Kids Cafe Summer Wrap Up

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As summer ends and we all prepare for the back-to-school rush Food Bank for Larimer County gets ready for a change in seasons as well. Kids Cafe summer locations are closed for the year and served over 30,000 meals to children in need in Larimer County.

Our kitchen does not get much of a break as they are back in there putting food together for the school year starting August 22. Food Bank for Larimer County collaborates with Poudre and Thompson School Districts to provide after school snacks for students that are at risk of going hungry. Schools that have 50% or more of a population of students that qualify for reduced and free lunches are enrolled in the program. Kids Café snacks help provide kids with the fuel they need to thrive and succeed.

“Many kids come to school hungry and have not eaten all weekend or since the day before.” Explains Liz Donovan, Nutrition and Programs Manager “By offering snacks to these children, we can ensure that their school day provides all the resources they need beyond basic classroom needs.” Snacks are made shelf-stable and nutritiously dense to provide the best resources for kids in need.

Along with Kids Cafe snacks, we also work to provide weekend resources for kids in need. Those that are homeless or near homelessness are given packs of shelf-stable food that they can take home for the weekend. Packs include things like peanut butter and dry cereals to feed kids while they are away from schools, preventing kids from missing vital nutrients and providing the ability to flourish.

Though a few skipped meals may not seem all-around detrimental, research has shown that kids who regularly skip meals tend to miss school more often and are sick more often because they lack nutrients to keep their immune system strong.  Children that are food-insecure are far more likely to end up hospitalized and have chronic health problems. For these children it is more common to have oral problems and an overall poorer quality of life, which can cause more issues with their engagement in and out of the classroom. This can cause behavioral issues such as aggression, hyperactivity, fighting, anxiety, mood swings, and bullying.

As we continue our efforts to expand our programs and serve more kids, will you join us and help guarantee food for our children in need? LEARN MORE or DONATE.

Feeding Your Child’s Brain

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The beginning of another school year is just around the corner.  Now is the time to start planning how to prepare nutritious meals and snacks for your kids.  The brain requires a tremendous amount of energy to function.  Children learn best when their brains and bodies are in a nourished state. 

Read on to find tasty “brain foods” for children and the nutrients they contain.

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Kids Eat Right Month™

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Kids Eat Right Month™

The month of August is celebrated as Kids Eat Right Month™ by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  This month, Food Bank for Larimer County will feature weekly blogs focusing on topics related to childhood nutrition.  The topic for this week’s blog is Healthy After-School Snacks.  Please read on for tips and recipes for great after-school snacks.

After-school snacking is tricky.  Kids are hungry, but you don’t want them filling up on snacks a few hours before dinner.  Ideally, they would be eating healthy foods, but that usually involves shopping, washing and chopping.

It’s true, healthy after-school snacks are going to take a little bit of prep work and some pre-planning.  Read on for healthy snacks that will save money, cut down on sugar, fat, salt, calories and waste from pre-packaged foods.

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Need Rises in Larimer County

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July 2016 was a record-breaking month for Food Bank for Larimer County. From April to June we supported 50,000 household visits, breaking a previous record set in 2012 at the end of the great recession. The number of times guests visit Food Share has also increased from 2.95 visits a month in 2010, to 3.81 visits a month in April-June 2016.

The increased need also has required increased efforts to source and redistribute more food. In 2012, we distributed around 1.5 million pounds of food in April-June. In 2016, we distributed 2.04 million pounds in the last quarter. The continued growth in service means we are reaching warehouse storage capacity and putting a greater-than-ever strain on existing resources.

The future is always uncertain, but based on State Demographers projections, we expect to see continued growth in the need for our services. By 2035, the population of Larimer County is projected to reach 450,000, while the number of individuals eligible for Food Bank programs could climb to nearly 120,000. To prepare, we are working on several new initiatives that will be announced in the coming months, including a new partnership with Volunteers of America to increase meal service and potentially fresh food access for seniors. Please keep in touch on social media and through this newsletter for the latest information.

Our vision is a hunger-free Larimer County and we hope that as the population increases we can keep up with the demand and help all people in need through innovative solutions. We hope you will join us as we continue our work to ensure no one in our community goes hungry.

Agency Spotlight

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A few months ago one of the freezers broke at the Salvation Army in Fort Collins. When the repair guy came to fix it he saw how old the second freezer was and recommended they both be replaced. With only one remaining freezer the Salvation Army did not have the space to store all the donations of ready to eat meals that they get from area restaurants and the Food Bank for Larimer County. With the help of the Food Bank for Larimer County the Salvation Army was able to purchase 2 new freezers to replace the old and broken ones. Now their monthly food boxes are full of meat, produce, and non-perishables! Of course the Salvation Army does a lot more than provide emergency food boxes to guests once a month. They offer a warm dry space to hang out and laundry facilities. The Salvation Army in Fort Collins offers a variety of children’s programming too, from summer camp in Estes Park to new music lessons on a variety of instruments. Thanks to the Salvation Army for all they do!

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