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April 1, 2019 ??????????????????????????????????????????????

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Turner Wyatt ?????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????? Christine Alford

Mobile: 720-838-4243 ?????????????????????????????? ??????? Mobile: 720-707-7937 ??????

Email: turner@drewg10.sg-host.com ?????????????????? Email: Christine@drewg10.sg-host.com

Denver Food Rescue hires Christine Alford as new Executive Director

Four years ago, Christine Alford was attending one of Denver Food Rescue?s No Cost Grocery Programs to obtain food for her family; now she?s the Executive Director

Longtime Five Points resident, mother, wife, and youth mentor Christine Alford has been hired as the next Executive Director of Denver Food Rescue. Christine has worked with youth in Northeast Denver for the past decade, and has honed her skills as a community leader while working for DPS and Heart and Hand Center. Christine first came to DFR in 2015 as a participant of one of DFR?s 17 No Cost Grocery Programs (NCGP), where residents of lower-income food deserts can come to access healthy food for free. Inspired by the program, Christine started her own NCGP in the Five Points neighborhood, which she operated while joining the Board of Directors of DFR from 2016 until 2018. In September 2018, Christine was hired as the DFR Program Director.

Christine quickly excelled at her role of Program Director, supporting NCGPs and implementing a new partnership with Denver Health. Christine also advocated for the Healthy Food for Denver Campaign, which passed in the 2018 election. Ordinance 302, as it is known, will ultimately provide more than $100 million for healthy food and health education for kids in Denver. Christine was a core advocate for the campaign.

?The Board of Directors selected Christine because of her depth of knowledge about Denver Food Rescue and her dedication to serving the community,? Said Eric Swan, Board President at Denver Food Rescue. ?We are excited for Christine to build upon our successes as she seeks to broaden our partnerships, increases the number of individuals and families that we serve, and identifies new and exciting programming opportunities.?

?This promotion is important to myself and my community for many reasons. I am able to use my lived and learned experiences to not only be a voice, but to leverage connection and empower our community members, to embrace their experiences, and support them to advocate for themselves,? said Christine. ?I know first-hand what it is to be food insecure, I will work hard in this role to reduce stigma and barriers, but that can’t be done without our supporters.?

Denver Food Rescue co-founder and Executive Director, Turner Wyatt, announced his departure from the organization in January, after working for the nonprofit organization since 2012, when he was still in college. Turner helped grow the organization from an all-volunteer organization with zero budget or staff into a community-led nonprofit that provides more than $2 million in healthy food annually, reaching more than 50,000 people per year. During his time with the organization, Turner co-founded Bondadosa, Fresh Food Connect, and Twice Rounds. Turner is moving to Crested Butte and continuing to fight against food waste with new projects.

About Denver Food Rescue:

Denver Food Rescue is a nonprofit organization focused on improving health equity outcomes by increasing access to healthy food in lower income areas. Almost 200,000 low- to moderate-income Denver residents live in ?food deserts,? areas with barriers to accessing healthy food retail. These barriers lead to diet related health problems, and lower education attainment for youth. Denver Food Rescue (DFR) works with residents of these neighborhoods to distribute fresh produce and other healthy foods from convenient, community-run venues, such as schools and afterschool programs. More than 200 DFR volunteers ?rescue? food that would otherwise go to waste from grocery stores and wholesalers, and deliver it ? sometimes via bicycle ? to one of 17 No Cost Grocery Programs, which reach thousands of people every year. Please find us on social media or drewg10.sg-host.com

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November 29, 2018

For Immediate Release

Amanda Chavero Named Development Director at Denver Food Rescue

DENVER — Denver Food Rescue is excited to share that it has hired Amanda Chavero as our Development Director. Chavero, with a background in higher education and health services advancement, will help DFR fulfill our mission through the expansion of our donor relations and fundraising efforts.

?I am so inspired by the passion and work ethic present in the DFR community,? Chavero says, ?DFR has experienced incredible growth, which is a testament to both the importance of the work being done here and the tireless commitment of the volunteers and staff. It is an honor to join this team!?

Denver Food Rescue (DFR) utilizes an innovative (and sustainable!) model of bicycle power and an amazing volunteer crew to save good produce from grocery stores, farmer?s markets, community gardens, and other food distributors that would otherwise have been discarded. We then redistribute it directly to organizations that work with low-income, food insecure communities via our 15 No-Cost Grocery Programs across Denver. In 2018, we have already shared 582,000 pounds of food with over 40,000 Denver residents. Best of all, over 80% of the food distributed is fresh produce!

If you?d like to support Denver Food Rescue, Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 4. Click here?to schedule your donation.

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For Immediate Release

2017 Denver Healthy Communities Awards Finalists Announced
Six finalists chosen among a record 39 nominations

DENVER ? Today, Denver Environmental Health announced the six finalists for the 2017 Denver Healthy Communities Awards. First launched in 2015, the Healthy Communities Awards (HCA) are intended to recognize individuals, as well as public, private, and community organizations working to promote public health and environmental sustainability.

Public and private organizations were among those chosen as the top two finalists in three categories: Innovation, Compliance and Good Neighbor.

The 2017 Healthy Communities Awards finalists include:

Innovation Award Finalists – Designed to recognize individuals and organizations that employ innovative strategies, processes, or technologies to improve public health and/or the environment in Denver.

Denver Food Rescue ? Denver Food Rescue (DFR) is focused on improving health equity outcomes for low-income families and individuals by increasing access to healthy food in a resident-driven and culturally appropriate way. DFR partners with community-based organizations and residents of low-income neighborhoods to enhance their ability to distribute healthy food. Using this approach, programs can be tailored by the community to meet the specific needs of an area.

The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization – The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO) works to protect the Interior West by bringing about climate action, and by building support for that action in the area and across the nation. As part of this, RMCO analyzes climate data for information on local impacts to help communities develop actions and solutions. They also work to engage and supporting local governments, by convening representatives to discuss what actions can be taken to prepare for and address climate change. Their work has served as the basis for numerous local actions, including Denver?s goal to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below the level of 2005 by the year 2050.

Compliance Award Finalists – Designed to encourage, recognize and reward local individuals, companies, and nonprofit organizations that have consistently met or exceeded applicable standards established through recognized best practices, regulation or certification.

Springhill Suites HLC ? Denver Downtown at MSU ? Springhill Suites approaches long-term compliance as ongoing training and practice it every day so it becomes second nature. SAGE Hospitality Management coaches staff to reinforce food safety standards and how those are important to guests and their own safety. Included in this coaching are daily teaching moments, efficient stocking and receiving practices, and daily regimen of testing coolers, sanitation fluids, and machine temperatures. The efforts have earned them the recognition of Denver?s Partners in Food Safety certification.

Work Options for Women ? Work Options for Women (WOW) assists people who have barriers to employment by providing individualized culinary training, building confidence and removing obstacles to sustained employment. WOW?s primary training kitchen is the cafeteria in the Denver Human Service building. All the WOW Chefs are certified ServSafe Managers with upper management also certified ServSafe Manager Instructors and proctors. Each day WOW?s professional chefs teach student how to safely prepare, serve and store all the food for the caf?. Students complete the ServSafe Food Handlers course within the first week and apply their knowledge in the kitchen for the next 8 weeks. Last year WOW was proud to became a Partner in Food Safety.

Good Neighbor Award Finalists – Designed to recognize individuals and organizations that have a longstanding commitment to protecting and/or improving the environment in Denver (clean air, land, and water), or promoting healthy people through improved access to healthy food, healthy built environments, or promoting healthy pets through activities at the animal shelter or in the community at-large.

A Little Help ? A Little Help works to connect neighbors to help seniors thrive by volunteering to help with transportation, yard and home chores, technology troubleshooting, handiwork, friendly walk and visits, and more. Through the work of the volunteers, senior who participate experience physical, social and psychological health is improvements. A Little Help offers seniors and their neighbors the opportunity to remain safe, connected and supported while aging in our community. In 2015, almost 800 individuals volunteered over 6 thousand hours to fulfill senior requests for assistance.

Metro Caring ? As one of Denver?s most trusted frontline hunger-prevention organizations, Metro Caring meets people?s immediate need for nutritious food while also sustainably addressing the root cause of hunger ? poverty. Through its Fresh-Foods Market, nearly two million pounds of free, healthful food is distributed to low-income residents annually. Metro Caring also provides complementary cooking and nutrition classes, including Kidz in the Kitchen, Diabetes Self-Management, Diabetes Prevention programming, and mini-nutrition classes with educators and healthy samples. Last year Metro Caring educated 7,464 participants, and will double its impact this year.

Finalists were chosen by a panel of experts in public and environmental health. Mayor Michael B. Hancock will recognize finalists and announce the winners on April 4 at the Healthy Communities Awards recognition breakfast at the McNichols Civic Center Building.

Special thanks to Certifiably Green Denver, for ensuring the HCA will be a certified green event.

To RSVP to the awards, visit https://2017denverhcawards.eventbrite.com. For more information about the Denver Healthy Communities Awards, visit www.denvergov.org/HCAwards.

City and County of Denver
Environmental Health
Kerra Jones,
Communications Administrator
O. 720-865-5387
C. 720-775-7332
kerra.jones@denvergov.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Local NonProfit ?is 1 of 5 organizations nationally authorized for SNAP home delivery by USDA Food & Nutrition Service

Denver, August 31, 2016

The USDA Food & Nutrition Service launched a trial program today authorizing five SNAP (food stamps) service providers the ability to deliver SNAP qualified food items to the homes of SNAP eligible elderly and disabled. The SNAP recipient will be charged the amount the delivering organization paid for it without any markup. A delivery fee may be charged but cannot exceed 25% of the order or $20. Previously, SNAP purchases could only be made in person, which acted to a barrier for many SNAP participants who have trouble leaving the house.

Denver Food Rescue, a Denver-based nonprofit is one of five nationally included in the pilot program for the year trial period.

?This policy is a big deal for those working on healthy food access in the city? says Denver Food Rescue Executive Director Turner Wyatt. ?We are honored to be a frontrunner in this opportunity and are seeking to build partnerships and gain feedback as we move forward.?

A roundtable discussion will be held Friday, September 23rd from 11am to 1pm at Green Spaces co-working space. People and organizations that work with populations that depend on SNAP and who have barriers to accessing the grocery store are encouraged to attend. For more information and to RSVP visit www.drewg10.sg-host.com.

USDA?s Press Release:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/pressrelease/2016/fns-001116??

About Denver Food Rescue:
Denver Food Rescue is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to increase health equity in Denver low-income communities by increasing access to fresh healthy foods.

To learn more about this program, please contact:

Turner Wyatt, Executive Director
1368 26th Street
Denver, CO 80205
(72o) 838-424three