Some 245 food pantries across Colorado are getting emergency funding to help meet a surge in demand after double-digit inflation and the end of pandemic-related food assistance. Dana Wood, community investment manager with the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, said a lot of Coloradans are having to make tough choices between paying rent and buying food for their families. "And so food pantries are a vital piece right now for our food system," said Wood, "and for folks to access healthy foods that they can t afford at the grocery store." The State of Colorado is making $14 million available to food banks and pantries. " .
New Mexico kids on vacation from school are no longer queueing-up for cafeteria meals - and that can increase hunger for low-income children and their families. Free and reduced-priced meals are temporarily on pause during the summer months. Jason Riggs, community initiatives manager-client services with Roadrunner Food Bank explained higher food prices combined with the rollback of extra COVID-19-related benefits is contributing to food insecurity. .
One organization is taking a hands-on approach to addressing food insecurity in Indiana by working alongside farmers. And it could use some more hands. The Society of St. .
A program helping low-income California families buy fruits and vegetables at farmers markets may be on the chopping block as state budget negotiations come down to the wire. Organizations fighting hunger in the state are asking for $35 million to fund the Market Match program, which is part of the California Nutrition Incentives Program. Minni Forman, food and farming program director at the Ecology Center, oversees Market Match statewide. .