I had the opportunity to tour the Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver today, ably guided by Food Rescue Program Manager Mark Weslar. It was an eye-opening experience to see the vast warehouse where they store and distribute food to those in need in the community.
The Food Bank of the Rockies provides food to people in need through signature programs and by teaming up with hundreds of Hunger Relief Partners to serve communities across Colorado and Wyoming, to my knowledge, the largest food bank coverage area in the contiguous United States. They believe that for a community to thrive, every member must have the resources they need to flourish, and they strive to provide equitable access to proper nourishment for all..
During the tour, I learned about the various programs and initiatives the Food Bank of the Rockies has in place to help combat food insecurity in the community. They have a mobile pantry program that brings fresh produce and other groceries directly to communities that have limited access to food. They also have a Kids Cafe program, which provides free meals to children at after-school programs and summer camps.
One of the highlights of the tour was seeing the area where Meals of Hope will be donating meals from our packing events. Meals of Hope is a nonprofit organization that holds meal-packing events across the country to provide meals to those in need. We will be donating many of the meals we pack in the state of Colorado to the Food Bank of the Rockies, which will then be distributed by the food bank to local food pantries that are well connected to local neighborhoods.
It was inspiring to see how Meals of Hope and the Food Bank of the Rockies can work together to combat food insecurity and provide meals to those who need it most.
Overall, the tour at the Food Bank of the Rockies was a humbling experience that highlighted the urgency of addressing food insecurity in our communities. I loved seeing the incredible work that the organization is doing to make a difference in the lives of so many individuals and families. Their motto “Wherever hunger rises, so can we” will be something I am meditating on in the days to come.
