The holiday season is upon us. It is an exciting time of year, but for many it is impossible to provide extra celebrations when it's a challenge to meet basic needs. This is especially true this year with families experiencing loss of federal medical and nutritional support. I was able to gain some context around these changes when I attended a roundtable discussion with Senator Michael Bennet and other hunger-relief partners at Food Bank of the Rockies. Our conversation affirmed the importance of recognizing that food insecurity doesn't always look the way one might think. Many of our neighbors are struggling to feed their families even when it appears from the outside that things are OK. You can read more details about this conversation and hear some of the stories of the families Food for Hope serves in this month's blog.
In light of these circumstances, Food for Hope is striving to rally around our neighbors and provide as much extra food support as possible this holiday season. Feed 5000preparations and fundraising are in full swing! This event, in partnership with ThornCreek Church, provides over 2,500 families with a holiday meal they can cook and serve in their own homes. We are 50% of the way to our fundraising goal! If you or your business would like to sponsor a family (or many families!), then please click the button below.
As you prepare for your family's holiday celebrations, we hope that you will engage with us to show love and give dignity to our neighbors in need. Whether it's through Feed 5000, a year-end gift, or becoming a monthly financial donor- your partnership will give light and hope this holiday season.
Warmly,
Emily Stromquist, Executive Director
emily@foodforhope.net
Feed 5000 - 2026
Feed 5000 is back! This annual event is all about neighbors helping neighbors, and this year’s Feed 5000 week runs Monday, November 16th through Friday, November 20th.
Box packing happens on Monday & Tuesday, November 16th & 17th and food distribution will take place on the rest of the week!
There are two ways you can be part of it:
Sponsor a box. For just $35, you can provide a box of food for a local family. Each box contains holiday meal sides, dessert, and a grocery gift card that allows each family to choose the food items that are most meaningful to them. It’s a simple, powerful way for families to support families in our community.
Volunteer. Volunteer sign-ups open Monday, November 2nd. We’ll need help with packing 2500 boxes, and spots tend to fill quickly, so mark your calendar and grab your shift early!
Whether you give, volunteer, or both, you’re helping make sure more families have what they need this season. Thank you for being part of Feed 5000!
Senator Bennet's Roundtable Discussion
Food for Hope Joins Senator Bennet’s Roundtable on Food Insecurity
On October 14th, Food for Hope joined a select group of local food and nutrition organizations for a roundtable hosted by U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. This discussion took place at the Food Bank of the Rockies and highlighted the growing need for nutritional support across the Denver metro area.
Executive Director Emily Stromquist shared how, when SNAP benefits froze during last year’s government shutdown, Food for Hope was asked to triple or quadruple its output within a week.
The conversation was, ‘Well, these families are losing their SNAP support. Everyone just go to your local food pantry,’” Emily said. “And local food pantries were left with very few resources to handle that.”
We were inspired by our hunger relief partners and the collective impact that we are able to make together. It is going to take all of us doing our part to address the growing food insecurity across our state. We were thankful to have a seat at the table!
Denver 7 News & Mapleton Schools
We were honored to be part of a recent Denver 7 News segment on food insecurity in our community! At the invitation of our partners at Food Bank of the Rockies, we had the chance to showcase our food pantry at Mapleton Public Schools and our Food Distribution Hub in Thornton.
The segment featured interviews with our Executive Director, Emily Stromquist, the Family Liaison at Mapleton Public Schools, Enid Nieves, and a local shopper who regularly visits the pantry. Together, they shared how this resource helps families put food on the table and why access close to home matters so much.
We’re grateful to Food Bank of the Rockies for thinking of us and to Denver 7 for helping shine a light on this important issue. Most of all, thank you to the families, volunteers, and supporters who continue to make our pantries possible.
Tiffany's Employee Highlight
Meet Tiffany, our Director of Community Engagement!
Since joining Food for Hope in 2022 as our Director of Community Engagement, Tiffany has played a key role in working with our volunteers and coordinating volunteer opportunities across our programs. Tiffany also works alongside volunteers to unload food pallets in the warehouse and helps coordinate community events and food drives that advance our mission to fight childhood hunger in Adams County.
We’re grateful for Tiffany’s dedication to bringing people together and making a difference for the students and families we serve!
Community Connections
The following local businesses, individuals, or groups helped fill our food shelves during late September & October:
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church: 151lbs
CIMA Energy Golf Tournament: 195lbs & $2800
Trailwinds of Hope Golf Tournament: 55lbs
Thorncreek Church: 32lbs
Spooky Sweets Stroll: $2043
The holiday season is here, and many folks are looking for ways to support food organizations in their community. We would love your support!
Would your group, team, or business like to host a food drive for Food for Hope? Connect with Tiffany@foodforhope.net, and we’ll provide you with a fun theme, collection bins, and signs.
You can even host a virtual food drive, which allows us to purchase needed food items at discounted prices!
Please email: Tiffany@foodforhope.net or review giving at: www.foodforhope.net/food-items
What's Happening Food for Hope?
Would you help share our story?
The School Year is Here, and it's the perfect time to help Food for Hope grow our impact through our Fresh Hope, Fresh Starts initiative!
As we kick off a new school year, we're looking to connect with local businesses, community groups, faith organizations, and individuals who are passionate about ensuring students and families have access to healthy food.
You can help by introducing Food for Hope to potential partners, sponsors, volunteers, or donors in your network. A simple conversation or email introduction can create new opportunities to support local families throughout the year.
You can also amplify our mission by sharing our newsletter, website, and social media posts, and by leaving a Google Review. Every connection, share, and review helps bring Fresh Hope and Fresh Starts to more students and families across our community.
Links are below — Follow Us & Share!
