When Marlies and Raymond’s son was seriously injured in a car accident, the elderly couple brought him home to recover, determined to care for him as best they could.
But soon, the mounting cost of medical supplies began to take over their grocery budget. That’s when a caring team member at the Food Bank stepped in to help them apply for SNAP benefits—ensuring they could keep food on the table while focusing on their son’s healing.
Standing in a grocery store with a full cart for the first time in months, Marlies shared how overcome she was with gratitude and relief.
As the government shutdown continues, the SNAP benefits that have been a lifeline to people like Marlies, Raymond and their son are now on hold. In Colorado, more than 600,000 people — half of which are children, benefit from SNAP. This number includes 34,000 Larimer County residents. Right now, so many people who rely on these benefits are faced with worry, fear and impossible choices. For federal workers, now without a reliable paycheck, these concerns are echoed.
Despite the uncertainty, one thing that remains unchanged is that the Food Bank for Larimer County is here to help fill the gap and provide food to those who have found themselves with nowhere else to turn. If you, or anyone you know has been impacted, and needs food, please encourage them to seek out our services.
As we prepare for this response, we are rallying our community and connecting with our Feeding Colorado partners — a network of five food banks across the state.
The resounding message is this: if ever there was a time when your support could make the greatest impact, it’s now.
To put it in perspective, for every one meal a food bank provides, SNAP assistance provides nine. Food banks will simply not be able to make up the difference without support from their communities.
Regardless of the challenges we’ve faced, every day brings amazing inspiration for the work we do. We hear so much gratitude from the people we get the privilege of serving, telling us how critical the food we provide is to supporting their families.
If you can give, please help us to make continuing this support a reality. For every donated dollar, the Food Bank can use its purchasing power to buy the equivalent of two meals’ worth of food. Your support, and every gift matters.
Please visit our website’s home page to learn how to give. You’ll see a pop-up with an option for “learn how to give.”
