Globeville – Birdseed Collective

Birdseed Collective is a small community & arts non-profit organization directed by two former long-time residents of Globeville. One of their goals is to create opportunities for positive community and artistic programs in the Globeville neighborhood and Denver more generally. With years of experience in implementing many projects and programs, Birdseed Collective and volunteers have committed to running a weekly resident-based food distribution program called “The Globeville Free Healthy Food Distribution and Preservation Program.” Through collaboration with Denver Food Rescue who redistributes the healthy food to Globeville, our Monday distribution program at the Globeville Recreation Center is going on it’s 3rd strong year.

Hunger is a sensitive issue and must be handled with compassion and in a non-intrusive environment. With a culturally sensitive and education-focused approach, participants receive pounds of healthy food weekly, learn about and try new healthy food options, learn food preservation techniques, and build community. Also through this program, 4 residents are now employed and are educated in job skills which they will use in the future. In 2015, our program served 387 unduplicated participants, and distributed 38,684 pounds of healthy food. This does not include fresh donations from Rainbo Bread and Raquelita’s Tortillas. Many goals for the program have been achieved such as hiring 4 residents and other staff, adding food preservation and expanding on our mission of “The Art of Healthy Living.”

Program details:
Open to the Public
Globeville Rec. Center: 4496 Grant St. Denver, CO 80216
Mondays at 3:00 pm 4:00 pm

Elyria-Swansea – The GrowHaus

The GrowHaus is a nonprofit indoor farm, marketplace and educational center in Denver’s Elyria-Swansea neighborhood. Our vision is a world where all communities have the means to nourish themselves, and our mission is to create a community-driven, neighborhood-based food system by serving as a hub for food distribution, production, education, and economic development.

The GrowHaus partners with DFR to provide an educational grocery program every Monday. In this innovative community- led program, participants engage in a creative cooking class, and strengthen community ties by sharing a delicious meal together, all alongside the free distribution of healthy food. Our MOVIL (mobile) grocery program delivers these free grocery items to nearly 20 home-bound neighbors each week (usually by bike!). These programs also provide job opportunities for several residents of our neighborhood.

Clayton – Clayton Early Learning

A major proving ground for all things early childhood, Clayton Early Learning is Colorado’s leading catalyst in providing early care and education, and collaborating with others to improve these important services. Our work focuses on ensuring optimal development during the critical birth-to-5 period for all children, especially those of limited opportunities. We succeed in closing learning gaps of disadvantaged children through a powerful model unique to Clayton Early Learning that harnesses the synergy of four dynamic initiatives – research, practice, training, and advocacy.

Specifically, the Food for Families committee at Clayton Early Learning was created as a result of high levels of food insecurity among families we serve. Our committee aims to provide nutritious food for all families and staff, as well as nutrition education and cooking skills. Our partnership with Denver Food Rescue allows staff and families to access healthy fruits and vegetables, to trade new recipes with others, and encourages them to try new foods!

Program details:
Open to Clayton Early Learning families

Park Hill – Boys & Girls Clubs (Vickers)

As one of the most well-known youth organizations in the country, Boys & Girls Clubs provide young people with opportunities to engage in programs that help them achieve academic success, take charge of their health by building healthy habits that will stick with them throughout their lives, and foster the skills they need to become leaders in their communities.The Vickers Boys & Girls Club provides services to young people in the area, providing a place from them to learn, grow and succeed in life. They have had a No Cost Grocery Program set up for youth and their families who participate in the program since September of 2014.

Program details:
Open to Vickers Boys & Girl Club parents & families

Lincoln Park / Baker – Boys & Girls Clubs (The Cope Club)

As one of the most well-known youth organizations in the country, Boys & Girls Clubs provide young people with The Cope Club serves nearly 1,000 members each year and participates in a variety of community events. The Club also features the Teen Center equipped with computer stations, books and research resources, and serves as a quiet place for teens to concentrate on their studies and have fun. They have had a No Cost Grocery Program since 2015.

Program Details:
Open to Cope Boys & Girls Club families

Five Points – Heart & Hand

Heart & Hand is dedicated to improving the lives of at risk youth and their families. Through high quality out of school time programming, we empower all children and families with the skills, information, and resources they need to create and realize their dreams. By investing in consistent and compassionate support for our children and families, we strive to disrupt the cycle of poverty and close the opportunity gap.

Heart & Hand serves 100, low-income youth in Denver’s 5 Points neighborhood. What makes Heart & Hand unique is our model of long term, intensive support. Our students come day after day, year after year, because they are known and nurtured in the Heart & Hand family. Daily programming ensures students develop the resources that research shows are critical for long term success: relationships with trusted adults, supportive peer networks, a safe after school environment, academic support, empowerment programming, and social-emotional skill building.

Heart & Hand families are grateful to Denver Food Rescue for the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables we receive on Wednesdays at our after school program site. This nutritious bounty is especially valuable to our many food insecure families.

Program Details:
Open to Heart & Hand families

Regis –Ricardo Flores Magon Academy and Sister Gardens

In spring of 2017 launched our 13th No Cost Grocery Program with the Ricardo Flores Magon Academy. RFM has a rich history of serving Hispanic students, teaching both academic and civic engagement.  However, 92% of the student body qualify for reduced or free lunch. A parent committee and the student council come together to make this program happen each week.

Sister Gardens is the 14th partner of Denver Food Rescue in hosting a No Cost Grocery Program. Sister’s is an 1 1/2 acre veggie, herb, and flower farm supported by a collaborative grant between Goundwork Denver, Aria, Regis University and the Cultivate Health Program. Through sustainable growing practices they grow food for community.

The mission of Groundwork Denver to promote health and well-being through community-based partnerships and action is in alignment with that of Denver Food Rescue to increase Health Equity using food as the primary foundation. This Program has stepped in place of our Magon Academy program while they are on summer break but continued as their own program in fall of 2017. Sister’s hosts agricultural classes, workshops, “pay what you can” farm stands, volunteer days, and community events. It is the idea that this   partnership will lead to increased access to local and affordable produce.

Program Details: 

Open to RFM families

Aurora – Project Worthmore

Project Worthmore (PWM) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life of Denver-area refugees by providing cultural mentorship and community supports. Started by Frank and Carolyn Anello in early 2011, PWM began as a makeshift response to the unmet needs of our refugee neighbors. Now as relationships and knowledge of refugee needs have grown, the community response has become an organized effort to serve the vast needs through the heart of our community.

The Food Share Program at PWM was created in response to the lack of access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetable for refugees in Metro-Denver. Twice a week, volunteers pick up the rescued produce. They then deliver it PWM, where there is a special storage area with refrigeration. Those same days, between 25-35 refugee families come to “shop” for the food that they want. In order to offer culturally-relevant and healthful food, no canned, processed or sugar-laden food is accepted. One hundred and fifty families have accessed fresh, nutritious food during weekly distribution times, in a “market-style” setting where they may choose food items. The Yu Meh Food Share strives to be culturally-appropriate and community-driven through a membership process and including refugees as volunteers and leaders. Each family that utilizes the program has a membership card that is bought for $10. In the year since the program started, more than thirty thousand pounds of food have been distributed in partnership with Denver Food Rescue, Metro Caring, Fresh Guys, Sprout City Farms, and 5280 Produce.

Program Details:
Open to Refugee populations

Montbello – KIPP College Prep, Maxwell Elementary, Academy 360

Due to the unique size and layout of the Montbello neighborhood, members of this community decided that there should be multiple No Cost Grocery Programs across the neighborhood to reach the maximum number of families. Through a long community listening and feedback integration process, the Montbello community decided on three locations for their NCGPs: KIPP College Prep, Maxwell Elementary, and Academy 360, all DPS schools, equally spaced across the neighborhood. This model is a first for DFR, but has shown incredible success and room for growth since it’s implementation in the spring of 2016. Each program occurs on Thursday afternoons as the schools are letting out, giving families the ability to conveniently pick up fresh produce as they are picking up their kids from school. These programs each provide fresh produce for about 50 families every week, and operate throughout the year. All are open to the surrounding community.

Program Details:
Open to school families