While this election season has brought to light many cracks in our social foundation, it has also showcased the power of collective action and the importance of our democratic process. Thank you to all who worked to register and turn out voters. And thank you to the millions of Coloradans who voted this year. Hunger Free Colorado is proud to have done our part in achieving record voter turnout through a multi-media communications strategy. Thanks to our partners, we distributed tens of thousands of postcards. We’re also glad Colorado passed Amendment B, which we supported.
The Hunger Crisis in Colorado
Regardless of how the state and federal races turned out, our missions remains the same. We will continue working to ensure that all Coloradans have access to affordable, nutritious food. Our recent statewide survey illustrates how far we are, in the midst of this pandemic, from achieving that goal.
According to our survey, 29 percent of Coloradans are food insecure and worried about keeping food on the table. And these rates are even higher among families with children and people living with disabilities. An astonishing 38 percent of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) families report lacking reliable access to nutritious food. Long-standing systemic inequities in wealth, income and community access to healthy food options result in this disparity.
This hunger crisis illustrates why adequate COVID-19 relief is paramount during these unprecedented times of unemployment and underemployment. Coloradans should not have to choose between a roof over their heads and food on the table.
The Real Work
We are eager and ready to work with our elected officials, including those newly elected, to ensure that they prioritize policies that promote access to nutritious food, with a focus on supporting communities that have been bearing the brunt of the economic pain caused by COVID-19. Federal programs, like SNAP, and state programs, like the Colorado Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program, have successfully increased access to healthy food, but they must be greatly expanded to meet the scale of the need.
As we celebrate the power of voting, we know that the hard work of creating meaningful change lies ahead. Join us as we continue to advocate for policies that address disparities in our food system. Your voice matters now, more than ever.
Regardless of how the state and federal races turned out, our missions remains the same. We will continue working to ensure that all Coloradans have access to affordable, nutritious food. Our recent statewide survey illustrates how far we are, in the midst of this pandemic, from achieving that goal.
According to our survey, 29 percent of Coloradans are food insecure and worried about keeping food on the table. And these rates are even higher among families with children and people living with disabilities. An astonishing 38 percent of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) families report lacking reliable access to nutritious food. Long-standing systemic inequities in wealth, income and community access to healthy food options result in this disparity.
This hunger crisis illustrates why adequate COVID-19 relief is paramount during these unprecedented times of unemployment and underemployment. Coloradans should not have to choose between a roof over their heads and food on the table.
The Real Work
We are eager and ready to work with our elected officials, including those newly elected, to ensure that they prioritize policies that promote access to nutritious food, with a focus on supporting communities that have been bearing the brunt of the economic pain caused by COVID-19. Federal programs, like SNAP, and state programs, like the Colorado Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program, have successfully increased access to healthy food, but they must be greatly expanded to meet the scale of the need.
As we celebrate the power of voting, we know that the hard work of creating meaningful change lies ahead. Join us as we continue to advocate for policies that address disparities in our food system. Your voice matters now, more than ever.