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| Important Partner Updates - August 2020 Dear Partners, The last five months have presented Food Bank of the Rockies and your programs with a perfect storm. And the headwinds have been strong: a global health crisis, a racial equity time of reckoning, and a food crisis unlike anything we've seen since the Great Depression. When COVID-19 hit, we quickly ramped up food distributions and tripled our monthly food purchasing, thinking this would be a three- to six-month response operation. Now, at five months in and no end in sight, we're shifting our mindset to long-term and sustainable despite our trepidation about our continued reliance on volunteers and our operating budget which has grown by 50% as a result of our COVID response work. What you, our partners, have made possible during this critical time is nothing short of remarkable. Together, we're distributing enough food for nearly 300,000 meals a day, to many new people, as well as those who were already facing hard times. We are now distributing 90% more food than in mid-March. We've added drivers, warehouse staff, a night shift, and an additional facility. We have said "yes" to dozens of new partnerships as we find creative ways to serve kids, older adults, and many people who have never previously needed help with food. And we are doing so with an evolving equity lens on our operations and partnerships. I hope you are as proud as I am to be part of Food Bank of the Rockies during this time of unprecedented need. Together, we have accomplished so much. And there’s more work to be done. As we look toward the future, we do so with an unwavering commitment that we will be here for as long as it takes. And we have faith that you'll continue to be here right alongside us, ensuring that these unprecedented needs are matched by our unprecedented work. This crisis has made us focus on what matters most - who we're serving and who is making it possible. On behalf of our dedicated staff team and our strategic board of directors, we thank all of you for extending your goodwill by serving your community during this tremendous time of need. Thanks to you, we're facing this storm head-on and bracing for those continued, strong headwinds. For we know that we are stronger together. Sincerely,
Erin Pulling Ordering availability during our database update. Agency Express will be down now through August 23. No orders can be entered until the new system is operational midday on August 24. No pick ups accepted August 21, 24, and 25. Fresh Food Center is open August 21, 24, and 25 from 9:00 am to 3:20 pm. If you are unsure of your order deadlines, please reach out to relations@foodbankrockies.org. Thank you for your patience and assistance as we implement this upgrade. We appreciate your commitment to fighting hunger and feeding hope in Colorado. Interested in Link2Feed? We're bringing training back! Why use Link2Feed? What will I learn in training? If you would like to attend the training or have any questions, please send an email to L2F@foodbankrockies.org Recertify your Food Safety and Civil Rights training by August 30 to remain compliant. If you have already completed these courses on or after April 1, 2020, you are compliant for this year – THANK YOU – no further action is needed. Each self-paced course will take about 45 minutes to complete. After you complete the course, you will take a short multiple-choice test. A passing score of 80% or higher is required to remain compliant. Once you've passed, print your certificate for your records. There is no need to send us a copy; we have access to the names of all with passing scores. For instructions and access to the required courses, please click here. If you are a new user, please sign up and select Agency Employee or Volunteer so we may capture your completion of these courses. If you have questions about the requirements or have difficulty accessing the online courses, please contact us. Colorado families who are eligible for free or reduced price child meal programs can receive Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) assistance. Most of the families who already received SNAP during March, April, and May need not take any extra steps to apply for P-EBT. Benefits will be added to their accounts. Families who did not receive SNAP benefits during that time are encouraged to apply online. Help families you serve access this important pandemic benefit to support their children's health and wellbeing. Starbucks has food for you! • Parker & Peoria, Aurora, 80014 Email Hannah to learn more.
Annual Fort Morgan corn harvest event carries on. Move for Hunger helps partners with the heavy lifting. We're looking for sites for fall after-school meals. Find a children's feeding program in your community. Ready to restart your Totes of Hope® program for the school year?
Food Bank of the Rockies supports kosher meals. "With the pandemic creating havoc around the world, the concept of the USDA summer camp program was discussed as an avenue to help children in need in the Jewish community with kosher meals. We have been running the program for six weeks and have averaged 450 children per week. It is an accomplishment that we could never have reached without the genuine support and enthusiasm of Food Bank of the Rockies! We can't thank you all enough for your wonderful partnership, which has enabled us to serve so many children and make such a positive impact on them and their families in these very challenging COVID-19 times." - Rabbi Chaim Abrams
Western Slope Welcome, Russell Nylen, to Food Bank of the Rockies! |
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