Note from the CEO
July 2025
The only constant in life is change. In our line of work, change isn’t just philosophical—it’s tangible, urgent, and sometimes even overwhelming. In this line of work, we witness it daily in the shifting needs and unpredictable lives of the families we support. Weather disasters, job losses, health crises, and fluctuating policy landscapes—all of it reinforces that true stability comes from adaptability.
Currently, SNAP funding is one of the most unpredictable challenges facing both food banks and the people we serve.
The federal government funds SNAP and sets the basic rules. States help run the program by processing applications and distributing benefits. Families apply through their state, and if they qualify, receive a special card—like a debit card—to buy food. Historically, the federal government has fully funded 100% of the money loaded onto SNAP debit cards for purchasing food.
Today’s news about SNAP cuts
Today (Tuesday, July 1, 2025) the U.S. Senate by a vote of 51-50 passed its version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The bill contains deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. Preliminary estimates show the Senate version cuts nearly $200 billion from SNAP. The proposed cuts would reduce critical SNAP support by between 6 billion and 9 billion meals each year. For comparison, the entire Feeding America network of food banks, meal programs and church pantries across the country provided 6 billion meals last year.
We see the distress—parents choosing between groceries and utilities, seniors skipping meals to afford medications, and children going to school on empty stomachs.
In Larimer County, that uncertainty carries real consequences. Our region encompasses agricultural hubs, suburban neighborhoods, and rural communities. We serve such an array of people: from families who have experienced a recent job loss, to working professionals dealing with an unexpected medical crisis, to seasonal workers in the high country.
When SNAP benefits waver, food banks see spikes in need and numbers.
When SNAP emergency allocations were eliminated in February of 2023, we immediately experienced a 30% increase in demand the following month. Adapting to these changes is difficult. It means increasing food purchases, securing emergency funding, coordinating with local groups and organizations for food donations, and more.
Yet, responding to these shifting tides challenges us to be nimble. We’re innovating with mobile market services so those in the more rural areas of Larimer County can access food. We’re using our staff and leadership’s keen business acumen to forecast the sustainability of our services over time. We’re also advocating for policy reforms that put people facing hunger at the center. Change forces us to evolve—but in that evolution lies opportunity.
We need your advocacy, too
Ultimately, our role is to transform uncertainty into action. You, too, can take action. The House will now quickly proceed with a yes/no vote on the bill; no further amendments are expected. Due to provisions that would impede access to food and health care and worsen hunger in America, we are calling on lawmakers in the House to oppose this bill. You can do your part by calling or emailing your elected Congressperson to oppose this bill and harmful cuts that will hurt people facing hunger.
The elected Congress representative for those who live in Larimer County is Joe Neguse. You can find his contact information here.
As long as change remains the only constant, we’ll continue building systems resilient enough to nourish every individual in Larimer County, no matter what tomorrow brings.
Learn more about how you can advocate for food security here.
