Hunger Relief Partners load van with food on Agency Dock.

Dear Hunger Relief Partners,

Since March 2020, we have stepped up in ways we didn’t imagine possible to meet the increased demand for food assistance in our communities. And we could not have done this without our amazing network of Hunger Relief Partners. Your willingness to show up regardless of risks to your own health and numerous obstacles is an inspiration. We are grateful for your hard work, determination, and passion to ensure our community thrives.

As we approach the anniversary of when COVID-19 hit the region, we know that continued collaboration is key to addressing the increased demand for food assistance for the long haul. Together, I know we will get through these difficult times. Thank you for partnering with us; thank you for working tirelessly and courageously to distribute food; thank you for helping us answer the challenge of hunger.

Sincerely,
Cindy Mitchell,
Vice President of Programs
Food Bank of the Rockies

Food Bank of the Rockies Closures and Important Dates

There will be no Food Bank of the Rockies closures for the month of March.

Please be aware of these important dates:

• March 10, 9:00-10:30 a.m.: Link2Feed Partner Training
• March 13, 9:00-11:30 a.m.: open for Partner Pick Ups
• March 20, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: free EverGreen grocery box for older adults’ distribution
• March 24-31: Hunger Action Week
• March 25, 12:00-1:30 p.m.: Link2Feed Partner Training

Partner Support Calendar

The 2021 Partner Support Calendar is now available. For additional resources, please visit the Partner Portal.

Rebrand

It is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of our new Food Bank of the Rockies’ website including our new mission statement, values, and logo. By listening deeply to our community, we reimagined our mission statement and values. With these guiding principles and amazing partners like you, we hope to better connect, better engage, and ultimately better serve our community. And we are committed to continually improving to ensure we are the best partner we can be while delivering on our mission with you by our side.

Please replace our old logo on your websites with our new logo. You can download different versions of the new logo here. And we will have new partner posters in the spring.

Food Lists to Aid Food Acceptability

One of the main differentiators in food preference is culture. Clients from different cultures may value different flavor profiles in their cuisine. To help our partners customize their food orders to reflect their community, we have developed suggested food lists by culture. Created with feedback from 600+ food pantry clients and over 100 partners and community organizations, these food lists provide suggestions on preferred staples, foods to avoid, and culturally-important holiday foods.

We currently have suggested food lists for six cultures and will be developing more in the future. Many of these suggested foods are already available on Agency Express, and we will continue to add additional food choices in the coming months. You can view the list here.

Food Suggestions for Upcoming Holidays

Semana Santa/Holy Week (March 28 - April 3): Clients from Latin America or Spain may observe Semana Santa, a week-long religious holiday where most meats are not consumed due to religious restrictions. During this week, consider offering alternative sources of protein like eggs, milk, fish, legumes, or grains.

The Month of Ramadan (April 12 - May 12): During the month of Ramadan, clients who practice the Islamic faith will fast from sunrise to sunset. During this month, consider offering hearty ingredients for the evening meal such as dates, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Pork products should be avoided.

Eid al-Fitr (May 13): Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month of Ramadan and is celebrated with a large feast. Ethiopian and Somali clients may celebrate Eid al-Fitr using teff flour, sugar, dates, beef, butter, and coffee.

Hunger Action Week

Mark your calanders. Hunger Action Week is March 24-31, 2021.

Feeding Colorado (the five Colorado food banks including Food Bank of the Rockies), Hunger Free Colorado, and the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger are co-hosting Hunger Action Week March 24-31, and you’re invited to attend! The event is free and completely virtual. Hunger Action Week is a powerful convening of anti-hunger advocates from across the state, meeting with state legislators to discuss the steps they can take to help alleviate food insecurity in our area. Register here.

Link2Feed Training

We would like to welcome many of our Totes of Hope Partners, Colorado Mobile Pantries, and Wyoming TEFAP Partners to the Link2Feed Network. We are excited to continue to grow knowledge of our community services using this valuable tool among Food Bank of the Rockies Partners.

Upcoming Dates:

• March 10, 9:00 a.m.
• March 25, 12:00 p.m.
• April 14, 9:00 a.m.
• April 22, 12:00 p.m.

If you would like to join the growing number of Partners that are exchanging their paper tracking forms in favor of digital tracking, sign up for a Link2Feed training here.

For more information on Link2Feed, please visit the Link2Feed YouTube page or email L2F@foodbankrockies.org.

SNAP for College Students

Recent changes to SNAP affect college students seeking to enroll. The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 temporarily expands SNAP eligibility to include college students enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher learning, who either:

• are eligible to participate in state or federally financed work study during the regular school year, as determined by the institution of higher education, or
• have an expected family contribution (EFC) of 0 in the current academic year.

As of January 16, students who meet either of the criteria above may be eligible for SNAP, taking into consideration all other financial and non-financial SNAP eligibility criteria. These changes will remain in effect until 30 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency is lifted.

Previously, only students who actively participated in work study were eligible. With these new changes, any student who is eligible to participate in work study, regardless of whether or not they actively participate in it, will be able to apply for SNAP. This expands the number of eligible students for SNAP drastically. If you have questions about these recent changes, please contact Russell Nylen, Food Bank of the Rockies’ SNAP Outreach Representative, at rnylen@foodbankrockies.org.

Inclement Weather Policy

Food Bank of the Rockies will endeavor to make closure/delay determinations due to inclement weather in a timely manner. Closure/delay information will be posted on our website, social media channels, and available via phone at 303-371-9250. If we are closed, Partner Support will reach out to reschedule order pick ups for that day. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to partnerfbr.convio.net.

Please alert all clients to weather-related distribution changes using your website and social media. And email our programs team at partnerfbr.convio.net with any changes to your distribution days and times.

And as colder weather moves into the Rockies, please make any necessary accommodations to ensure that all volunteers and clients can remain warm, safe, and continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 guidelines.