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Below are answers to some of our most common questions. Have a question you’d like to talk to one of our board members about? Give us a holler! We’d love to hear from you.
Feeding Colorado is an association of the five Feeding America food banks in Colorado, including: Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado; Community Food Share; Food Bank for Larimer County; Food Bank of the Rockies; and Weld Food Bank. All five food banks are 501(C)3 non-profit organizations.
Each food bank serves a distinct geographic area within Colorado or Wyoming; together, we serve all 64 counties in the state.
We serve every county in Colorado and Wyoming every day.
There are two ways that Feeding Colorado’s food banks get food to those who need it. First, each food bank operates programs that directly serve our neighbors. In other words, a community member in need of food may be able to walk through the doors of the food bank or visit an offsite food distribution (e.g. mobile food pantry) to receive free groceries or a meal.
Second, Feeding Colorado food banks distribute food to more than 1,300 non-profit agencies statewide that provide food and other services to meet basic needs. These agencies include other non-profits such as food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, daycare centers, along with senior and youth programs that serve all members of our communities.
We receive donations: Each Feeding Colorado food bank collects surplus food from supermarkets, food processors, farms, distributors, and restaurants. Many also conduct community food drives or glean from local gardens. The food that we “rescue” would otherwise go to waste, making our work extremely sustainable for the environment.
We purchase food: To supplement donations and ensure we have the variety of foods necessary to meet the nutritional needs of those we serve, Colorado food banks leverage national and local relationships to purchase food at the lowest possible price.
We work with the USDA: Commodities are foods that are purchased by the US Department of Agriculture and provided to food banks for distribution to qualified community and non-profit organizations. These products range from canned and boxed, shelf stable foods to fresh produce and frozen meats.
Together, the Colorado food banks have a fleet of refrigerated trucks and vans, as well as hundreds of thousands of square feet of warehouse space, coolers, and freezers. Our resources combined with the collaborative efforts of our over 1,300 partner organizations means we can collect and distribute food efficiently.
A food bank collects food from a variety of sources and safely stores it before distributing it to partner agencies, also known as food pantries. Each of the five Colorado food banks also participate in direct distribution programs to neighbors. There are 5 Feeding America food banks in Colorado.
A food pantry distributes food received from food banks directly to the community through a variety of unique programs! There are over 1300 food pantries in Colorado.
Don’t let your food go to waste; donate it to your local food bank! If you represent a supermarket, food processor, farm, distributor, or restaurant, visit our Donate page for more information on large food donations.
Donated food is always welcome; however money goes much further. Leveraging the power of our network, we can amplify your gift. Visit our donate page to give a gift now.
Feed More. Waste Less! Visit our Donate Page to find out how you can partner with Feeding Colorado and view guidelines for large food donations.
Donors are protected by State (12-21-113, Colorado Revised Statutes, 1987) and Federal (PL 104-210, 1996) Good Samaritan Acts. “Your donations will be safely transported, stored and distributed. Each Feeding Colorado food bank is equipped with refrigerated trucks, commercial refrigerators and freezers and temperature controlled warehouse space. The highest food safety standards are adhered to throughout the distribution process. All items are carefully sorted and if necessary, cleaned prior to distribution to our partner agencies. Partner agencies are also trained in safe food handling.
We welcome your support! Through our efficient and effective network, every $1 you donate will help improve the well-being of our entire state. Visit our Donate page to find out more.
Every $1 you donate will help improve the well-being of our entire state. Visit our Donate page to give a gift now, or visit our Advocate or Volunteer pages for additional ways to get involved in our fight against hunger.
Mailing address:
c/o Food Bank of the Rockies
10700 45th Ave.
Denver, CO 80239
970.356.2199
info@feedingcolorado.org