continuing to provide safe, welcoming, and reliable food access for your community.
Microsoft Teams Meeting
- Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2408541517684?p=O6UdkvaltrxCAWnXAc
- Meeting ID: 240 854 151 768 4
- Passcode: AB6pP7tY
Have questions? Email CRFI@foodbankrockies.org
Community Connections
Recipes Resources
Last month, we highlighted a few creative ways Hunger Relief Partners share recipes with neighbors. Did you know Food Bank of the Rockies has recipes on our website for partners and neighbors? Check them out on our Partner Portal > Partner Resources > Nutritious Recipes, or by clicking this link: https://www.foodbankrockies.org/nutrition/recipes/
Updated Food Bank of the Rockies Logo to Share Partnership:
We’re excited to continue growing our partnerships and expanding awareness of the resources available in our community. As part of this effort, we ask all partners to display our updated partnership logo on your website to help strengthen visibility and reinforce our shared mission.
Outreach plays a key role to ensure neighbors know you’re there and ready to serve. Keeping your website up to date and maintaining an active presence on Vivery Find Food Map are important ways to share your hours, services, and any updates with the community. These small steps can make a big difference in helping people connect with the support they need. If you have any questions, please reach out to partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org.
Government Programs
2026 TEFAP Application Forms Now Available!
The 2026 applications for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) through the Colorado Department of Human Services are now available.
All partner agencies participating in TEFAP are required to use the updated 2026 forms. Please ensure you use the most current version of the application documents.
Access the forms below:
If you have questions regarding TEFAP requirements or documentation, please reach out to Danielle Biewald, Food Security Government Programs Manager, at dbiewald@foodbankrockies.org.
2026 CSFP Application Forms Now Available!
The 2026 applications for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) through the Colorado Department of Human Services are now available.
All agencies participating in CSFP must use the updated 2026 application materials to remain in compliance. Please ensure you use the most current version of the application documents.
Access the forms below:
If you have questions regarding CSFP requirements or documentation, please reach out to Danielle Biewald, Food Security Government Programs Manager, at dbiewald@foodbankrockies.org.
Save the Date!
The Food Bank of the Rockies Government Programs team and our partners at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) are hosting a TEFAP & CSFP Conference on July 23, 2026 at our brand-new facility in Aurora, CO. More details to come soon! Please share any topics and questions you wish to cover with Britni Stupin, Director of Food Distribution Strategy, at bstupin@foodbankrockies.org
Food for Kids Update
Free Summer Meals for Kids
We are still accepting applications for our Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Eligible sites can apply to partner with Food Bank of the Rockies to get free summer meals for children ages 5 to 18. Meals must be consumed on site, though some rural areas might be eligible for non-congregate service. For more information and the application, please visit: SFSP Program Application | Food Bank of the Rockies. You can also email partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org with any questions. Applications must be submitted by Friday, April 24th to guarantee enough time for approval and training requirements before the first day of the program on June 1st.
Food Sourcing Update
Local Food Purchasing through June 2026
We are excited to announce that we have received funding from the State of Colorado to source local Colorado agricultural products such as fresh produce, meat, eggs, and fresh milk. These items will be available to all partners at no cost. Look for these items on Agency Express under the tag “CFPAG.” We are grateful to the State of Colorado for providing this funding.
No-Cost Protein through June 2026
We are also excited to announce that Food Bank of the Rockies is using internal funds to provide frozen and shelf-stable protein at no cost to partners through June. Each month, we will have protein available at no cost on Agency Express, under the tag “SNAP.” We will have both frozen and shelf-stable protein available, to accommodate all partners’ storage capacities. We are happy to be able to provide partners with no-cost valuable and popular protein.
Neighbor Resources
Introducing the RED Truck from Xcel Energy
Video: RED Truck Overview
Xcel Energy is excited to share the launch of the RED Truck program, a new Xcel Energy service designed to support communities with energy assistance, education, and resources. Staffed by energy experts and equipped to connect directly to customer accounts, the RED Truck provides:
- On-the-spot energy-saving tips
- Bill management guidance
- Program sign-ups
This free service is available for resource fairs and community events. We also assist with LEAP and Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) applications in both English and Spanish. Our setup is flexible for both indoor and outdoor events. To request the RED Truck, please scan the QR code and complete the form so we can plan accordingly: RED Truck Event Request Form
Annual 211 Colorado Resource Fair
Join 211 for their second annual Mile High United Way 211 Help Center Resource Fair to meet with health and human service providers in person to learn about services and ask specific questions. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required.
- Date: Friday, May 1st, 2026
- Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Location: Mile High United Way – 711 Park Ave W, Denver, CO 80205
- Registration Details: Dial 2-1-1 or (866) 760-6489
Community Opportunities
DPS Launch Internship Program
Denver Public Schools and its community partners are turning the city of Denver into their classroom. Through the Launch Internship Program, high school students will complete internships in person, virtually, or a combination of both. They will learn the practical applications of their Career and Technical Education (CTE) coursework, explore potential career paths, and make meaningful contributions to their host organizations.
If you are interested in learning more about the DPS Launch Internship Program, or know someone who may be, check out the information below.