Community-driven advocacy plays a powerful role in addressing food insecurity in Larimer County and across Colorado. Here’s how individuals — clients, neighbors, volunteers, and/or community leaders — can take action.
Understand the scope of the challenge
In Larimer County, 11% of the population is food insecure. Of that food insecure population, 40% don’t qualify for SNAP benefits. In other words, the majority of Food Bank clients are not living under the poverty line, but still experience food insecurity. Another way to think about this is through the lens of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), which means the person/household is living above the federal poverty level yet unable to meet basic needs. In Larimer County, 23% of households are ALICE.
Join existing food-support networks
There are so many ways to donate to the Food Bank for Larimer County. We accept food, funds, and many other types of household items. We also welcome the donation of your time and work.
Volunteer with us!
We distributed enough food for 10.5 million meals in the 2024 calendar year, reaching over 54,000 people. This work was due to both staff and volunteer efforts; in that same time period, 11,188 volunteers served more than 69,000 hours.
Donate food
We accept donated food, including shelf-stable items such as canned and dry goods as well as dairy, meat, bakery items, and fresh produce. In addition to food items, we also gladly accept non-food items like diapers, baby wipes, deodorant, toothpaste, period products and other essentials that help our clients live healthy and rewarding lives. Learn more about donating food and household items, including the most needed items here.
We also welcome the donation of food through home-grown crops. In partnership with the Gardens on Spring Creek, the Food Bank for Larimer County’s Plant It Forward initiative is an effort to increase local produce donations from backyard gardeners. Community members are invited to plant an extra row in their gardens and when the crops are ready, drop them off at either the Food Bank for Larimer County or the Gardens on Spring Creek. No donation is too small. More here.
Donate money
Financial donations can be set up as a one-time donation, a monthly donation, gifts of stock, or even legacy gifts (inclusion in a will or trust). Individual donations are essential to our service and operations, and we are lucky to have so many community members display their generosity. With current and forecasted cuts or decreased incoming funds from federal programs, individual gifts are more important than ever. Give money the way that works best for you here.
Engage in policy and civic action
Because our voices are stronger together, we coordinate advocacy and public policy work through Feeding Colorado, the state association of the five Feeding America food banks serving all of Colorado and Wyoming.
Prioritize efforts for greater impact
When individuals band together to advocate for collective values, our voices are more likely to be heard. The Food Bank for Larimer County and Feeding Colorado both encourage constituents to pay special attention to the specific policy priorities below. Read more about these priorities here.
- Protect and strengthen programs that fight hunger
- Support organizations that serve people facing hunger
- Reduce the number of people needing food assistance
- Encourage a strong nonprofit sector
Engage with lawmakers
As Larimer County community members, you can contact and engage with your elected officials to convey how important these issues are to you and to our community. Look up your elected representatives online and contact them today!
Declare yourself a hunger-relief advocate
The Food Bank for Larimer County and our partner agencies are on the front lines of hunger when it comes to food security advocacy. We hear the stories, understand the struggles, and then we look for solutions. We need elected state and federal lawmakers to understand the issues facing the people we serve, so they know how they can best help food banks and those experiencing food insecurity. Click here to become a hunger-relief advocate today.
Tell your story and amplify awareness
Participate in Food Bank for Larimer County’s “Share Your Story” initiative—personal narratives shape public perception and policy.
By sharing your story and experience of struggle or triumph, you can encourage others, elevate the issue of hunger in community dialogue, and even impact policy. Stories might be used within our external communications, advocacy asks or fundraising appeals, depending on how you’d like your story to have impact. If you have a story to share, we want to hear it.
Complete the form on our website here to get started.
