Fight Hunger, Join the Harvest

AUGUST 2024 NEWSLETTER

A LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Hello Community Food Bank Friends,

Phew - how is it already the middle of August?! The summer always flies by here in the Grand Valley with all our wonderful outdoors access and abundance of activities. Now kiddos are back in school and the heat seems to have broken, fall feels like it is in reach -- which in my opinion is the very best time of year.

We have been busy as always not only working hard to meet the summer hunger spike -- but also find new ways to tell our story and express the incredible impact our organization makes throughout this community!

Thanks to all our wonderful volunteers, donors, and team we achieved the following in July:

Rescued 22,653 lbs of food from local grocery stores & restaurants.

Distributed 36 TONS of nutritious food to our community.

1,927 food access service visits.

3,550 unique individuals nourished (5,872 duplicated individuals).

Great work team! I believe to my core that community is the solution to everything. Together we can band together for positive change and take care of one another. That is what we are all about here, community, it is right in the name.

On another note, we said goodbye to our amazing Volunteer Operations Manager, Katelynn this month. After 2 years on our team, Katelynn is heading back home to the East Coast to get married and travel to Japan and Vietnam for a couple of months before setting out on the next chapter in her bright career of public service. Many deep thanks and gratitude to Katelynn for all she did during her tenure with us -- we will miss her so much!!

Please bear with us as we work to fill Katelynn's shoes -- a few of our team members are taking on some additional hours and responsibilities, and we welcome Diana to our team as a part-time Program Assistant to help out on afternoons M-Th. Diana is a native Spanish speaker and experienced early childhood educator who is a teacher at the River Canyon Waldorf school as well. Welcome Diana!

Please be sure to read down below and check out all the amazing information we have to share...

Director Alisha with Food Bank toddler Olivia during a summer visit to the Denver zoo!

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

BACK TO SCHOOL RESOURCES

As the new school year approaches, preparing for a smooth transition can make a world of difference for both students and their families. To help you navigate the back-to-school season with ease, we’ve compiled a list of valuable resources and tips.

Check out Healthy School Meals For All and complete an application to help fund nutritional measures in D51 schools. Families who complete the application may also qualify for additional aid and benefits, such as discounted utility and internet, discounted AP test fees, discounted bus passes, and more.

Families who need help affording school supplies for their kiddos can contact their child's school office and inquire, because the annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive distributes materials to the schools to administer to families.

Use www.yummly.com to make meal planning easy, it will help you build a meal plan, tell you what ingredients you need, and provide a ton of recipes. If you don’t know what to make with ingredients you already have, it also provides recipes based on ingredients.

Karen Mountjoy, R.D., of Coastal Family Nutrition recommends sitting down with your kids and creating a list of their favorite dishes and ingredients to help you plan around them. Be sure to talk to them about what a healthy meal looks like and have them pick a favorite veggie, fruit, snack, and main protein.

Kids can be nervous when going back to school, here is a great article from PBS to get them ready and calm their nerves: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/you-are-brave-and-kind-helping-your-child-get-ready-for-the-first-day-of-school.

If your kid is struggling with certain subjects, use apps and websites to teach them in a fun way. Some examples are Math at Home, Funbrain, PBS Math Games, and National Geographic Kids.

HAPPENINGS & HIGHLIGHTS

CFB Resource Bar Schedule:

Local resources will be on-site from 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. at the food pantry:

8/20 & 8/26 RMHP Medicare/Medicaid

8/22 & 8/29 CRC Voter Registration

8/27 Senior Community Service Employment Program

Thank you to the Community Resource Center and all our local agencies for making this program possible!

Nutrition Exploration Activities:

Pantry shopping is only half of the fun! Join friends from Cooking Matters to taste test some great recipes that can be made with staple ingredients found at CFB.

Tastings are 12:30 - 5:30 p.m. on

8/15, 8/22 & 8/27

Thanks to the following partners for helping make this fun element of our programming possible:

Hilltop Family Resource Center

Cooking Matters

Grand Valley Micro Farms

Colorado State University Western CO Research Center

DON'T MISS EARLY BIRD PRICES FOR THE HARVEST CELEBRATION DINNER

Friday September 27, 2024

Cross Orchards Historic Site

5:00-8:30 PM.

Renowned local chefs Wayne Smith and Kaye Davis are graciously donating their time and expertise to curate a menu bursting with the freshest ingredients sourced right from our region. Picture vibrant appetizers, a savory main course, and decadent desserts—all expertly paired with exceptional wines from nearby vineyards.

As you dine under the stars at the charming Cross Orchards Historical Site, you'll not only indulge in a feast for the palate but also support our organization’s mission to create more equitable food systems and boost the overall wellness of our community.

Tickets are now available with early bird prices until 8/31

Secure your seat at this unforgettable event, where every dish tells a story of local pride and culinary artistry!

Sponsorship spots are available NOW.

Check out the levels and join us at the table!

You can also contact us today if you are interested in sponsoring the dinner this year: info@foodbankgj.org

Market on Main - Come see us in action

We will have our last info booth of the season set up at the Market on Main event downtown on September 12. You can find us right in front of Rockslide Brewery.

The Downtown GJ Market on Main is also a Double UP Food Bucks and WIC FMNP site - stop by the market info booth or the Mesa County Hunger Alliance booth to learn more when you visit the market this season!

Thank you to The Hot Tomato for all your support!

On Sunday, August 4th, Hot Tomato hosted their annual Social Cranks Supper Club dinner where all proceeds went to Community Food Bank.

The Hot Tomato has provided over $4,000 to support our mission in the past couple of years.... that's over 16,000 nutritious MEALS for our Grand Valley neighbors in need!

CFB offers WIC help and services!

Community Food Bank has been working to simplify and enhance access to essential services like the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. With dedicated efforts, strategic partnerships, and newfound resources, we are committed to ensuring that every eligible family can easily access the nutrition and support they need. Here's how we're making it happen.

WIC CHAMPIONS

Mariah Lash is transforming how people view the WIC program in Grand Junction. As a WIC Champion, she highlights how modern updates, like user-friendly apps and tailored food packages, make WIC accessible and easy to use. Mariah is dedicated to dispelling outdated myths and showing that the program is both simple and stigma-free.

Watch more impact videos here!

THE IMPACT OF BILINGUAL RESOURCES ON OUR COMMUNITY

Our bilingual resource navigators play a crucial role in connecting families to vital support services across the county. By breaking down language barriers, they ensure that everyone has access to essential resources, from food assistance to educational programs, making a significant impact on our community's well-being and inclusivity.

Check out our videos that explain more below!

USING LFPA TO SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS

Thanks to the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program, we can support local farmers like Rancho Durazno and provide fresh produce to our community. Your advocacy is crucial in keeping this program alive. Our LFPA grant funding helped us rescue three pallets of cherry overstock from Rancho Durazno in July -- providing important funds to the farmer and contributing amazing organic cherries to three pantry programs:

Community Food Bank

Clifton Christian Food Bank

Mutual Aid Partners

Join the Harvest Giving Club

It's because of donors like YOU that we are able to nourish our neighbors. Join the Harvest Giving Club today to help us feed our neighbors in need.

Every dollar makes a BIG difference!