Last week, our Hunger Free Colorado team had the opportunity to join advocates from across the country in Washington, D.C. for the 2026 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, hosted by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). It was a powerful few days of learning, connection, and action—grounded in a shared commitment to ending hunger and advancing equitable food access nationwide.
We were especially proud to represent Colorado as a leader on the frontlines of anti-hunger policy. Our team participated in five panels, highlighting the innovative work happening across our state—from passing a robust and transformative Healthy School Meals for All program to defending the dignity and choice of SNAP recipients.
Colorado continues to stand out nationally.
Our CEO, Marc Jacobson, spoke during the plenary session “States on the Front Lines of Ending Hunger,” and shared about the recent successes in Colorado and challenges, emphasizing how critical it is to make sure our anti-hunger movement is led by those most impacted by hunger. 
We are one of just nine states to pass Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA), and notably, the only state to do so through a ballot measure. Even more, Colorado is the only state to include a Student-Parent Advisory Council (SPAC) in statute, ensuring that those most impacted by school meals have a direct voice in shaping and improving the program. Our Director of Organizing and Partnerships, Erika Cervantes, shared Colorado’s roadmap to success through centering community input and voice during the workshop “Start a Healthy School Meals for All Campaign in Your State.”
We were also one of the few states to successfully stall proposed restrictions to SNAP purchases, protecting SNAP recipient’s ability to choose what is best for themselves and their families. During the workshop “SNAP Under Attack — Restrictions, Access, and Who Gets to Decide,” our Senior Public Policy Manager, Mariah Guerrero, underscored the importance and impact of uplifting and bringing SNAP participants’ voices to the table during these hearings.
Addressing Today’s Urgent Hunger Crisis
With looming federal cuts and harmful policies like H.R. 1 threatening access to SNAP, advocates are grappling with how to protect and strengthen food access programs. Speakers and attendees alike talked about the need to make the invisible visible—lifting up the actual impacts of hunger and putting real faces to the consequences of policy decisions that too often exclude those most affected. As one advocate put it, “Hunger is a manufactured crisis.” Addressing it requires us to confront systemic barriers and challenge narratives around who is considered “deserving” of support.
Policies that shape people’s lives must be informed by their lived experiences—yet too often, they are created without those voices at the table. As shared in one session, it’s critical to highlight the structural barriers that already make accessing SNAP difficult and to ensure that any proposed changes do not deepen those inequities. The message was clear: being in poverty does not mean giving up dignity, choice, or values.
Anti-Hunger Day on the Hill:
Our Message for Colorado’s Congressional Delegation
The conference concluded with our Day on the Hill, where our team met with members of Colorado’s congressional delegation, including the offices of Representatives DeGette, Hurd, Crank, Pettersen, Crow, and Evans, as well as Senator Bennet. We shared real stories from SNAP and WIC participants and underscored how federal decisions directly impact families across Colorado. These conversations are more important than ever as we advocate for policies that protect and expand access to nutrition programs.
Moving Forward
What makes gatherings like this so impactful is the reminder that we are not alone in this fight. Across states and sectors, advocates are organizing, innovating, and pushing for change. That sense of collective purpose is what fuels this work forward.
We return to Colorado energized and inspired—ready to continue building community power, reducing barriers, and advancing policies that ensure every family has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.