Bridging the Gap between Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs and the Hungry: The Work of Hunger Free Colorado
Photo Credit © Hunger Free Colorado
Hunger can often be invisible. Families may not have enough food to get them through each week, children may not be benefitting from the low cost or free breakfast and lunch programs at their schools. Whole communities may not be aware of ongoing state and federal legislation initiatives that will impact issues around hunger and access to affordable, quality food. There are organizations that endeavor to meet these needs, and more; but bridging the gap between the hungry and setting up the systems and means of providing help can present a challenge. Hunger Free Colorado (HFC) is comprehensively rising to this challenge and helping to meet the hunger and food needs of Coloradans.
The mission statement reads: “Hunger-Free Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization, connects people to food resources to meet existing needs and drives policy, systems and social change to end hunger. We envision a day when every Coloradan has equitable access to the nutritious food needed to thrive and reach their full potential.”
According to Ellie Agar, Director of Communications for HFC, the organization is the result of two agencies coming together to combine resources and provide a broader range of services for Coloradans. This was in 2009, when one in five Coloradans were experiencing hunger and participation in federal nutrition programs was very low.
HFC has a wide range of ways in which they assist those needing access to food or food programs. [FN1] It connects people to food pantries, free meal sites, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and other nutrition programs. The staff screen clients for all federal nutrition assistance programs as well as helping them navigate the related processes. They connect Colorado families and individuals to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); in fact, they help approximately 20,000 people apply for this program alone, every year. They are attentive to each client’s needs and aim to provide the most appropriate and helpful referrals on an individual basis.
The primary way Hunger Free Colorado accomplishes meeting so many needs statewide is through the use of a food resource hotline. Receiving an average of 500 calls per week, the hotline is confidential, not dependent on a caller’s legal status, and is available in over 150 languages, according to Ellie Agar.
Because this organization is community driven, it also closely follows state and federal policies that affect hunger issues. [FN2] HFC also has a policy team that looks at upcoming and ongoing legislation so that they can contribute a voice for the needs of their constituents. They forge meaningful partnerships that are able to influence resources and break down barriers to food access.
HFC encourages everyone to become advocates so that they can demonstrate to their local or state decision-makers how to improve food access; HFC makes it easy to become engaged as supporters of these causes. A side benefit is that learning about hunger and food insecurity issues improves Coloradans’ access to more equitable and sustainable food resources. [FN3]
Whatever the issue may be – nutrition programs, school and community-based food programs, or state and federal policies, HFC’s understanding is that there is always a way to make Coloradan voices heard. Contacting elected representatives can effect changes in funding for programs such as SNAP, WIC, and school nutrition.
When a person becomes an advocate, they occasionally receive emails or text alerts that provide them pre-written messages they can customize and use to connect with the appropriate people and agencies to address legislation and/or policies. Using the collective voice of Coloradans in all walks of life, those able to influence policy can push to lower the barriers to Colorado’s children, immigrants, families, and food systems workers receiving affordable and nutritious food.
Colorado has a diverse population that includes rural, urban, and suburban areas, so access to food and resources is quite different in all these areas. Understanding the needs in these unique different areas and building relationships to meet these needs and lower barriers is vital. Combining actions by connecting people with food and resources, helping them to apply for all available programs, and watching closely for changes in policy, helps to drive policy reforms and awareness. All actions contribute to the big goal: equitable access to the nutritious food needed for Coloradans.
To Donate to Hunger Free Colorado
Resources
1. https://hungerfreecolorado.org/find-food/
2. https://hungerfreecolorado.org/partner-with-us/initiatives/