Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program

Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program is sponsored by Colorado Department of Agriculture. Provides funding to Colorado food pantries and food banks to purchase Colorado-grown, raised, or processed products.

In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado food banks and pantries received Food Pantry Assistance Grants as part of the CARES Act. Grantees used funds to provide healthier foods like fresh meat and produce, serve more people in need, and support local producers by purchasing Colorado agricultural products.

At the end of the program, food banks and pantries were asked to submit a final report, and client surveys were conducted across the state. The result was this report, which is summarized below. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 20-1422 to assist Coloradans in need with food relief.

This bill provided $600,000 for the Colorado Department of Human Services to administer grants to food banks and food pantries across the state. In addition, the legislation intended to create and expand market opportunities for Colorado’s agricultural products. One of the bill's goals was that the funds would be spent on Colorado grown, raised, produced or packaged goods.

A total of 123 food banks and pantries participated in the program throughout Colorado, with 115 of those participants submitting final grant reports. Of those 115 pantries, 68 are located in urban communities, 31 in rural communities, 16 in frontier communities. Grantees were also asked to administer a client survey.

More than 3,900 client surveys were conducted statewide.

List of participating food banks and pantries Amazing Grace Community Church Amazing Grace Community Church Pastor's Pantry Arvada Community Food Bank, Inc. dba Community Table Aurora Interchurch Task Force Inc., DBA Aurora Interfaith Community Services (AICS) Boulder County AIDS Project Caring & Sharing Community Resources and Transformation Center Castle Rock Community Inter-Church Task Force dba Help & Hope Center Catholic Charities-Guadalupe Shelter Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation-Children's Hospital Colorado Clifton Chirstian Church Food and Clothing Colorado Health Network, Inc. Community Cupboard Food Pantry Woodland Park Community Food Bank of Grand Junction Community Ministry or Southwest Denver Community Services of Broomfield, dba Broomfield FISH Community United Methodist Church Cooperating Ministry of Logan County (CMLC) Custer County Community Sharing Center David Clifton Ministries,Inc Denver Indian Center, Inc. Denver South High School Food Pantry Eagle Valley Community Foundation Ecumenical Church of Pueblo West Emergency Family Assistance Association Evergreen Christian Outreach Family & Intercultural Resource Center First United Methodist Church Food Bank for Larimer County Foodbank of Kiowa Creek Community Church Fort Lewis College Grub Hub Four Corners Food Coalition (Fiscal Sponsor Good Samaritan Center) Gilpin County Food Pantry GracePoint Community Church Food Bank Grand Valley Catholic Outreach Henderson Congregational Church dba Henderson Community Church Hope Starts Here Food Bank House of Neighborly Service IFCS Integrated Family Community Services Jewish Family Service of Colorado, Inc La Plata Family Centers Coalition Lyons Emergency Assistance Fund (LEAF) Manna - The Durango Soup Kitchen Mission Arvada at Arvada Central Baptist Church Mountair Christian Church Food Pantry & Clothes Closet Nazarene Food Pantry of Palisade Outreach United Resource Center, Inc. Peace With Christ Lutheran Church Pierce Methodist Church Food Pantry Presbyterian Church of Covenant /Covenant Cupboard Food Pantry Redeeming Love Fellowship Church Redistribution Center, Inc Sacred Heart House of Denver Salida Senior Citizen, Inc. dba Salida Community Center Silver Key Senior Services Sister Carmen Community Center SouthWest Improvement Council St.

Augustine Food Pantry St. George Episcopal Church The Gathering Place: A Refuge for Rebuilding Lives The Hands of God Ministry West End Family Link Center Grantee food banks and food pantries were asked to submit a final report on the impact of the grant in their community, with 115 grantees submitting final reports. They were also asked to administer a client survey, with more than 3,900 such surveys conducted statewide.

Survey results showed that this grant brought important foods to Coloradans, with 38 percent of respondents reporting there was more fresh produce available; 18 percent reported more fresh/frozen meat; 1 percent reported more dairy products; 15 percent reported more eggs; and 12 percent reported more grains. Survey data also showed what foods respondents need more of.

Almost half of respondents (49 percent) reported that they need more dairy products; 45 percent reported they need more meat, more fresh fruit, and more fresh veggies; 42 percent reported the need for more eggs; and 23 percent reported they need more grains. Other notable findings included: * Food banks and pantries reported that the grant funding increased their capacity to serve more people and meet a significant increase in need.

* 77 percent of clients prefer Colorado agricultural products and have a desire for fresh foods. * Purchasing locally grown, raised or produced goods proved to be more difficult for small pantries than anticipated. * One-third of all households visiting pantries had never been to a food bank or pantry before the pandemic.

* Reduced hours at work (54 percent) and lost jobs (41 percent) were the top two impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic experienced by households that participated in the client survey. Colorado Food Pantry Network