Food Bank Launches Cooking Matters Class

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Healthy. Affordable. Delicious. These three basic words help define the Cooking Matters approach to ending childhood hunger and helping families shop for and prepare healthy meals.

Cooking Matters is an initiative through Share Our Strength that works to “end childhood hunger by inspiring families to make healthy, affordable food choices.” In August, the Food Bank for Larimer County launched its Cooking Matters program offering families in need the opportunity to learn how to make their food dollars stretch further while preparing healthy meals for their families. The initial Cooking Matters classes have been held at partner locations like the Murphy Center and the Sunrise Loveland Summer Fair.

Learn more about Cooking Matters in the video below.

Whitney Helton is the Food Bank’s nutrition education coordinator and the person responsible for building and delivering the Cooking Matters curriculum. “I spent a lot of time in Denver training with the Cooking Matters team, learning what classroom topics are most effective and how to engage volunteers in this process,” Whitney said. “Cooking Matters provides a ton of program materials, tools and resources to help our families to remove the barrier of providing healthy meals. I can’t wait to get started.”

Cooking Matters class at Sunrise Loveland Summer Fair

Guests learn about the different food groups at a mock “grocery store” at the Sunrise Loveland Summer Fair.

The Food Bank’s Cooking Matters program consists of two tracks: grocery store tours and classroom work. “The grocery store tours are a great source of information for our participants,” Whitney said. “During the tours, we focus on nutritional content, unit pricing and other elements that help our families get the most out of their food budgets while preparing healthy and delicious meals. Our classroom curriculum will be hands-on, giving participants the opportunity to put their skills into practice.”

Through the partnership with Share Our Strength, the Cooking Matters program will serve families from food insecure households with a priority given to those with children 5 and under. Whitney is currently working with the Food Bank’s partner agencies to register the first Cooking Matters class, with the goal of graduation by the end of the summer.

Look for more information throughout the summer on the Food Bank’s Cooking Matters program. If you are interested in volunteering for the Cooking Matters program or would like to sign up for a class, contact Whitney Helton.

THANK YOU for Your Plant it Forward Support

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Plant it Forward As the summer wraps up, we just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has volunteered, advocated, and donated to our Plant it Forward program. ​Plant It Forward, a partnership between the Gardens on Spring Creek and the Food Bank for Larimer County, invites all gardeners to plant an extra row to fight hunger in our community. When the garden matures, we invite you to share your bounty with children, families, and seniors in need of food assistance and help end hunger.

Many community members stepped up to fight hunger with their gardens, including Dr. J., a true Plant it Forward champion, who donated over 4,000 poundsPlant it Forward to our program this year alone. He has been donating his entire garden’s proceeds for 6 years, but this is his biggest donation so far. Help us thank Dr. J. and the many other wonderful participants who worked tirelessly to fight hunger from the ground up!

This year, we had an ambitious goal of raising 65,000 pounds of fresh, local food. We haven’t quite reached that mark, but we’re inviting local gardeners to donate any late squash, zucchini, or pumpkins they may have to our program.

As you’re picking pumpkins for Halloween season, please consider grabbing an extra as many of the youngest Food Bank guests do not have the luxury of carving pumpkins this time of year.

As you begin to plan your 2018 gardens, don’t forget to plant an extra row or two for the Food Bank for Larimer County. We’d love to have your extras! Sign up for our email newsletter to stay in touch!

 

 

Making A Difference for the Kids at Lago Vista

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For the last eight years, retired teachers Laney and Duncan Howard have dedicated their time, talents and hearts to the kids at Lago Vista Mobile Home Community in Loveland. What started as a small reading program with 10 or 20 kids has grown into a successful year-round program supporting up to 150 kids each year. The program ramps up in the summer providing a variety of activities three mornings each week, including reading, art, chess and outdoor recreation designed for children ages 5 and up. In addition to the activities designed to support academic, social and emotional success for elementary students, Laney and Duncan developed a leadership program for the community’s middle and high school students. This year, they have 16 kids in the leadership training program— more than ever. They treat it like a job, with an application, an interview and required hours. Kids receive a “small stipend” at the end of the summer for completing the program.

Edwin from Lago Vista

Edwin is one of 16 kids in the leadership program at Lago Vista.

Edwin, age 13, has been in the leadership program for three years and says, “It’s fun. It’s a great way to learn about being a leader and being responsible. You get to help the [younger] kids with reading and homework and play games.”

The Food Bank for Larimer County is proud to partner with Lago Vista community and has been providing Kids Cafe meals and snacks since 2014. According to Laney, the Kids Cafe food really makes a difference for many of the kids in the community. “When kids come in the morning for a snack, a lot ask if they can take food home for dinner.” She says it makes her feel good to know they are getting one good meal. Tacos are especially popular and almost every child asks for seconds … or thirds. “Shawn would eat 3rds or 4ths of everything if he could. He’s hungry all of the time, things are pretty rough at home,” shared Laney.

“I love the food,” shared 17-year-old Lydia.  “The tacos are really good. That’s my favorite. Or anything with salad, vegetables, fruit—I’m all for it!”

Making a Difference

During their second summer at Lago Vista, Loveland Police visited the mobile home community manager and said: “what are you doing here?” Lago Vista had been infamous for vandalism, fights and other criminal activity, but that summer there had been only one incident reported. The park manager attributed the change to Laney and Duncan’s investment in the community. And that’s not the only difference they’re seeing. At the end of the 2016-17 school year, Laney received an email from the Dean of Loveland High School sharing that 15 out of the 16 seniors in the community graduated. In a community where 90+% of the kids qualify for free and reduced lunch, that graduation rate is unheard of – the district and statewide rate is around 67%.

Laney credits their success to creating an atmosphere where it’s ok to learn and study. They’ve also established a program called Graduation and Beyond for high school students. It includes a monthly speaker and a scholarship program that can be used for any continuing education, it’s not restricted to college. She’s really proud of the students they’ve worked within the community who are now attending the University of Northern Colorado, working on welding certification and going to cosmetology school.

“It’s a small program, but growing and we trust we are making a difference,” said Laney.

Lydia’s Story

Lydia from Lago VistaLydia is 17 and has been in the leadership program at Lago Vista for several summers. She has grown in maturity and social skills to the point that she has been hired as a paid summer staff member, a position usually reserved for college students. She works 13.5 hours per week. Home life isn’t easy, her parents are divorced and her dad is a vet and has cancer, so she’s currently living with a friend.

“The leadership program, for me, it’s grown me to be a more mature young lady. I like being there for the kids and helping them with school.” Her sister “used to do this job, but she’s in college now.”

Kids Cafe Summer Schedule

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Food TruckMore than one in three students in Larimer County schools qualifies for free or reduced lunch. For these children, summer vacation means no school meals and the prospect of going hungry. Food Bank for Larimer County is committed to ending childhood hunger through a variety of programs, including Kids Cafe.

This summer, the Food Bank will serve healthy, made from scratch meals for children ages 5-18 at thirteen sites throughout Larimer County. Through the Kids Cafe program, the Food Bank expects to serve 55,000 meals and 20,000 snacks this summer. On average, the program will provide a record-setting 1,400 meals per day.

“Even if hunger is temporary, its impact can last a lifetime,” said Liz Donovan, Nutrition and Programs Manager, Food Bank for Larimer County. “Children who miss breakfast and lunch arFood Trucke more susceptible to health and wellness issues. Hunger can also impact academic success and behavior. Through our Kids Cafe program, we’re working hard to give more kids the nourishment they need to thrive.”

Thanks to a generous $50,000 grant from Northern Colorado Unify, the Food Bank for will be expanding its Kids Cafe’s capabilities to include Food Truck service at three CARE Housing communities in Fort Collins. Community Kitchen Manager, Justin Kruger, worked with a local company to retrofit a used truck to meet the Food Bank’s specific needs. “I’m really excited about the options the new truck provides us,” said Kruger. “We know that there are thousands of kids who receive free lunch during the school year who don’t have a consistent source for meals during the summer,” said Kruger. “Our new food truck will go a long way towards helping us feed more kids in the summer.”

The Kids Cafe  will be at the following locations this summer:

SITE LOCATION DATES TIMES ELIGIBILITY
CARE Housing*

1303 W. Swallow Rd.

 Monday – Friday

June 12 – August 4

 11-11:30am (Lunch) Open to All
CARE Housing*

626 Quaking Aspen Dr.

 Monday – Friday

June 12 – August 4

 12:30-1pm (Lunch) Open to All
CARE Housing*

400 Butch Cassidy Dr.

 Monday – Friday

June 12 – August 4

 11:45am-12:15pm (Lunch) Open to All
Linton Elementary

4100 Caribou Dr.

 Monday – Thursday

June 5 – August 4

 9-9:30am (Breakfast)

11:30am-12:30pm (Lunch)

 Enrolled

Students Only
Lincoln Middle School

1600 Lancer Dr.

 Monday – Thursday

June 5 – August 4

 9-9:30am (Breakfast)

11:30am-12:30pm (Lunch)

 Enrolled

Students Only
Boys & Girls Clubs – Fort Collins

1608 Lancer Dr.

 Monday – Friday

June 5 – August 11

 8:30-9am (Breakfast)

11:30am – 12:15pm (Lunch)

 Members Only
Boys & Girls Clubs – Wellington

3815 W. Harrison Ave.

 Monday – Friday

June 5 – August 11

 12-1pm (Lunch)

2-3pm (Snack)

 Members Only
Boys & Girls Clubs – Loveland

2500 E. 1st St.

 Monday – Friday

June 5 – August 11

 12-12:30pm (Lunch)

2:30-3pm (Snack)

 Members Only
Boys & Girls Clubs – Estes Park

1505 Brodie Ave.

 Monday – Friday

June 5 – August 4

 11:30-12:30pm (Lunch)

3-4pm (Snack)

 Members Only
The Matthews House

400 S. Link Ln.

 Tuesday – Thursday

June 6 – August 3

 12-1pm (Lunch) Open Enrollment
Base Camp

2130 W. Horsetooth Rd.

 Monday – Friday

June 1 – August 11

 11am-12:30pm (Lunch)

3-4pm (Snack)

 Enrolled

Students Only
Lago Vista

420 E. 57th St.

 Tuesday – Thursday

May 30 – July 27

 9-10:15am (Snack)

11:30am-12pm(Lunch)

 Residents Only
Maple Terrace

574 E. 23rd St.

 Tuesday, Thursday

June 5 – July 28

 12-1pm (Lunch) Residents Only

Click here to learn more about our childhood hunger initiatives and consider supporting our summer meal program and the Food Truck by donating to the Food Bank for Larimer County.

Everything Worth Having, is Better Shared

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Plant it FowardLexi is a Fort Collins resident and active Plant it Forward participant. She learned about the program through her volunteer work at the Gardens on Spring Creek. “I regularly volunteer at their special events and always make a point to see what they’re up to in the community. I was informed that they were launching a new outreach program called Plant it Forward, and as a gardener was immediately interested in participating!”

Lexi grows fruits and vegetables every year in her home garden. She mentioned, “It never fails that I end up with way more tomatoes than one person can consume, believe me, I tried.” She’s tried freezing them and making them into the sauce, but no matter what, Lexi always ended up with excess. “Knowing that I could share my fresh produce with the Fort Collins community gave me the opportunity to give back to Larimer County in a significant way.”

Lexi has been involved with Plant it Forward since the beginning. Originally she began as a donor, “I had extra produce the first year, and I made a few donations to the program.” The following summer, Lexi took on the role of a Neighborhood Champion, a volunteer from the area who agrees to transport the produce to drop off locations, and she hasn’t looked back. “I eagerly plant my neighborhood sign out front each spring and wait for others to ask me what it’s for. I love sharing the Plant it Forward mission and encouraging others to participate. I now grow 2-3x what I used to grow so that I can contribute as much as I can to the program and ultimately, to the wonderful community of Fort Collins. I only wish I had more raised beds!”

Lexi mentioned her favorite part of participating in the program is how good she feels about giving back. “Growing my own food is rewarding in itself, but being able to share that with others – nothing that gives me more warm fuzzies. I love knowing that I’m growing local, sustainable, healthy AND delicious vegetables that I can share.” Lexi Plants it Forward because it, “Provides me an opportunity to do something I already enjoy while giving back to the community. Everything worth having is better shared.”

Lexi Plants it Forward, will you? Your donation will help feed neighbors in need leading to a healthier and more vibrant community for all. Plant it Forward is made successful by backyard gardeners of all levels and of all donation sizes coming together to fight hunger in our community. Click here to learn more about the program and how you, too, can participate.

The Old Table

The Old Table

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Chuck-Gill-cropped

 

By Chuck Gill, Chief Operations Officer

 

When I first started working at the Food Bank 19 years ago, we only had one table in the warehouse
for volunteers to bag USDA commodity products to distribute to our guests. It was made of solid-wood and had a sheet of vinyl flooring on the top. Its design made it easy for volunteers to bag food and to clean up.

Somewhere along the line, a volunteer named Ernie Cummins noticed that the vinyl was looking pretty ragged. He asked me if he could refinish the table. Of course I agreed, even though I thought that the table might only make it for a few more years. Despite that, Ernie wanted to save it.

Recently, Ernie and Peter Lederer, another Monday morning volunteer, asked if they could refinish it a second time. Here is the result. After more than 19 years, it still does its job, very well I might add.

Many interesting conversations, lively debates and friendships have formed around that table. If it could only tell some stories it would have a few tales to tell. Thanks to Ernie and Peter it lives on.

 

Senior Hunger

New Food Bank Partnership with VOA Will Provide Meals for Seniors

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VOA PartnersBeginning this week, the Food Bank is partnering with Volunteers of America (VOA) to offer senior meals at nine sites throughout the county. The new partnership developed after a pilot meal program last spring. Previously, VOA had been working with a contractor out of Denver.

According to VOA’s Nutrition Program Manager, Emily Gorgol, VOA selected the Food Bank because they want to work with community partners who understand, prioritize and are passionate about ending senior hunger. She credits the Food Bank with “understanding the problem and wanting to be part of the solution”.

Senior Hunger in Larimer County

The impact of food insecurity on seniors is far-reaching. Thousands of seniors in our community live on fixed incomes and face tough choices when it comes to making ends meet. Often, seniors have to make the tough choice between medical care/medication and having enough to eat. When seniors cut back on meals or select cheaper, less nutrient-rich foods, it is more difficult to manage illness and maintain health.

A 2014 study published by Feeding America found that seniors who lack adequate nutrition are:

  • 60% more likely to experience depression
  • 53% more likely to report a heart attack
  • 52% more likely to develop asthma
  • 40%  are more likely to report an experience of congestive heart failure.

Learn more about the impact of senior food insecurity.

Over the last 5 years, the Food Bank has seen consistent growth in the number of seniors served through the Food Share program. In fact, the number of seniors visiting Food Share has increased nearly 25% in five years. As more baby boomers retire, the Food Bank expects the trend to continue. In addition to providing food for more seniors through the Food Share program, the Food Bank has been looking for other ways to address senior food insecurity. The partnership with VOA aligns well with the Food Bank’s goal to meet the needs of seniors.

Over the next 12 months, the Food Bank anticipates preparing 500 meals per week. Based on population projections and increased participation, by 2020 the Food Bank intends to grow this program by 20%. The twenty-year program goal is to serve over 800 meals per week to meet the increasing needs of seniors.

 

Program LaunchVOA Senior Meals

In preparation for the new program, the Food Bank’s Community Kitchen Chef, Justin Kruger, spent the last few weeks meeting with participants to learn more about the types of foods they would like to see on the menu. Kruger looks forward to developing crowd-pleasing menus. Overall, his goal is to increase program participation by offering meals that guests look forward to each week.

To celebrate the new partnership and kick off the new menu, each VOA site is hosting a party complete with raffle prizes, music, and games led by students from Rocky Mountain High School. With the kick off parties, VOA is hoping to attract new guests and bring back others who had stopped attending over the years.

VOA meal sites are open to anyone 60 years of age or older for a suggested donation of $2.50, however, no one is turned away. Meals are offered various weekdays at 12 noon at sites in Fort Collins, Loveland, Bellevue and Wellington. See complete details.

To ensure no senior is hungry, the Food Bank needs your support. Find out how you can get involved. With your help, we can ensure the well-being of every senior in our community.

 

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.

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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