November 17th 2024.
One of the most important yet often overlooked roles of food pantries is to provide meals for students, many of whom rely on these meals as their only regular source of food outside of their homes. Executive director Barbara B. Moore shared that the challenges of this task are immense, with food costs increasing by 10-17% in the last two years for different items. Moore's nonprofit organization, which is a recipient of The Denver Post's Season to Share campaign, purchases food online. However, the options for fresh veggies have decreased significantly, and prices have gone up. This means that with their current budget, they are unable to give out as many free items as they used to.
The scope of this mission is vast, with almost 70,000 students spread across 155 public schools in Jefferson County. What sets Jeffco Eats apart from other food pantries is that they distribute the food directly at the schools, making it easily accessible for students. Jeffco Eats is a part of The Denver Post Season to Share, an annual holiday fundraising campaign for The Denver Post and The Denver Post Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization. This campaign awards grants to local nonprofit agencies that work towards helping low-income individuals and families move out of poverty and towards self-sufficiency. To learn more or to donate, visit seasontoshare.com.
Megan Coggins, the out-of-district coordinator for Jefferson County Schools, expressed her gratitude for Jeffco Eats' contribution in creating food pantries for students at Colorado Facility Schools. These students do not have access to free meals or snacks, as they are placed outside of their district and do not have cafeterias. With the help of Jeffco Eats, these highly impacted students now have access to lunches and snacks throughout the week. Additionally, Jeffco Eats also provides daily snacks for students, which is not only a nutritional concern but also an emotional one. Moore explained that these snacks are meant to address any food insecurities that may arise during the day, such as students feeling hungry during band practice or missing the school breakfast. Teachers often buy snacks for their students, but Jeffco Eats also helps by providing snacks for their 30 directly served schools, as well as low-income housing in five Jefferson County communities, church parking lots, and city recreation centers, seven days a week. To ensure that they are meeting the needs of their diverse population, Jeffco Eats regularly communicates with teachers and students to understand which items they want and need. Moore emphasized the importance of having culturally appropriate foods, especially for Latino students, and explained that they make purchases based on the feedback they receive.
Moore's background in nutrition plays a significant role in her work. She was an organic gardener for four years and taught urban agriculture at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Through her work, she has learned the importance of certain food items for students in her district, such as fresh tortillas. However, these items come at a cost, and Moore mentioned that Jeffco Eats could use an additional $5,000 to finance the purchase of these items.
In addition to the rising costs of food, Moore shared that they used to provide 60-pound weekly bags of food to families, but due to the pandemic and its impact on food prices, they can now only give out 30-pound bags. While suppliers do offer deals, it is still expensive to provide fresh food consistently. Moore explained that they serve a wide range of people, including those living in poverty and the working poor who struggle to make ends meet. Along with students, these are the individuals that Jeffco Eats is helping on a daily basis.
Established in 2014, Jeffco Eats operates with a team of two employees and relies heavily on the support of 600 volunteers. Their annual budget is $698,250, and they have served 29,250 clients to date. Their address is 1390 Brentwood St., Lakewood.
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