September 2026
Every Hunger Action Month in September, we center our calling around getting involved with the Food Bank through volunteering, donating and advocacy.
As a part of this ask, we are shining a light on advocacy for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and its ability to give people buying power to get the nutritious food they need.
This ask comes at a critical time. While SNAP is currently funded by the federal government, starting in October 2027, Colorado will be among the states that will have to shoulder 15% of the cost to administer SNAP based on our state’s payment error rate of just over 10%.
To be clear, payment error rate is not a measure of fraud or abuse by participants, but rather administrative error at the state level. This shift is a result of the passage of HR1.
Our partners at Feeding America are advocating for this cost shift to be delayed by two years so that states have time to make adjustments and improve clerical errors.
For states, like Colorado, shifting a portion of the cost of SNAP to the state will mean increasingly greater barriers to those who need support receiving food. States will likely be forced to potentially limit program eligibility, cut other community services or raise taxes. Keep in mind that 50% of those who receive SNAP in Colorado are children.
Just as we saw during the shutdown, nearly a year ago, when people in need aren’t receiving this federal nutrition support, they’re turning to their local food bank to fill the gap — a need that isn’t sustainable for food banks to fill alone. To put it in perspective, in 43 days, during the duration of the shutdown last year, Food Bank for Larimer County helped nearly 17,800 people access nutritious food. This includes nearly 1,500 people who signed up for our hunger-relief services for the first time.
To better understand what cuts stemming from the bill could mean at the local level, U.S. Sen. Hickenlooper in August visited our Fort Collins No Cost Market location to host a roundtable discussion. Participants included medical providers, who could speak to the bill’s cuts to Medicaid, fellow nonprofits and community members whose benefits could be impacted. We are honored to have provided valuable local insight that Senator Hickenlooper can take back to Washington D.C.
To further elevate the voices of those who have used SNAP as a hand up, Feeding America launched a SNAP activation campaign. As a part of this, Feeding America visited Food Bank for Larimer County to feature Camille, a former client, and Michelle, a current client. Stay tuned to view their impactful stories over the next two months.
Ending hunger takes more than one solution. It takes people who are willing to look out for each other, especially now. We hope you’ll also join us in advocating and educating everyone on the importance of federal nutrition. Find your part this Hunger Action Month. Give. Volunteer. Speak up.
