Back to home
Denver Nonprofit Addresses Food Insecurity Impacted by Transportation Barriers, Seeks to Tell Families’ Food Stories
DENVER — The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated an already existing problem — food insecurity and fresh, healthy food access. Some statistics over the course of the pandemic showcase the rise in need, while others show how transportation can get in the way of access. The need for home delivery of no-cost food has increased like never before. In response, Denver Food Rescue (DFR) started a program with feedback from the community on what best these services might look like. Due to these efforts, the Colorado Equity Compass (CEC) has awarded $2,000 to tell the stories of families fighting food insecurity.
“The CEC is pleased to announce that DFR is one of 20, $2,000 recipients of CEC’s storytelling awards,” said CEC Project Lead Dr. Rachele Espiritu. “Awardees exemplified their connection to the communities they serve, their mission to address social determinants of health (SDOH), and their ability to uncover and create a collection of five story products that highlight the unique experiences of their community.” Among the many components to be highlighted in DFR’s upcoming story products is the critical component of choice — what foods will my family need and desire?
“Besides always receiving the fresh produce, it makes life a little bit easier when there is something in the fridge and pantry to make an easy/healthy meal with a recipe attached,” said a participant in DFR’s Healthy Choice Food Box program.
DFR will tell the unique stories of the families facing barriers and gaps in services and how food is everyone’s story and family connection. DFR normally sources good, highly perishable foods from retailers that would otherwise be thrown away, but there is little to no choice in the items received. This is why DFR also partners with East Denver Food Hub (EDFH) to source directly from regional farms. EDFH is a local social enterprise in Denver that aggregates, distributes, and markets local food from farmers and suppliers to the community through relationship-building.
“What I like about this food program is that they bring it to the house, I do not have a car, only my husband, and for me it is easier to be able to go out my door to take the box and prepare the food ... Thank you very much. ... Everything in the box our family likes,” said a participant in DFR’s Healthy Choice Food Box program.
These products can be found below:
About Denver Food Rescue Denver Food Rescue is a 501©(3) nonprofit operating in the Denver Metro area with a mission to produce health equity with Denver neighborhoods. Each year, 250 volunteers redistribute over 600,000 pounds of food 24 weekly programs.
About the Colorado Equity Compass Across Colorado, communities are facing inequities that impact their health and wellbeing. Different factors, including systemic racism, a lack of affordable housing, and environmental concerns, contribute to these inequities.
As a project of The Colorado Trust, CEC helps communities — and the organizations that serve them — better understand these issues and advocate for change using data and stories. This work consolidates diverse resources, connects peers, and both aligns and empowers communities and institutions via its Equity Data Navigator. The model showcases inequities and the social determinants of health (SDOH) across communities. CEC also serves as a hub for community storytelling and information-sharing.
For more information and to view the Equity Data Navigator, visit coequitycompass.org. For media inquiries, contact CEC at hello@coequitycompass.org.