Fighting Hunger

The Denver Foundation's vision is a Metro Denver community where all people have the opportunity for a high quality of life. One essential element of this vision is that residents have access to food. Unfortunately, this isn't the case today.

During the economic downturn, food pantries have seen double-digit increases in the number of people seeking emergency food supplies. But the need to help isn't limited to emergency food. Recent studies show Colorado at or near the bottom of nearly every measure related to providing ongoing food security for the state's residents. What is The Denver Foundation doing?

Emergency Food Supply
With the partnership of generous donors, we activated its Critical Needs Fund to bridge gaps in emergency food provision. We distributed over $700,000 during 2009 to food programs in Metro Denver and throughout Colorado. For an interactive map of food programs receiving funding, click on the map* below.

Colorado Coalition to End Hunger
To address systemic issues of hunger in Colorado, The Denver Foundation joined Kaiser Permanente in providing initial funding for the new Colorado Coalition to End Hunger, an organization created through the merger of the Colorado Anti-Hunger Network and the Colorado Food Bank Association. Visit www.hungerfreecolorado.org.

The Coalition has entered into an exciting partnership with Share Our Strength and Governor Bill Ritter's office to end childhood hunger by 2015.

Ongoing Grants
The Foundation provides numerous grants through its Community Grants Program, donor-advised funds, and Strengthening Neighborhoods Program to help address food insecurity in Metro Denver.

For more information on The Denver Foundation's efforts to address hunger, contact Jeff Hirota or Oz Spies at 303-300-1790. For more information about the Foundation's work to study and address poverty as a root cause of food insecurity, click here.

If you would like to give to help address issues of hunger in our community, please click here to donate and select "Critical Needs Fund" from the drop-down menu.

*Please note: This list of nonprofit organizations was not compiled as an exhaustive list of food organizations in Colorado; it reflects only those organizations that applied for and received funding from the Foundation's Critical Needs Fund this year. This list includes food pantries, soup kitchens, and other organizations that provide food to their clients. The map and associated list indicate the mailing address and website of each organization receiving a grant. Please contact the organization directly for information about its hours and programs.