Community Table - "Table Talk" - 2021 Summer Newsletter

TABLE TALK www.cotable.org

Summer 2021

From our CEO Dear Friends, It is hard to believe that a pandemic has ravaged our community for more than a year now. It certainly has been a challenging time for all of us. What made it easier for everyone at Community Table was knowing that we weren’t fighting hunger and poverty alone. On our side were thousands of caring and compassionate people who wanted to make sure that those most affected by this health crisis had enough to eat and that there was a place they could turn for emergency financial assistance and other resources.

Thank you for your generous and continued support. And, thank you to everyone who donated to our food transport fund. We are now the proud owners of a 16-foot, gently used, dockheight box truck!

Even though vaccines are now widely available, and the crisis is easing, I wish I could say that the need is lessening. But, many of our neighbors who were already living on the edge between doing okay and needing help may have felt the most impact.

These hardworking men and women lost their jobs. Some have been hired back, but many are still recovering from months without a paycheck. Countless others who

were struggling before the pandemic are still facing hardships, including seniors on fixed incomes.

Inside this newsletter, you’ll read stories about how your ongoing kindness and generosity are truly making a difference. The pandemic may have set some families even farther back, but with friends like you, we can make sure families have the food and resources they need to recover and thrive.

With sincere gratitude,

Sandy Martin Chief Executive Officer

“Thank you very much for being here for us who need you. I cried when I left from receiving food.

You took a huge weight off of my shoulders. God bless you and everyone there.” — Anna

The Pandemic and Hunger What is ‘food insecurity?’ Food insecurity refers to the United States Department of Agriculture’s measure of a lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. Food insecure households are not necessarily food insecure all the time. Food insecurity may reflect a household’s need to choose between essential basic needs, such as housing or medical bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods.

Before the pandemic began, according to Feeding America, food insecurity in the United States was at its lowest level in 20 years. Then the novel coronavirus began spreading across the globe in early 2020, triggering an economic recession and job loss that will likely reverse this trend for years to come. Today, millions of newly hungry people are experiencing food insecurity for the first time.

For more than a decade, Feeding America has conducted an annual study called Map the Meal Gap to understand food insecurity and food costs. In response to COVID-19, they released a companion study that illustrates the projected impact of the pandemic on hunger.

The most recent findings predict that more than 42 million people, including 13 million children, may experience food insecurity in 2021. In 2019, there were 35.2 million people who were food insecure.

In Colorado, this same study projected an overall food insecurity rate of 11.6% in 2021, an increase of almost two percentage points over 2019.

Food Insecurity Rates - Colorado by County 2019 Actual

4-10%

11-17%

18-23%

2021 Projected

24-30%

30% +

4-10%

11-17%

18-23%

24-30%

Adapted from Feeding America. To learn more, explore an interactive map and read study updates; please visit map.feedingamerica.org.

30% +

Box Truck Update Thank you to everyone who donated to our box truck food transport fund. Because of your unwavering and generous support, food will keep moving along to hungry and struggling families in our community. Soon our new truck will travel thousands of miles annually, rescuing food from grocery stores and transporting meals to underserved communities.

Even though we’re still in the process of outfitting the truck with a lift gate and wrapping it with our logo and images, we’ve already put it to use, making Mobile Pantry deliveries and “rescuing” groceries from local retailers.

First Mobile Pantry Delivery Our new box truck made its first Mobile Pantry delivery to the Elevado Estates Mobile Home Park in Arvada. Residents received boxes full of culturally responsive fresh produce, meat, beans, dairy products, tortillas and more.

First Grocery Rescue Pick Up We are working hard to rebuild our “grocery rescue” supply chain that was impacted by the pandemic. Here’s our new box truck making its first pick up at the Super Target in Wheat Ridge.

We’re Now Open on Saturdays

We our Volunteers: Warehouse Buddies Mark Nelson Mark had a plan before he retired from teaching students with special needs. He’d turn his “extra retirement time” into volunteer work and chose Community Table because it fulfills his desire to give back to the community, keep busy, and get some great exercise. Mark manages our monthly food deliveries for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), leading a team of volunteers in unpacking and stocking thousands of pounds of food. Mark believes wholeheartedly in our mission and enjoys working with staff and other volunteers, including his buddy Mason.

In response to the pandemic, we revised and adapted many of our programs and services to better serve those in need, most recently adding a Saturday drive-thru option. Now, hungry and struggling families can pick up food by the box on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by driving or walking up to the distribution station in our parking lot. No documentation or identification is required.

Check out our Saturday set-up and all the food to be distributed. A small family of one to four people receives around 80 pounds of food, and a large family receives 140 pounds, including meat, milk, bread, fresh produce, canned goods and personal care items. Families with children also receive sacks with easy to prepare, kidfriendly foods. Since we began Saturday food distribution in April, 140 families have received nearly 13,000 pounds of food!

Mason Lillehaugen Mason began volunteering at Community Table as a teenager while enrolled in his high school’s Challenge Program that teaches young people with developmental challenges about life and job skills. Mason has worked alongside Mark for the last seven years, helping to stock TEFAP food. Since graduating a few years ago, Mason has continued fine-tuning his volunteer skills while participating in Jeffco Schools Transition Services. Mason “LOVES” working with Mark and the Wednesday morning warehouse team.

Your gift to Community Table is in good hands and comes with a wholesome return.

@TheCoTableOrg

With each $1 you donate, we can provide food for THREE nutritious meals.

Community Table has a Platinum Seal of Transparency on GuideStar, a 3-Star rating on Charity Navigator, and we are a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, which means you can trust that we will use your donation to help those in need in your community.

@TheCoTableOrg

@TheCoTableOrg

cotable.org lcadman@cotable.org

8555 W. 57th Ave. Arvada, CO 80002 303-424-6685