Food Bank of the Rockies

Food Bank of the Rockies was founded in 1978 and known as the Colorado Food Clearing House. Operating from a 900 square-foot schoolroom in northwest Denver, the fledgling organization collected food from nearby Safeway stores and distributed it to one needy agency. Today, the Food Bank has extended its reach across northern Colorado and into Wyoming, providing food supplies to more than 900 hunger relief programs. Last year, the Food Bank distributed more than 11 million pounds of food - enough to prepare almost 8.7 million meals.

The Food Bank has a staff of 35 employees, and a pool of 1000 volunteers. The Board of Directors is made up of 25 men and women who volunteer their time and expertise in support of the food bank. The Guild consists of a board of 25 and a membership of over 100.

Reclamation Program:
This unique program collects, sorts and inspects food and household items damaged at the retail level. Each item goes through a rigorous, five-step inspection and sanitation process. The reclamation program is also a training facility for developmentally disabled and is a popular site for volunteer groups from corporations, schools, government, religious and military organizations. Last year, reclamation processed more than 3 million pounds of food for distribution.

Denver's Table:
This project of the Food Bank of the Rockies began in December 1991, to address the problem of surplus prepared food, and rerouted nearly 287,000 nutritious meals to those in need in Denver last year. Denver's Table solicits food donations from hotels, restaurants, caterers and other dining areas throughout the city. Food is then picked up by a Denver's Table refrigerated truck and delivered daily to local agencies feeding those less fortunate. These agencies provide food where there is none and hope when it has been lost.

Children's Nutrition Network:
This program was created in response to the specific needs of hungry children. When children are not provided with adequate nutrition on a daily basis, they tend to have more disciplinary problems, score lower on tests, miss more school, and face serious health risks. The despair of hunger affects children's physical, mental, spiritual and social growth. Even moderate nutritional vulnerability can hinder cognitive development and impair a child's abilities for a lifetime. Last year Children's Nutrition Network provided more than 1 million meals to children in need. This program incorporates the Food Bank of the Rockies' Denver Rustlers Kids Cafe program, the After School Snacks for Tutoring program, and Children's Hunger Outreach. Children under 18 make up 42 percent of Food Bank of the Rockies' Clients, and 12 percent are 5 years old or younger.