DENVER — For 19 years, Feed Colorado, the statewide campaign started by Arc Thrift Stores and Volunteers of America, has been helping combat the issue of hunger and food scarcity in Colorado.
Denver7 is the exclusive media partner and has helped the campaign become one of Colorado’s largest food drives. It is the collective hope of all three organizations to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of families and individuals in Colorado.
Last year, Feed Colorado collected more than 80 tons of food and delivered 594,320 meals, all of which benefited many different programs, including Meals on Wheels.
This year, the program kicks off March 1 and the goal is to collect and distribute 90 tons of food. The campaign is looking for donations of non-perishable food such as rice, beans, pasta, peanut butter, canned goods -- like vegetables and fruit -- soup, cereal, and juice.
Programs like this can quite literally make the difference between a child, a family, or an individual going to bed hungry or not. Food insecurity is a harsh reality for many Coloradans. Here are some sobering statistics:
- Nearly 1 in 7 Coloradans struggle with hunger
- Nearly 1 in 8 live in poverty, including more than 1 in 7 kids
- Nearly 1 in 5 Colorado kids may not always know when or where they will get their next meal
- 1 in 7 Colorado seniors has to choose between buying food and paying bills
It’s super easy and convenient to donate. All donations are collected through Arc’s at-home pick-up service.
- Click here to schedule a pickup online
- Call 1-800-283-2721 to schedule an at-home pick-up
- Donations are also accepted at all 28 Arc Thrift Stores across the Front Range
- Click here to find an Arc Thrift Store near you
“It takes very little effort to help others, and to make a very significant impact on the lives of people in need,” said Lloyd Lewis, president and CEO of Arc Thrift Stores. “A simple donation of canned food can make a world of difference to a family in Colorado. We are so grateful for all the people who generously donate and help us achieve our goal of collecting food that can help so many people in our state.”
The food collected during this drive helps supplement the meals of over 55,000 hungry Coloradans that Volunteers of America Colorado helps feed throughout the year, said Dave Schunk, new CEO and president of Volunteers of America Colorado. He said Arc's willingness to partner with them is invaluable.
“Denver7 is committed to supporting and informing the people of our Colorado communities — Feed Colorado is a program with a similar mission. Hunger should not be a fact of life for any Coloradan. Denver7 is proud to continue our partnership with arc for this extraordinary event,” said Dean Littleton, Denver7 general manager.
