As we’re ramping up for our summer programming, we wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look into the Food for Kids program. To give you a peek behind the curtain, we asked Kodi Phelps, the manager of the Food for Kids program, a few questions about her role and what Food for Kids means to her.
Question: Why do you think the Food for Kids Program is important? What does it mean to you?
Answer:
In Colorado, 1 out of every 7 children experiences food insecurity. With those aged 18 and under making up an estimated 25% of our population, that’s over 200,000 children not receiving the adequate nutrition they need to thrive. Thanks to the support and partnership we receive from the USDA, our state agencies, and our amazing donors and volunteers, we can provide food when children and their families need it most: after school, during the summer, and on the weekends. We know that stable food access correlates to improved development, growth, performance, and success in school. What that means for me when I think about the work my team and I do is that not only are we making a difference in the current day-to-day lives of kids, but we are also playing a part in improving the future well-being of our communities and generations to come.
Question: How do donations make a difference for the program and the kids and families involved?
Answer:
Donations come in all forms: time, money, or in-kind goods and services. We simply couldn’t do what we do without any one of them! Our Totes of Hope® Program is successful because of our donors and volunteers. Monetary donations help cover the supply, operational, and other program fees, which means we are then able to provide those food bags at no cost to our Hunger Relief Partners who distribute them to children and families in their communities across our service area. We also rely on volunteers to pack the items so that most of our totes are pre-built, alleviating a barrier for many partners who did not have the staff or volunteer power to participate in the program.
Question: What are some of the biggest needs when it comes to the Food for Kids Program?
Answer:
Sustained monetary donations would be incredible and make the most impact. The need continues to rise, and we have a waitlist of new partners for our Totes of Hope® program. We would also love to increase the amount and variety of items within each tote based on neighbor and partner feedback. Receiving regular donations would allow us to sustainably grow the program year after year.
Question: What is something that makes you extremely proud of the Food for Kids Program?
Answer:
Since I started at Food Bank of the Rockies almost four years ago, our team has nearly doubled in size and in the number of daily meals distributed through our programs. While that is bittersweet because it means that food insecurity has increased, it also means we have been able to react and meet that need as best we can. I am so proud of my passionate, kind, and hardworking team that is always thinking of our partners and neighbors. They care so deeply and are a joy to work with.
Question: Is there an interaction or anecdote that really sticks out to you from your time as Food for Kids Manager?
Answer:
It’s hard to pick just one! I love getting to know the staff and children at each site. They are all so unique and different. We always try to ask the kids what foods we give them that they like and dislike or what other kinds of meals they want us to give them. They are usually kind of shy at first but then the more they get going, the more excited they get and ask for all kinds of different meals, such as caviar or steak. They amp each other up and get silly, so it’s a lot of fun talking to them.
Question: What do you think is the most unique or interesting part of the Food for Kids Program? Why?
Answer:
Compared to other programs, we get to work closely with our culinary team, which is so exciting and rewarding. We get to collaborate on meals and pass along the feedback we receive during our site visits. We eventually want to host taste-testing events where their team can come with us to sites, allowing them to directly interact with the staff and children. Not only would we get real-time opinions from the kids, but the culinary team would also be able to see the end result of all their hard work.