Food Bank for Larimer County Reports Surge in New Households Seeking Assistance
The Food Bank for Larimer County reported a dramatic spike in new households requesting food assistance in October, with registrations more than tripling from typical monthly averages as the organization launched its Colorado Gives Day fundraising campaign.
The food bank saw more than 500 new household sign-ups at its no-cost markets in October, compared to the usual average of approximately 150 new households per month. The organization announced the increase on November 1 as it began soliciting donations through the statewide Colorado Gives Day campaign.
The surge comes as the organization works to serve the approximately 50,000 Larimer County residents who rely on its food distribution network annually. Founded in 1984, the Food Bank for Larimer County operates brick-and-mortar markets in Fort Collins and Loveland, mobile food distribution sites, and coordinates with more than 100 partner agencies throughout the county.
The organization distributed its first 3,800 pounds of food in its opening month. Today, the food bank distributes more than 10 million pounds of food annually across Larimer County, which includes Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Wellington, Laporte, Estes Park, and Red Feather Lakes.
The Food Bank for Larimer County operates as the sole Feeding America clearinghouse for Larimer County and partners with the statewide Feeding Colorado coalition. Its programs include the Nutritious Kitchen, which prepares meals for children and seniors, SNAP application assistance, nutrition education classes, and the Everyday Eats commodity program for low-income seniors aged 60 and older.
The Colorado Gives Day campaign runs through early December, providing a concentrated fundraising period for Colorado nonprofits. The Food Bank for Larimer County emphasized that donations would help procure additional food to meet increased demand for hunger relief services.
The organization's headquarters are located at 5706 Wright Drive in Loveland, with no-cost markets at 1301 Blue Spruce Drive in Fort Collins and 2600 North Lincoln Street in Loveland.