5 Food-Focused Colorado Charities – 5280

Food prices will rise by about 10% in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This ‘above historical average’ rise is expected to continue in 2023, with food prices projected to rise another 3-4%.

With food bills soaring and many Colorados facing food insecurity, there are nonprofits working to help. Meet his five local organizations working towards a more stable and nutritious future for their communities.

Conscious Alliance

The Conscious Alliance unites people across the arts, music and food industries for one common goal: feeding those in need. It all started in 2002 when the string cheese case played a concert at the Fillmore Auditorium. A limited poster was presented to participants who brought 10 cans of food. Over 4,000 pounds of food were collected that night.

Today, the nonprofit partners with hundreds of musicians across the country each year, from the Dave Matthews Band to the Lumineers to Nathaniel Rateriff. Executive Director Justin Levy says his alliance with Conscious has provided more than two million meals to people in need in 2022.

“We ended 2021 with smoke rising over our buildings [from the Marshall Fire]’ says Levi. The fire has passed by their National Distribution Center in Bloomfield. [throughout the year] for those who have lost their homes.

Women’s Bean Project

The Denver-based Women’s Bean Project empowers women to “change lives through employment.” It does this by hiring chronically unemployed women and giving them full-time jobs making soup mixes, coffee, tea, dog treats and other goodies. This will help you develop your skills, secure a job after the duration of the program and ultimately become self-sufficient.

These products are sold online and in stores at more than 1,000 stores nationwide, including King Soopers, Whole Foods and Safeway.

mountain roots food project

Based in Gunnison Valley, the Mountain Roots Food Project is a food system initiative focused on educating communities and providing healthy local meals. The work of non-profit organizations is carried out through a multi-pronged approach. A Farm to School program that annually helps his 2,000 K-12 students in Gunnison and Crested Butte learn about nutrition and healthy food choices. And by fighting food insecurity with free produce boxes.

This year, Mountain Roots launched two hydroponic farms to distribute harvested lettuce to families in need. Two more farms are under construction in 2023. It’s a robust, resilient and equitable food system,” says Rachel Branham, the organization’s director of development.

feed colorado

Feeding Colorado is made up of five state food banks working together to combat hunger throughout Colorado and Wyoming. Amy Pezzani, CEO of the Larimer County Food Bank and chairman of Feeding Colorado, also faces the 2022 challenge of rising food prices and reduced food availability due to programs such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program. Regardless, Feeding Colorado says it was still able to distribute food. Over 100 million meals this year.

For 2023, Feeding Colorado is committed to universal school meals for children, consistent access to meals for children during school closures, and expanding programs to collect surplus food from farms to food banks. “Today, food banks are a key component of our multi-faceted effort to ensure that everyone has access to the food they need, and we are committed to ensuring that food banks remain strong. I would like to,” says Pezzani.

hanger free colorado

Hunger Free Colorado works to connect people in need with resources such as children’s nutrition programs, nutritional assistance programs (SNAP), immigrant rights groups, and diabetes prevention programs.

According to a 2021 survey conducted by the nonprofit, 33% of Colorados do not have reliable access to healthy foods. The organization hopes to bring that number to zero by ensuring that all residents, regardless of their identity or background, have access to delicious, healthy food.