Important Communication for Our Partners - May 28, 2020
Help is Available for Home Energy Improvements
Food Bank of the Rockies has partnered with Energy Resource Center (ERC) to distribute information about FREE energy efficiency programs. ERC is a 501(c)(3) construction company providing onsite services such as the installation of new furnaces, refrigerators, water heaters, insulation, weather stripping, light bulbs, and more. Their programs ensure home safety and save people money. These long-term energy efficiency measures result in 25 - 50% savings on annual home utility bills. These savings can leave more money for essentials like food and medicine. ERC services also contribute to affordable housing and environmental sustainability.
ERC services are available to qualifying low-income households across 27 Colorado counties, both to homeowners and renters with landlord consent. People already receiving assistance through other programs such as LEAP, SNAP, SSI, and TANF are pre-qualified. ERC energy efficiency work also is available for nonprofit buildings. Their competitive fee-for-service business generates proceeds that are then put back into community work.
Please share this information with those you serve. For more information on any of Energy Resource Center's programs, please visit erc-co.org or call 719-591-0772
PSA-It’s okay to ask for help!
Jefferson County Public Health recently produced a PSA encouraging those in need to accept support. Please help spread the word and get these videos posted wide and far.
It's ok to ask for a little help. There is enough food for everyone. Call 211 for local resources.
“Food for Everyone” – https://youtu.be/_rD6FXwrPco
“Comidas Para Todos” – https://youtu.be/5hEcBuFS8sU
Safe Food for the People We Serve - Thermal Blanket Sale – Limit 5
Keeping cold food cold is critical in warmer weather. If you are transporting perishable product more than 30 minutes one way or distributing product outside drive-through style, it’s important to maintain proper temperatures. Most microorganisms grow rapidly between temperatures of 41℉ and 135℉.
Thermal blankets help keep food cool. We have thermal blankets available for our partners at half of our cost. Order yours on Agency Express now.
To ensure all programs can receive this discount, please limit your orders to no more than five.
If you wish to order more than five, we can set up a special order for your agency. Please contact relations@foodbankrockies.org to make arrangements. These additional blankets will be at full price which is $32.25 each (plus any applicable shipping).
For additional transportation tips to keep your food product safe, click here.
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) Helps Farmers and Food Banks
Prepacked Produce Boxes & Fresh Milk
The USDA has implemented CFAP as a way to move food directly from farmers to food banks. According to Feeding America, it is estimated that 17.1 million more people could be experiencing food insecurity as a result of COVID-19. We know need has increased greatly in our service area. Food Bank of the Rockies will be receiving approximately 2.1 M lbs of fresh produce, 900,000 lbs. of pre-cooked meat, and 440,000 lbs. of fluid milk each month.
We need your help to make sure this wonderful food gets to people who need it most. If you can hold a pop-up food market, additional distributions, or temporary distribution sites, please let us know! We have increased our delivery services to support our partners and this highly perishable program.
CFAP can also be ordered through Agency Express and picked up at the Fresh Food Center. Delivery is also available. If you’re interested in learning more about delivery service, please reach out to LaDonnna, lvalenzuela@foodbankrockies.org or Suzi, scasillas@foodbankrockies.org at our main branch or Mike Losordo, mlosordo@foodbankrockies.org, at our Palisade branch, .
The State of Senior Hunger
May is Older Americans month and Feeding America has recently released its State of Senior Hunger Report. Some of the important findings include:
- Nationally, the food insecurity rate among older adults was 7.3% in 2018, meaning 5.3 million individuals, or 1 in 14 older adults, were food insecure. "
- The rate of food insecurity among older adults has declined since reaching a peak in 2014, but the rate remains substantially higher than in 2007, before the Great Recession when 6.3% of older adults (3 million) were food insecure.
- Colorado senior food insecurity is reported at 6% and Wyoming at 5%.
- Older adults with disabilities have food insecurity rates more than twice as high as older adults without disabilities (13.8% compared to 5.1%).
Kids Get Meals at Mobile Pantries
Food Bank of the Rockies is providing fresh grab-n-go meals to kids through the summer months. We can provide each child five meals at a time. Each meal bag contains a fresh breakfast and lunch, as well as three shelf-stable, packaged meals. Our partnership with the mobile pantry sites allows us to serve more than 8,000 meals a month! Children 18 years and younger are eligible to receive these nourishing meals. Please refer your clients with children to text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 877877 to find nearby meal sites.
Apply to Share Summer Meals with Kids in Your Community
We are now accepting applications for our “fun in the sun” kids’ summer meal program. Options for serving multiple meals, fresh grab-n-go, shelf-stable meals, and parent pick up are available. Meal distribution has been extended through August 31st. Check with Brandy to see if your program is eligible to participate. PLEASE GET YOUR APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER IN SOON. WE ANTICIPATE SITES TO FILL UP FAST!! Download your application here.
It's Easier than Ever to Serve Meals for Kids: USDA Announces Waivers
Here is some great news for children and families. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture announced the extension of three nationwide waivers, allowing for the continuation of programs that provide meals for kids during these socially distant times. These three waivers impact:
- Non-Congregate Feeding: Allowing meals to be served to children outside of the normally-required group setting to support social distancing.
- Parent Pick Up: Parents and guardians are allowed to pick up their children’s meals.
- Meal Times: Meals can be served outside of standard meal times and multiple meals can be served at once.
3rd Annual Summer Kids Meals Kickoff Event – June 10th
Please join us to celebrate the kickoff of summer kids’ meals, June 10th at the Town Center of Aurora,14200 E Alameda Ave, Aurora 80012, from 9am–noon. This “drive-through” style event will be fun for the kids, with fresh meals, kid-friendly food boxes, demonstrations, and goodie bags! For more information, please contact Julie Salerno, jsalerno@foodbankrockies.org.
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) has been created in response to COVID-19 and has been approved for both Colorado and Wyoming. P-EBT provides nutrition benefits to families who have lost access to free or reduced-price school meals because schools are closed. Eligible students and families will receive money on a new or existing EBT card to help fill the school meals gap. The average benefit will be $5.70/day per student, retroactive to when school initially closed. Families can get both P-EBT and grab-n-go meals from schools and community organizations that are serving during the pandemic. The public charge rule does not apply to P-EBT benefits.
Most families with children who are receiving food assistance benefits (also known as SNAP or food stamps) do not have to apply. Their benefits will be loaded onto their EBT card in June.
Families with children who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals but are not currently on food assistance must apply online. More information on the application will be released soon.
Consider becoming an Advocate: HEROES Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passed another $3 trillion in relief aid for COVID-19. However, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act) is not law yet. The act still needs Senate approval. The HEROES Act would strengthen food security by increasing the maximum SNAP benefit by 15%. It would also create additional funding for food assistance programs, including $150 million for TEFAP and $25 million for CFAP purchases at the state level.
Click here for a form that includes a pre-written email, drafted by Hunger Free Colorado, urging Congressional action. This small act of advocacy can make a big difference.
More information on this and other aid programs can be found through these links:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6800?s=1&r=48
https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-democrats-introduce-the-heroes-act
SNAP Updates
The USDA is implementing a pilot program to improve the safety of low-income people. When the USDA finishes rolling out the program, 90% of SNAP users will be able to purchase groceries online. There are currently 19 states participating in the program, with 17 more in the planning phases. Colorado is in the planning phase and has been approved to allow online SNAP purchase. The state is expected to join this pilot program soon.
More information, including all participating states and details on purchases can be found here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot
To connect with our SNAP Outreach Representative, contact FBRSNAP@foodbankrockies.org
Rental Assistance – City of Aurora
The city of Aurora is accepting applications from residents in need of financial assistance to meet their monthly lease payments because of hardships experienced during the COVID-19 crisis. The Rental Assistance Program is funded through the House Aurora Partnership and Community Development Block Grants and offers up to two months of rental payments to qualifying residents.
The Rental Assistance Program is open to Aurora residents whose household income is 100% or less of area median income, who do not receive other public housing support vouchers and have a current lease in place in the city of Aurora. Applicants must be requesting rental assistance because of a financial impact from COVID-19, such as loss of income or employment, or medical expenses. Mortgage assistance is not available through this program.
Applications are available at AuroraGov.org/RentAssist, along with information about what materials residents will need to complete the application. Residents with questions regarding the program can contact 303.739.7937 or coa-rentassist@auroragov.org.
Download the PDF flyer here.
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