Food Bank of the Rockies uses many sources of food to nourish our neighbors. These include food we purchase at discounted prices, donated foods, and commodity programs through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Some of these federal programs have recently stopped or been reduced. One such program, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), called Everyday Eats in Colorado, has been subject to changes. Everyday Eats impacts the lives of older adults across the nation. Program participants are at least 60 years of age with annual income levels at or below $23,475. Everyday Eats is often a program of last resort for older adults who qualify for no other form of nutrition assistance. For those who do qualify for additional programs, it is an additional lifeline. Colorado, and many other states, recently received a decrease in caseload and are unable to serve as many neighbors compared to previous years. In Colorado, this means that 5,820 fewer neighbors will be served in 2025 than in 2024.
On Friday, May 2, the Administration’s FY26 budget proposal was released, which proposed eliminating the CSFP program. This is the first step in a long budget process, during which Congress will create FY26 appropriations bills, allowing many opportunities to suggest strategies to improve or strengthen CSFP. With the cost of living on the rise, CSFP program is more important than ever. If not fully funded by Congress, our most vulnerable older adults will face difficult choices as they lose access to the nutritious food they need to live healthier lives.
I believe in the power of the collective voice from each of you who see the faces of hunger daily, and I encourage you to reach out to your representatives to ask them to add their name to the sign-on letter sponsored by J. Luis Correa urging the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies to provide sufficient funding to maintain, at a minimum, the program’s current caseload of 707,000 participants nationally per month, or 5940 neighbors monthly in Colorado
Your voice and experience can have a significant impact, ensuring that our older adult neighbors do not go hungry. To find your local representative, please click here.
To sign up to be an Advocate for Feeding Colorado, please click here.
Sincerely,
Britni Stupin
She/Her
Director of Food Distribution Strategy
Important Dates
Please note the following dates including changes in ordering timeline due to the Memorial Day holiday and our early closing hours on June 30.
- Thursday, May 22: Place orders for Tuesday, May 27 pick-ups due to closure on Monday, May 26
- Friday May 23: Place orders for Wednesday, May 28 pick-ups due to closure on Monday, May 26
- Monday, May 26: Food Bank of the Rockies is closed for Memorial Day
- Thursday, May 29: Hunger Relief Partner Orientation at 1:00 p.m. (virtual)
- Tuesday, June 10: Hunger Relief Partner Orientation at 10:00 a.m. (virtual)
- Wednesday, June 18: Hunger Relief Partner Orientation at 10:00 a.m. (in-person tour + orientation)
- Thursday, June 26: Hunger Relief Partner Orientation at 1:00 p.m. (virtual)
- Monday, June 30 – Order pick-up and Fresh Food Center until 11:00 a.m.
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.
Feeding Colorado Advocacy/Policy Update
Feeding Colorado State Updates
The Colorado General Assembly completed session on May 7, 2025. Our state bill tracker on our website demonstrates the status of bills we followed during the 2025 Colorado General Assembly.
After a significantly challenging budget year for the state, the Community Food Provider Assistance Grant is now at $2 million.
Federal Updates
We are closely tracking the federal budget reconciliation process, which contains threats to both SNAP and Medicaid. We are prepared to engage with Senate and House members, to oppose these deep cuts to critical programs like SNAP. We were able to get Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper to sign a letter pushing back on the proposed cuts.
We are tracking any federal program changes very closely and are in communication with state agencies, food bank programs staff, and leadership to understand real-time impacts to programs and neighbors. In addition, we are in close contact with our Members of Congress and advocate frequently for the programs our network relies on.
Action Alerts
Are you interested in getting more involved in advocacy? Fill out this form to learn more and get involved! We will be sharing action alerts, updates, and newsletters to subscribers in the coming months. https://secure.everyaction.com/HTD96rMrTESSLG3LCn-Aqw2
Grant Opportunities
The Virginia W. Hill Foundation, managed by Wells Fargo, accepts grant applications on a rolling basis. Funding priorities are health and human services, education, and cultural organizations located in Colorado. Typical grants are between $5,000 and $15,000. Full guidelines can be found here.
Program Updates
Partner Solutions – Check Out the New Email
To enhance the support of hunger relief partners and streamline our responses to your questions, we are excited to introduce the new Partner Solutions team made up of Tahmina Iqbalzada, Partner Solutions Representative, and LaDonna Valenzuela, Partner Solutions Manager. This dedicated team will serve as your primary point of contact for questions and requests related to your work with Food Bank of the Rockies, including orders, operational processes, passwords, program compliance, or general day-to-day support. The Partner Solutions team is here to help—ensuring that you receive timely, consistent, and informed responses every step of the way.
To support this change, we have launched a new email address: partnersolutions@foodbankrockies.org to replace the current partnersupport@foodbankrockies.org email. By using this centralized inbox, we can monitor requests more efficiently, reduce delays in communication, and make sure the right team member follows up with you directly. It also helps us monitor common questions, identify emerging needs, and improve our internal processes so we can serve you better.
At this time, Food for Kids partners – afterschool meals, summer meals, and Totes of Hope® – will continue using the FFK@foodbankrockies.org email to reach our team regarding these programs.
We look forward to our ongoing support to your inquiries, ensuring you can continue to nourish neighbors.
Government Programs
Everyday Eats Updated Application Forms and Income Guidelines
CDHS has recently updated application forms and income guidelines for the Everyday Eats Program. All forms can be found HERE. We will hold informational sessions on these new forms and caseload management on the following days/times:
- Monday, 5/19 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
- Thursday, 5/22 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- Thursday, 5/29 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
We will send Everyday Eats participating partners an invitation to these meetings; we hope everyone can attend at least one of these informational sessions.
Staffing Change Update
Vic Derington, former Food Security Government Programs Manager, is no longer with Food Bank of the Rockies. We are currently hiring for this position and will update you all as soon as we have a new team member in place. Thank you for your patience with our team as we work to fill this position. Please redirect your correspondence to TEFAP@foodbankrockies.org.
Food for Kids Update
Totes of Hope® Summer Renewal
All Totes of Hope® partners should have received an email with our Summer Renewal Form, due May 12. Please fill this out if your site will be continuing the Totes program over the summer. If your site is pausing for summer, please let the Food for Kids team (FFK@foodbankrockies.org) know your last Totes order date ASAP if you haven’t already!
Also, please remember to continue entering your Totes distribution numbers into Link2Feed, as this helps our team to share your impact in your communities through this program. Thank you for your continued partnership!
Summer Food Service Food Program Applications Still Open
The Food for Kids team is still accepting SFSP applications! Make a difference this summer by helping provide free meals to kids who may be missing out on school lunches and other essential nutrition programs during the break.
If your organization supports children and youth programs, we encourage you to apply. Please help us spread the word to others who might be interested!
You can apply by completing the online application through the link below.
If your organization hasn’t participated in the program before and you’d like to learn more, we’d be happy to connect with you.
For any questions about eligibility or the application process, please email us at FFK@foodbankrockies.org.
Let’s work together to ensure no child goes hungry this summer!
Annual Hunger Relief Partner Survey
Food Bank of the Rockies values you as a Hunger Relief Partner. We, therefore, prioritize learning about your organization’s satisfaction with our partnership and products. Your feedback is invaluable to inform us how we can provide you with the best possible customer service and food options.
We appreciate your time completing our annual survey, which should take approximately 8-14 minutes. Your honest answers will help us better understand how we best work with you to address hunger in our communities. All responses are anonymous unless you choose to provide your contact information. It is an honor to ignite the power of community to nourish neighbors facing hunger with dignity and respect. Your participation in this survey will directly contribute to our ability to better serve you and the neighbors you assist.
More information to come soon!
Nutrition Update
May is National Salad Month!
Salads are an excellent way to make sure you are meeting your daily needs for fresh fruits and vegetables. However, not every salad is created equal! It’s important to include a balance of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats to make sure your salads are satisfying and keep you full until your next meal.
Here are some tips to getting the most out of your salads:
- Start with fiber-filled leafy greens such as spinach, romaine, kale, or arugula.
- Add a whole grain carbohydrate such as brown rice, quinoa, or bulgur for some more fiber and added energy. Aim for a 1/3 to ½ cup serving.
- Add at least 2-3 veggies. Raw, grilled, or roasted veggies such as cucumber, tomato, carrots, cabbage, beets, or bell peppers add additional flavor and more nutritional benefits.
- Choose a protein – animal-based sources can include grilled chicken, tuna, shrimp, salmon, or hard-boiled eggs. Plant-based sources can include tofu, tempeh, edamame, cottage cheese, beans, or chickpeas.
- Add some toppings to make it fun! Ideally, choose options that provide some healthy fats to help your body absorb the vitamins and minerals found in vegetables. Keep in mind that some of these foods can also be high in calories, so add them sparingly. Some options include:
- Avocado
- Lower-fat cheese (e.g. light cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, feta, goat cheese)
- Legumes (e.g. kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, white or black beans)
- Nuts (e.g. almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc.)
- Seeds (e.g. sunflower, hemp, chia, flax, etc.)
- Fruit (e.g. berries, raisins, clementine slices, etc.)
- Make or choose a healthy dressing. If using a store-bought dressing, moderation is key – add a bit of dressing, toss, and taste to see if you need to add any more. Or try making your own dressing at home, with ingredients such as olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.