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TODAY is Hunger Action Day!

Sept 15, 2023

Hi Community Food Bank Friends,


TODAY is Hunger Action Day! Here at CFB we take action against hunger in our community every day - but this year we are focusing this yto make sure our entire community is aware of the needs in Mesa County and how we are continuing to expand our capacity and innovate new solutions.


There is SO much to talk about, but we want to keep this email all about how YOU can take action TODAY!!


While we have received some wonderful grant funds to pilot new projects, but they are highly restricted and very specific to new program initiatives. As always, we rely on donations from our amazing community to sustain our weekly pantry operations serving 6,000 unique Grand Valley neighbors in need of nutritious foods. If you are able to give, consider purchasing a ticket to our upcoming Harvest Celebration on September 29th or help us work toward our goal of 200 new Harvest Club donors by summer of 2024!!


Please be sure to check out all the actions we have included in this email that you can take both big and small, and how you can have your voice heard in some very important anti-hunger policies happening at the local and federal levels!


We have been serving Mesa County for 45 years now, everything we do is in service to those experiencing need in our own backyard. We are truly YOUR Community Food Bank -- if you are able to take a step today to ensure everyone in our community has the nutritious foods they need to thrive, please be sure to do so - every action truly make a big difference!


We are so blessed with an incredible community that truly cares. Thank you as always for everything each and every one of you do to make this work possible!

To our lovely volunteers, donors, and partners, we truly would not be able to meet our mission without each and every one of you. 


On behalf of our full CFB team and everyone we serve -- thank you.


Alisha Wenger 

Executive Director 

alisha@foodbankgj.org

(970) 640 - 0336 ext 3

Alisha and food bank toddler Olivia having fun playing outside in the cooler temps!

CFB HUNGER RELIEF IMPACT - SUMMER 2023

The Community Food Bank has been working overtime since the spring to provide extra food and resources to our community members experiencing increased hunger as a result of lingering inflation, high food costs, and reduction in pandemic level benefits.


As a result - we moved to an appointments model to ensure expedient service and reduce stress during our pantry operations. However, we also doubled the number of visit limitations through the end of this year to help our neighbors ease through all these difficult transitions. We are pleased to share the following impact of that hard work from June - August of 2023.

CFB Pilots Mobile Fresh Market Project!!


Thanks to important funding from the USDA and Colorado Department of Human Services Local Food Purchasing Assistance grant - we have been able to launch our Mobile Fresh Market this summer!! With LFPA grant funds for food purchasing and WIC-CIAO and Colorado Health Foundation funds to support staffing personnel we have been getting out and about in the community bringing fresh, local produce to partners in high needs and low access areas across our community!!


Recent press articles covering more details about this exciting new work:

Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger News Article

National Food Bank News Article


We will continue to update everyone as this exciting work continues to develop! Check out some fun pics below from our initial markets -- let us know if you want to volunteer to help out on these projects (includes produce!!) or if you know of a high needs area or good partnership to add into our schedule!


We are excited to announce that we have received extension on LFPA funds and will be able to continue this work through the spring of 2025!!!

DONATE

BUY Harvest Celebration Tickets TODAY!! 

Only a handful of Harvest Dinner tickets remain so be sure to grab them TODAY if you would like to attend the full event!!



There are still LOADS of Harvest Happy Hour tickets though, so please help us spread the word!!

Community Food Bank of Grand Junction

Launches First Annual Hunger Action Month Fundraiser


The Community Food Bank of Grand Junction is excited to partner with Colorado State University Western Campus - Orchard Mesa Research Center -  to launch their first Annual Harvest Celebration Fundraiser on Friday, September 29th, 2023 in alignment with Hunger Action Month this September. 


The fundraiser will include a Harvest Happy Hour from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, followed by a Harvest Farm Dinner from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Enchanting soundscapes will be provided throughout the evening by Liat and The Sirens. The event will feature an exclusive local foods menu prepared by Chef Wayne Smith at CMU Tech Culinary Program and Chef Kaye Davis from Early Morning Orchard. Dinner will also include unique wine pairings from local winemaker Joe Flynn at Periphery Cellars. 


Come enjoy an evening filled with live music, local food bites and refreshments, program demonstrations, farm tours, fantastic door prizes and more! 


The event is featuring a wide array of local food systems partners to provide delicious chef-prepared apps and dinner menu from food access sponsors helping to fight hunger in our community: Early Morning OrchardLazy 3x Ranch, Kulina Lani Organic Sourdough, Blaine’s Farm Store, Grand Valley Micro Farms, Orchard Mesa Greenhouse, and GroFresh 365!! 


Happy Hour libations will include fall themed batch cocktails and local beer generously sponsored by our long-time friends at Basecamp Beer Works. Food systems door prizes will be sponsored by Early Morning Orchard, CSU Research Station, and Seeds Trust! Thanks to our generous sponsors, 100% of the proceeds from this event will go to the Community Food Bank of Grand Junction.


The funds will be used to offset food procurement costs as the need for nutritious food access and food pantry services is greater than ever – with the Community Food Bank currently providing food for over 6,000 unique Grand Valley community members and distributing an average of 80,000+ pounds of free nutritious groceries to those in need every month. 


Many thanks to all our amazing event sponsors for helping make this inaugural event possible!!!


Cultivator Sponsors

Alpine Bank

PNCI Construction

Bank of the San Juans

SCL Health St. Mary’s  - now Intermountain Healthcare


Soil Sponsors

CMU Tech 

Primary Care Partners

Community Resource Network by QHN 

Atlasta Solar Center



Sprouts Sponsors

First Presbyterian Church 

Hoskin Farina & Kampf PC

Grand Mesa CPAs

GROWL Agency 

Carville’s Auto Mart

GroFresh 365

Orchard Mesa Greenhouse

Kulina Lani Organic Sourdough

Grand Valley MicroFarms

Seeds Trust

Basecamp Beer Works

Periphery Cellars


BUY Harvest Celebration Tickets TODAY!! 

VOLUNTEER

Volunteering is a fantastic way to give back to your community and take action against hunger in the Grand Valley. We have over 100 volunteer shifts per week and growing!! There are a wide variety of volunteer shifts and roles available on a weekly basis at the Community Food Bank -- from pantry stocking, to grocery rescue, to client intake, and now mobile market assistance.


Be sure to head over to our website to fill out an application, or email our Volunteer Operations Manager, Katelynn TODAY!!


Email: volunteer@foodbankgj.org

We NEED Harvest Celebration Volunteers!!

Join us for a magical evening full of fun and service!!

We could use an extra couple of hands to help us make this event a success.


The volunteer shift runs from 3 - 8pm with breaks and downtime included. Roles include parking direction support, floating during happy hour to replenish appetizers, and assistance with dinner service and light clean-up.


Volunteers will receive a chef prepared staff meal, a souvenir t-shirt, and after shift beverages.


If you are interested, please email: volunteer@foodbankgj.org


JOIN OUR TEAM

Join the CFB team through our

Mesa County Workforce Center Internship Positions



Available NOW!!!

HOST A FOOD DRIVE

Hunger Advocacy & Action Opportunities

Congress is currently working on writing the Farm Bill of 2023. Things that could be included in the bill include increased SNAP funding, funding for research on food growth and weather resistant crops, and how food is distributed in schools.


Yadira Caraveo of Colorado's 8th district sits on the house Agriculture Committee. Make your voice heard by letting her office know what parts of the Farm Bill matter to you. You can contact her office at 202-225-5625



Want to learn more about the Farm Bill? Check out this great resource page that was created by Hunger Free Colorado. 


Proposed Grocery Store Merger - take action and have your voice heard!!


On the 6th of September, CFB leadership and a multitude of concerned citizens attended the Colorado Attorney General listening session regarding the proposed grocery store merger between Kroger (City Market) and Albertson's/Safeway. It was a very interesting and enlightening meeting, but there were many voices not being heard at that one meeting.


If you are concerned about the proposed merger and would like to directly have your voice heard by the Attorney General be sure to follow the links below to fill out their input survey!


www.coag.gov/grocerymerger

Component of the Farm Bill:


Colorado Senator Michael Bennet has introduced the Hot Foods Act of 2023! If passed, the bill would allow families and individuals receiving SNAP to use their benefits to purchase cold-prepared foods, heated foods, and hot meals. This would greatly benefit those on SNAP who have limited cooking equipment, have a disability, or have a busy schedule! The Hot Foods Act will be considered as part of the 2023 Farm Bill.

Support Community Food Bank TODAY!

Become a Community Food Bank Harvest Giving Club Member!! 


Monthly donations to the Community Food Bank are the most effective and impactful way to support our work to end hunger in Mesa County. 


We are experiencing record high demand, with unprecedented food costs.

We need your help to make sure no one goes hungry in our community. 


With an average cost per meal of just $0.30 your monthly donations can make a big impact. Every $1 donated helps provide 3+ nutritious meals to our Grand Valley neighbors!


Please consider becoming a monthly donor, every donation makes a difference. 

$50/month provides over 2,000 meals annually!!

Become a Harvest Member Today!!

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Volunteer Email

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