As we collaborate to address hunger and nourish our neighbors, data and trends can help inform our work. Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap 2025 offers recently released data to provide localized insights. This annual report, which analyzes data from 2023, is a crucial tool to understand food insecurity and food costs at the local and national level. These findings for Colorado and Wyoming provide vital context for the challenges individuals and families face in our communities and help our collective response.
Below is a summary of key 2023 trends for Food Bank of the Rockies’ service areas, with comparisons to 2022 where applicable:
Overall Food Insecurity: The number of people experiencing food insecurity has risen to the highest level we have seen in over 10 years.
- Colorado: In 2023, 12.2% of the population (1 in 8 people, or 414,610 individuals) faced food insecurity. This is an increase from 11.5% (1 in 9 people, or 375,990 individuals) in 2022.
- Western Slope: Within our Colorado service area, Western Slope counties saw 12.1% of people (1 in 8 people, or about 60,007 individuals) experiencing food insecurity in 2023, up from 11.5% (56,250 individuals) in 2022.
- Wyoming: In 2023, 15.2% of the population (1 in 7 people, or 87,710 individuals) faced food insecurity. This is an increase from 14.0% (1 in 7 people, or 79,700 individuals) in 2022.
Child Food Insecurity:
- Colorado: In 2023, 14.1% of children (1 in 8, or 100,380 children) lived in households experiencing food insecurity, the same percentage as in 2022.
- Western Slope: The rate was 13.6% (1 in 8 children, or 14,490 children) in 2023, slightly down from 13.8% (14,430 children) in 2022.
- Wyoming: In 2023, 20.1% of children (1 in 5, or 26,260 children) experienced food insecurity, an increase from 18.8% (1 in 6, or 24,450 children) in 2022.
SNAP Eligibility Among Food Insecure Population: A larger portion of our communities is facing increased challenges related to hunger, yet significant gaps remain in their access to nutrition, as demonstrated by the percentage of the population living with food insecurity that does not qualify for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
- Colorado (200% Federal Poverty Level threshold to qualify): 4.8% more Colorado residents experiencing food insecurity are eligible for SNAP in 2023 than in 2022. This means that 4.8% more Coloradans experiencing food insecurity live below the federal poverty level threshold. However, 47.5% of food insecure people are ineligible for SNAP benefits.
- 52.5% of neighbors experiencing food insecurity were estimated to be eligible for SNAP benefits in 2023; in 2022, it was 47.7%.
- Wyoming (130% Federal Poverty Level threshold to qualify): 7.5% more Wyoming residents experiencing food insecurity are eligible for SNAP in 2023 than in 2022. This means that 7.5% more Wyomingites experiencing food insecurity live below the federal poverty level threshold. However, 59.2% of food insecure people are ineligible for SNAP benefits.
- 40.8% of neighbors experiencing food insecurity were estimated to be eligible for SNAP benefits in 2023; in 2022, it was 33.3%.
These insights from Map the Meal Gap underscore the ongoing needs in our communities and the vital importance of your partnership. This data helps us to better understand who is affected by hunger and how, enabling us to refine our strategies, advocate effectively, and work toward a future where everyone in our service area has the food they need to thrive.
You can explore more detailed data, including county-level information, through Feeding America’s interactive map at map.feedingamerica.org and by reading the full report.
Thank you for your dedication and tireless efforts.
Be well,
Austin Mueller
Director of Research and Evaluation
Food Bank of the Rockies
Important Dates
Closed for the July 4th Holiday
Feeding Colorado Advocacy/Policy Update
Let your voice be heard! Are you interested in advocating for key policy priorities that impact our neighbors experiencing hunger? Sign up for Feeding Colorado’s Action Alerts via the link below! We will send opportunities to engage with our state legislators and Congress on policies that make a difference in building a future where everyone has access to the food they need to thrive.
Feeding Colorado is the state association of the five Feeding America food banks serving all of Colorado and Wyoming.
Sign up here: secure.everyaction.com/HTD96rMrTESSLG3LCn-Aqw2
Grant Opportunities
The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment maintains a spreadsheet of grant opportunities for Food, Youth, and Health Equity. Learn more here.
Program Updates
Partner Solutions – Tip of the Month!
Self-Guided Password Reset
Are you ready for our annual training recertifications? Do you know your password? You can now reset your password for NeoGov, the online training tool used for Food Safety, Civil Rights, and other program-related training. Visit the training portal at partner-portal/partner-training and click on the “Forgot Your Password?” button for instructions to reset your password. You’ll need your email address that is associated with your partner account with us as you will receive an email with a password reset link. If you need assistance, contact Partner Solutions at partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org.
Order Minimum and Ordering Timeline Reminder
Did you know that you only need to place a 250-pound order through Agency Express? This minimum was reduced from 500 pounds over a year ago. Also, with any pick-up order, you will also gain access to the Fresh Food Center. Please remember to arrive at least 20 minutes before your scheduled order pick-up time to take full advantage of that 20-minute time slot in the Fresh Food Center before loading your order.
Please review this online order guide for full instructions on logging in to Agency Express, selecting items, and the correct timeline for pickup orders.
Government Programs
Thank you to everyone who participated in our June Everyday Eats information sessions on caseload management. For those who missed the sessions, a recording is available in Please reach out with questions!
Please remember to submit all monthly Everyday Eats inventory and caseload reports, which are due on the first of the following month. This is extra important in the month of June as we work closely with our partners at the Colorado Department of Human Services to review our fiscal year-end inventory. Thank you for your assistance in submitting these timely reports!
Food Sourcing Update
We’ve heard feedback from several partners regarding new items they would like to see, especially a wider variety of nutritious kids’ snacks. Our Purchasing Team recently attended a large food show in Denver and were able to bring back lots of new products, including plenty of snacks, which we sampled with our Programs Team to determine if they were a good fit for kids!
We are excited to announce some new items that we are bringing in: frozen cooked breakfast sausage patties, corn starch, ready-to-serve individual rice cups, single-serve popped corn snack, granola, fresh asadero cheese, fresh cotija cheese, single-serve roasted chickpeas, Colorado-grown quinoa, wheat crackers (like Wheat Thins), graham crackers, Smartfood popcorn, flavored tuna pouches, gluten-free pasta, trail mix, and Yoplait refrigerated low-fat yogurt cups!
Find all of these and additional new items by searching in the “New Item” category under “Feature Type” on Agency Express.
Nutrition Update
June is National Dairy Month
Let’s take a moment to celebrate the dairy industry and its contribution to our communities! Dairy is prevalent in many foods, making it commonplace in our diets. Dairy is a good source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin D, protein, and probiotics (from yogurt and kefir); promotes muscle mass and bone health; and decreases the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Low- to non-fat milk and yogurt are encouraged as part of a well-balanced diet rather than high-fat dairy options that are low in vitamins and minerals, such as cream cheese, sour cream, butter, and cream. Lactose-free and fortified soy milk versions are appropriate substitutions for people who are lactose-intolerant or allergic. The USDA recognizes dairy as a food group as part of their myPlate guidelines, which promote nutritious eating. The amount of dairy a person needs depends on multiple factors, including age and gender; one cup of milk, yogurt, or soy milk, and 1.5 ounces of cheese count as a single serving.
Via the Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP) rankings, unsweetened nonfat, 1%, and 2% milk, as well as low- to non-fat yogurt, are in the “choose often” green foods category and encouraged to be selected by our neighbors to promote prevention of diet-related chronic diseases.
Neighbor Resources
Summer EBT is back for 2025
The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) automatically loaded 2025 Summer EBT benefits onto cards for children who received Summer EBT last year and are still eligible this year beginning on May 1, 2025.
Spread the word: Families can stretch their grocery budgets even more this summer! The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program provides each eligible, school-aged child with a one-time payment of $120 to help buy more nutritious food over summer break.
What is Summer EBT?
Summer EBT is a new program that provides nutritious food to eligible students in the summer months when they are not in school.
Who is eligible for Summer EBT?
Students who may be eligible for Summer EBT include:
- Kids who qualify for free or reduced-price meals while attending a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program
- Kids who are receiving other assistance benefits, including SNAP and Colorado Works. Kids may also qualify through Medicaid if their legal guardian’s income is within the National School Lunch guidelines.