December 13, 2023
What progress have we made together? Find out in our new multi-year impact report! Covering the first four years of the Blueprint’s efforts, this report provides a comprehensive overview of our collaborative journey thus far. It showcases the collective progress we have made in achieving our five big goals and recognizes the dedicated individuals and organizations who have made it all possible.
November 30, 2023
What else did we learn from our network during the input phase of the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger’s yearlong transformation journey? Watch a video message from Dolores Ramírez, our Executive Director of Vision, to find out more about the key findings and opportunities, which will be instrumental as we begin developing the Blueprint’s new framework. You also can read the full report from our strategic planning partner, Point B(e) Strategies.
November 30, 2023
The Blueprint invests in local communities to increase healthy food access for everyone living in our state. We provide accessible funding opportunities and distribute grants to support community-based organizations, particularly those traditionally overlooked for funding, who are leading day-to-day work in their local areas and neighborhoods.
We recently contracted with Alarus Development International to conduct a thorough evaluation of the Food Pantry Assistance Grant program’s 2022 – 2023 funding cycle, which distributed $2,351,000 to 142 grantees serving diverse communities across Colorado. Find out more about the most notable findings from their report.
November 29, 2023
The Blueprint’s State Policy Committee recently voted to endorse the Healthy Drinks in Kid’s Meal strategy, expressing support for the recommendation to ensure the automatic beverage that comes with a kids’ meal is a healthy one. The Healthy Beverage Partnership is a collaborative effort of local public health agencies and community partners to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases and address health inequities by supporting municipal-level sugary drink reduction policies across Colorado.
November 21, 2023
Colorado children, especially those in rural communities, will have more access to adequate, nutritious foods next summer, thanks to the actions of state lawmakers and advocates during the special legislative session.
After advancing from both the Senate and House of Representatives, Senate Bill 23B-002 will be signed into law by Governor Polis sometime next week. The legislation supports Colorado in implementing a new federally funded program for school-age children and their families to purchase needed groceries during the summer months.
November 14, 2023
With Gov. Jared Polis’ call for a special legislative session from November 17 – 19, state lawmakers will tackle another urgent issue besides property taxes – ensuring Colorado children, especially those in rural communities, can access adequate, nourishing foods during summer break in 2024.
Learn more about the Summer EBT Nutrition bill and how you can take action.
November 2, 2023
Since 1990, Congress has authorized an annual presidential proclamation that designates the month of November as Native American Heritage Month. It officially recognizes Indigenous peoples as the country’s original inhabitants and for their essential contributions to the United States. November was selected due to its cultural significance as the month when their traditional harvest season ends.
The Blueprint stands in solidarity with Indigenous communities, peoples, and nations. This month and throughout the year, we want to bring attention to the culture, history, traditions, and achievements of the original inhabitants and their descendants of our lands – and their sacred connection to the land and its resources. We also acknowledge the challenges that Indigenous communities continue to face today due to genocide and displacement by colonialism and U.S. public policy.
Colectivo de Paz makes food a bridge.
The Denver nonprofit’s mutual aid program focuses on supporting people living unhoused. And a major way it builds trust between the organization’s volunteers and staff and the individuals they serve is by demonstrating an understanding of basic needs.
“If you don’t have those basic physical needs met, there isn’t anywhere else to go. Food is always a need, and it creates trust,” said Julian Temianka, the group’s Director of Outreach and Advancement. “With that line of communication open we can do more. Maybe it’s naturalization status. Maybe it is a wound that’s just out of sight under their shirtsleeve. We can’t just come in to say, ‘Who needs legal services?’ until we establish that baseline.”
November 2, 2023
The steering committee of the Healthy School Meals for All campaign is excited to announce its 41 community-based organization partners who will receive grants to support their work. Their efforts will focus on continuing to uplift the new school meals program, now available in every eligible school district across Colorado.
November 1, 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its Household Food Security in the United States in 2022 report last week. While most U.S. households have consistent, dependable access to enough food for healthy living, about 1 in 8 households across America struggled with hunger last year. National rates were higher for those who live in rural areas, as well as for those who identify as Black or Latine. In Colorado, the report showed that hunger is decreasing, but nearly 1 in 11 households (8.9%) still report not having reliable access to sufficient, affordable, and nutritious foods.
