We hate to be the bearer of bad news — but we also know we can face hard times better when we do it together.
The ongoing federal government shutdown, which started on October 1, continues to have many ripple effects. And it’s now affecting even more people, from children to older adults and everyone in between, in every corner of our state and nation.
Due to the inaction of Congress and the USDA, more than 600,000 Coloradans, including 300,000-plus children, won’t receive their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November.
This isn’t good for anyone, anywhere.
Everyone deserves access to the nutritious food they need to survive and thrive. SNAP helps families put food on the table while weathering life’s storms, caring for loved ones, and keeping up with rent, utilities, and health care costs. It also pumps nearly $120 million into Colorado’s economy each month.
When those dollars stop flowing and SNAP benefits stop, our entire food system, from farm to fork, feels the strain:
- Families and individuals skip meals,
- Small businesses and grocers lose customers and sales,
- Local farmers and ranchers have veggies, dairy, and meat going to waste,
- Workers get reduced hours and even lose jobs, and
- Food pantries and food banks have to operate beyond capacity, trying to fill an impossible gap in food assistance
Because of how federal funds are distributed, Colorado can’t fill this $120 million gap on its own. Feeding Colorado, Provecho Collective, and other partners advocated for the State of Colorado to offer support, and they responded. On Thursday, October 30, the Joint Budget Committee approved Governor Polis’s call for $10 million in emergency funds for Colorado’s food banks to support food pantries in their networks. Though we greatly appreciate this quick action, it’s only a fraction of what’s needed — SNAP provides nine meals for every one that food banks and pantries can.
There are only two ways to prevent this crisis: Congress can end the shutdown, or the USDA can release emergency funding to keep benefits flowing and ensure families get at least partial benefits for SNAP.
If neither happens, this already dire situation will only get worse. Full stop.
How You Can Help
- Donate: Support your local food pantry, community food program, or food bank. Search 211 Colorado’s map to find what’s in your community. Monetary contributions go further than food donations and help buy what’s most needed.
- Raise your voice: Urge Congress and the USDA to act swiftly so Coloradans can afford the groceries they need, and local farmers, businesses, and aid groups don’t feel the strain. We sent a letter to Colorado’s Congressional delegation, in partnership with Nourish Colorado and other advocates, and you’re welcome to use these messages when calling your U.S. Representative and Senators.
- Share your story: Contact our Community Justice Manager, Charlie Kestler, if you want to get connected with media or other storytelling opportunities now and into the future.
- Check in with others: Strengthen connections within your community. Text, call, or visit with your neighbors, family, and friends — and consider ways to offer support through mutual aid or charitable giving if you can.
- Spread the word: Share reliable information (like this resource guide) via word-of-mouth, social media, or other ways.
Where to Get Help
If you or someone you know in Colorado needs food, reach out to:
- 211 Colorado: Call 2-1-1 or (866) 760-6489, or search their online map.
- Feeding Colorado: Use their online Food Finder or email info@feedingcolorado.org.
- Hunger Free Colorado: Call their multilingual, statewide Food Resource Hotline: (855) 855-4626
We know this is tough news, but we also know Coloradans look out for one another. By banding together, we can ensure our communities stay nourished, supported, and hopeful, even during difficult times.
Let’s keep working together to create a Colorado where there’s food for all, today and tomorrow — no matter what happens in Washington, D.C.
In solidarity,
Your Provecho Collective Team
