Larimer County Food Banks to Receive $650K Emergency Grant, But Far Short of Need

Larimer County food banks will receive approximately $650,000 in emergency funding from the Colorado Joint Budget Committee to address the federal SNAP benefit suspension, though the amount represents less than 10 percent of the $6.5 million in monthly food assistance typically distributed to county residents.

The state legislature approved $10 million statewide on October 30 to be distributed through food banks in three separate disbursements targeted for early November, November 15, and November 30 if the benefit suspension continues, according to Heather O'Hare, Larimer County Human Services Director, during a Board of Social Services meeting November 3.

The funding will flow through Food Bank of the Rockies, which will then distribute money to local food partners across Colorado. Amy Pizzani, who leads local food bank operations, estimates Larimer County's portion can be leveraged to purchase approximately $1.8 million worth of food through the organization's bulk purchasing power, O'Hare told commissioners.

However, the purchasing power still falls significantly short of the need created by the SNAP suspension that began affecting residents November 1.

"There's a lot of confusion and questions that we are sorting through," said Vanessa Fuel, Division Manager with Larimer County's Benefits and Community Support Division.

Food banks routinely achieve purchasing multipliers by buying food in bulk, typically converting each dollar into three to five pounds of food through wholesale contracts and donated goods, according to Feeding America partnership data. Food Bank of the Rockies has historically reported that every dollar received can provide approximately four meals or five pounds of food.

SNAP Suspension Affects Thousands of Households

The U.S. Food and Nutrition Services directed states on October 11 to suspend all SNAP benefits for November following the federal government shutdown that began October 1. The State of Colorado notified SNAP recipients of the suspension on October 22.

The suspension affects approximately 34,000 individuals countywide, including 16,264 children, 3,253 older adults and 4,879 adults with disabilities.

Larimer County residents receive almost $20 million every three months in SNAP benefits, translating to 6.5 million monthly before the suspension. Each SNAP dollar spent generates approximately $1.50 to $1.80 in local economic activity as recipients purchase food at grocery stores, supporting jobs and catalyzing additional transactions, according to economic studies of Colorado's food assistance programs.

Legal Challenges Produce Conflicting Timeline

Two federal judges ruled October 31 that the benefit suspension could be unlawful, ordering Food and Nutrition Services to provide a plan to restore funding by November 3. The judges indicated benefits should be released by November 6, though it remains unclear whether the federal administration will appeal the rulings.

"We should see a plan today and hopefully benefits could be released as early as Wednesday, which then likely the Joint Budget Committee's $10 million would not go into effect," O'Hare said.

The timing of benefit restoration depends on multiple factors including federal compliance with court orders, state processing through the Colorado Benefits Management System, and coordination with a third-party vendor that manages EBT cards for 40 states.

"The challenge is that it is the same third party vendor for 40 other states," O'Hare said. "So there is likely a bottleneck of how this would happen knowing that that same vendor is trying to do the same thing for 40 other states at the same time."

Multiple cities, states, religious groups and nonprofits sued the federal government claiming the suspension of benefits is unlawful. One federal judge remarked during proceedings that contingency funds alone are insufficient to cover November SNAP benefits, but other federal funding activities sustained during the shutdown could be suspended to shift money toward food assistance.

County Provides Direct Outreach to Vulnerable Households

Larimer County Human Services received a report from the state identifying 2,500 households that had spent all October benefits by month's end. The department launched reverse outreach efforts, with staff directly calling affected households to provide information about food resources and program eligibility.

"We're hearing a lot of really positive response to yes, I can find on Facebook whatever resources are being put out or other social media," Fuel said. "But having someone contact the household directly and say, we know that you have $0 on your EBT card, here's where you can go get food today."

The department observed applications for food assistance slowing significantly as word spread in the community that November benefits would not be issued. Staff are strongly encouraging residents to continue applying and submitting redetermination paperwork to maintain benefits once the suspension ends.

"We are strongly encouraging everyone to continue to apply, continue to do their redeterminations, continue to submit any associated paperwork for their case to maintain their benefits," Fuel said.

Community Response Coordinated Through Local Partners

O'Hare said the county will convene local food security partners if benefits are not restored by November 6. The department has already been in communication with community organizations including Meals on Wheels about potential coordination strategies.

Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally expressed concern about the approaching holidays when children will not have access to school meals. "I don't think it's lost on any of us that we're heading into two major holiday areas," she said. "I know at kids pack they at least give a bag to go home for the holidays."

"Please let us know how we as Board of County Commissioners can support you and help message or whatever we can do to help convene, connect or whatever you all need," Shadduck-McNally said. "I do feel like kind of getting this sensitive period we're all going on, it's the holidays and just want to make sure kids aren't hungry on Thanksgiving or Christmas."

O'Hare indicated the department would develop a more comprehensive community response plan if the suspension extends beyond this week. "Until Wednesday we won't know how long this could potentially go on, and then we will convene a group and figure out what the short term strategies are to make sure that people know where food is available and how to access it," she said.

The county has scheduled a follow-up work session for December 8 to provide commissioners with additional updates on federal policy changes and budget impacts.

Human Services maintains a federal tracker with updated information on the SNAP suspension and related policy changes. Residents seeking food assistance can contact Larimer County Human Services at 970-498-7750 or visit larimer.gov/humanservices.