Fort Collins Butcher Shop's Community Relief Effort Continues with Expanded Partnerships and Donations
A Fort Collins butcher shop's emergency food distribution program has grown into a collaborative effort involving multiple local businesses, with hundreds of pounds of additional meat and bread now flowing to families affected by SNAP benefit disruptions.
Friendly Nick's Butcher, located at 2601 S Lemay Avenue, announced November 12 that it had restocked baby supplies and received several hundred pounds of donated bacon to add to food packages being distributed to Northern Colorado residents. The shop's owner, Nick, credited several local businesses for making the expanded distribution possible.
The effort began in late October when Friendly Nick's Butcher launched a fundraising campaign after federal SNAP benefits were suspended, initially raising over $75,000 to provide free meat packages to affected families. By early November, the fundraising total had surpassed $100,000, though overwhelming demand forced the shop to limit distribution to 200 packages daily.
The Bread Chic has been providing sourdough bread for the food packages, according to Nick's November 12 announcement. Rise Breakfast organized volunteers and helped package chicken and eggs while securing additional bread donations during a critical period last week. Stillman Meat Co. donated hundreds of pounds of pork and bacon and has maintained ongoing supply support for the packaging operation.
The SNAP benefit suspension affected approximately 330,000 Colorado households, with average benefits of $186 per individual or $350 per household, according to data from the Food Bank for Larimer County. The crisis also impacted government workers who were furloughed or working without pay during the federal shutdown.
Nick emphasized that the relief effort extends beyond his shop and staff. "This effort is not just me and it's not just my staff," he stated in the November 12 announcement. "There is an entire community of people doing what they can to help."
The combined efforts have resulted in thousands of pounds of meat and hundreds of boxes of diapers and baby supplies being distributed to families in need across Larimer and Weld Counties. Each food package typically contains ground beef, pork shoulder, chicken breast, chicken drums or wings, and eggs, valued at approximately $15 per package.
Other Fort Collins businesses and organizations have also launched relief programs in response to the SNAP benefit crisis, while the Food Bank for Larimer County is seeking 4,700 turkeys for Thanksgiving distribution amid increased demand.
Friendly Nick's Butcher operates as a SNAP-approved retailer in the Scotch Pines Village Shopping Center at the intersection of Drake and Lemay in Fort Collins.