Hunger continues to be a rising health and social issue nationally, regionally and locally.
According to a study released by the USDA in November 2006, food insecurity nationally has declined slightly but Colorado experienced the third largest food insecurity increase in the country between 2003 and 2005. Recent reports also indicate the poverty levels for Larimer County are increasing - from 7.3% in 1999 to 9.9% in 2003. Food security is defined as access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. Colorado experienced the fifth largest food insecurity increase in the country, 31%, between 1999 and 2004. Locally, the numbers of people seeking hunger relief assistance is on the rise as well. The fastest growing segment of the hungry is the working poor. Low wage jobs, lack of health insurance and high housing costs contribute dramatically to the demand for food from our warehouse. To address the rapidly increasing need we reach at-risk people by providing food through three primary services to the community: Food Share; Kids Cafe ®; and Food Link.

Food Share:

Our on-site food pantry in Fort Collins - Food Share - is the largest pantry in the county and provides free food to more than 8,000 individuals at risk of hunger each month. Of those, 50% are children and seniors. All of our clients have incomes below 185% of poverty and the average monthly income is just $800 - less than what is needed to afford rent along with other basic necessities including food. While the recipients of our pantry are primarily from Fort Collins, twenty four percent of our clients come from Larimer County cities outside of Fort Collins. To address the accessibility for residents outside of Fort Collins, an additional Food Share pantry was opened in Loveland in November, 2006. Most of our clients are working or living on social security and rely on Food Share to stretch their budgets.

Click here to see if you qualify for food assistance, or to learn more about Food Share
Click here to learn about hunger locally and nationally

Kids Cafe®:

To address the issue of childhood hunger, the FBLC operates Kids Cafe®. Our four local programs are among over 1,600 Kids Cafe® locations nationwide. The recipients of Kids Cafe are all children between the ages of 3 and 18 and each of our four Kids Cafes is located within one mile of an elementary school where more than 50% of the students are eligible for free or reduced price lunch. In a survey conducted with children at our Kids Cafe sites, 42% of the children reported not eating breakfast or dinner at home if it wasn't offered at Kids Cafe. In 2007 we served more than 46,000 meals to children in Larimer County.

Click here to find out more about Kids Cafe®
Click here to learn more about childhood hunger in the U.S.

Food Link:

To provide agency services, we partner with approximately 70 other non-profit organizations in the community including food pantries, kitchens, shelters, snack programs childcare and residential programs, centers for the disabled and other organizations that serve single-parent families, low-income older adults and youth in crisis. These agencies in turn distribute the food to low-income and at risk populations. To qualify, organizations must be 501(c)(3) charities, serve low-income individuals, and meet strict food safety requirements. By accessing food at the Food Bank for Larimer County these organizations are able to save dollars on their food budgets. In fact, in 2007 we provided food to our partner agencies valued at nearly $2 million.

Click here to see a list of our partner agencies
Click here to see if your organization qualifies to become a partner agency