By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
“On the Western Slope, one in eight people — our neighbors — are food insecure. For children, it’s even worse: one in seven kids is unsure where their next meal will come from,” shares Sue Ellen Rodwick, director of the Western Slope Food Bank of the Rockies. “Statewide, the numbers are slightly better, but still troubling. One in nine Coloradans face food insecurity.”
The Food Bank of the Rockies (FBOTR) is spearheading the response to this growing crisis. It serves 417,317 people a year. The U.S. Census puts the state’s population at 5,877,610.
This is the largest food bank area in the contiguous U.S., covering Colorado and Wyoming. It serves a region of more than 150,000 square miles. It has three distribution centers in Casper, Wyo., Denver and Grand Junction, Colo.
This reach ensures that both rural and urban areas have access to vital food assistance, despite the challenges of a large service area.
The Grand Junction FBOTR supports the Western Slope. It moved into the Etkin Family Distribution Center in November 2022. It runs 25 mobile pantry distributions each month and delivers food to 13 counties.
Rodwick shares that Aspen and Parachute currently have the highest demand. She says they’re also monitoring communities like Craig, given the power plant closure.
FBOTR also works hard to plan for the unexpected. After the 2020 Pine Gulch Fire, the largest wildfire in Colorado, FBOTR made plans to respond to emergencies. The fire burned 139,007 acres and closed Highway 139 for days. Rodwick says FBOTR plans for emergencies that could disrupt food distribution from Denver.
The center distributed more than 12.5 million pounds of food last year. This included a large amount of fresh produce. Its largest distribution site is in Clifton. A drive-thru pantry there helps hundreds of residents each month.
FBOTR is a lifeline for more than 800 hunger relief partners, including the West End Family Link Center (WEFLC).
WEFLC, in Nucla, serves the isolated west ends of Montrose and San Miguel counties. This region spans 2,069 square-miles. With 60% of children on free or reduced-cost lunches and residents hours from essential services, WEFLC is a vital safety net for this area.
Through its partnership with FBOTR, WEFLC provides food aid. It offers food boxes for families and seniors, and delivery for the homebound.
Rodwick says the need for food relief has reached historical demand. “Right now, we’re at the highest level of food insecurity that we’ve seen in 10 years.”
For WEFLC, these numbers translate into a sharp increase in demand. “In May, we thought it was horrible that we served 275 people. In September, we did 398. This is the highest need we’ve seen in years,” said Doris Van Ness, WEFLC board chair.
Pandemic-era safety nets, like enhanced SNAP, have ended. Rural communities, like those served by WEFLC, face unique challenges. Local economies are reeling from the closure of energy production plants and inflation.
“The closure of the coal mine and power plant left families with no options. People can’t afford food because the price is so high, and the jobs are gone,” Van Ness explained.
For the most part, partners receive food at no cost from FBOTR. But when FBOTR faces food supply issues after a grant ends or when donations fall short, they buy items at wholesale cost.
“Most of the food [partners] receive is free. The only cost to them is for items we’ve had to purchase at wholesale, and even then, they pay far less than market price,” Rodwick said.
The organization aims for efficiency. The Grand Junction FBOTR is the only Feeding America center with a dehydration program. They use ‘seconds’ and ‘thirds’ — produce unfit for retail sale — from local orchards for their dehydration program.
They also provide an online portal for partners to select and customize their orders based on specific needs. FBOTR follows strict food safety rules for using expired donated items. Unused or unfit food goes to ranchers for animal feed. Rodwick reports that 96 cents of every dollar donated goes to support programs.
Amid rising food scarcity, the FBOTR has seen a positive development. “We’ve increased our volunteer base by more than 80% in the last year after moving to our new location,” Rodwick shared.
FBOTR facilitates a variety of programs to address food scarcity. Programs like “Totes of Hope” provide weekend food for children who rely on school meals. The new “Food for Health” initiative delivers medically tailored food boxes. FBOTR’s focus on culturally responsive foods and fresh produce shows its commitment to nourishment. Fresh produce accounted for 30% of FBOTR food distributions last year.
In remote areas like Nucla, fresh food is vital. Deliveries are key to residents’ access to fresh food. “We now deliver every week to ensure that the fresh produce we distribute is at its best,” Rodwick explained.
Volunteers in the West End are doing everything they can to address food scarcity. Last month Van Ness shared, “We’re asking churches and individuals for donations, and the local bank is collecting food. [In October], a private donor gave $1,000. It’s a collective effort.”
The growing need for food assistance is undeniable, but everyone can help.
“For every dollar donated, we’re able to translate that into three meals,” Rodwick said.
“The other way people can give back is through volunteering, whether it’s here in Grand Junction or with a hunger relief partner like WEFLC.”
Visit foodbankrockies.org to donate or sign up to volunteer. For those in need, resources are available at foodbankrockies.org/find-food or by dialing 211.