Did you know that more than 55,000 kids in the Metro Denver area attend schools where 90% or more of the student population is eligible for a free or reduced lunch? Source: https://foodforthoughtdenver.org/hunger-in-our-community/#hunger-map
Did you know A Coloradan, on average, only receives $1.98 per meal in SNAP benefits, making it a challenge to put healthy food on the table for themselves and their family? Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Colorado Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program fact sheet, Feb. 2023
But help is just a food pantry, or in our case pantries, away.
Every Saturday from 9 am – Noon, Denver Inner City Parish hosts a food pantry serving up to 140 people. We also operate five mobile pantries using a client choice model where participants select protein, fresh produce, dry goods, and other ingredients to make several healthy meals throughout the week. We strive to have at least 50% of the food at a distribution be fresh produce, lean meat, eggs, dairy, and culturally relevant staples like rice and beans.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Food Pantries:
Q: How do your donations turn into groceries?
A: Food pantries may purchase the items their neighbors need but aren’t donated regularly, such as fresh produce and dairy. Food pantries often buy this food at much lower prices than what we spend at the grocery store, so donated dollars can turn into more meals. Purchasing also means food pantries can be flexible to address needs specific to their communities, like culturally or medically particular diets.
Q: Who Can Visit Your Food Pantries?
A: Anyone can come to DICP’s Food Pantries. We only ask that you fill out an intake form before getting in line.
Q: What Do I Need to Bring?
A: Just yourself and grocery bags if you choose. No ID is required.
Q: What Does a Client Choice Model Mean?
A: Dignity and empowerment. You should be the one selecting the foods that are right for you and your family. We recognize there is a social value in food and our food bank procedures encourage active participation and autonomy.
Where are Your Food Banks Located?
Denver Inner City Parish – 1212 Mariposa Street Denver, CO 80204
Where are the mobile food pantry locations?
Thomas Bean Towers (West of City Park)
2350 Cleveland Place, Denver, Colorado 80205
Thomas Connole Apartments (Southwest of City Park)
1710 Williams St., Denver, Colorado 80218
Mile High 360 (a 3 min walk or 1 minute drive from DICP office)
1265 Mariposa St.Denver, Colorado 80204
How bad is food insecurity in Denver?
According to the Colorado Health Institute, Denver, Pueblo, and El Paso counties in Colorado had higher than average rates of food insecurity in 2023. In Colorado, 9.2% of people don’t have reliable access to affordable, nutritious food, and 38% are worried about affording food. 14% of people have skipped meals because they couldn’t afford food, and 10.5% of children don’t have access to enough food.
In Colorado, 42.8% of households receiving SNAP (formerly food stamps) benefits have children under 18.
Hunger is especially pronounced in Spanish speaking households as seen in the table below.
Source: https://www.coloradohealthinstitute.org/research/2023-chas-food-security
Colorado is an expensive place to live – and eat:
According to Average cost of a home prepared meal in Colorado is 4.13, higher than all other states Colorado shares a border with.
In Colorado, a family of four can expect to spend an average of $10,384 on food in 2022, the 13th highest amount among states, according to the EPI’s Family Budget Calculator.
Denver Inner City Parish is Committed to Caring and Sharing Food
Denver Inner City Parish realizes that access to nutritious food is a fundamental right. A hungry school aged child cannot be in a position to learn if their stomach is grumbling. Without enough calories, we’re unable to remain alert at our jobs. With fresh, healthy, whole foods we ensure satiety and enough energy to face the challenges each day holds.
80% of the people that visit one of our Denver Inner City Parish food pantries visit less than two times. This means that a large majority of food bank participants only need help to get through a rough patch. We recognize this and will continue to be available whether you visit our pantries once or 100 times.
Join Denver Inner City Parish in this mission by funding our food pantries. As a nonprofit we have the partnerships and buying power to stretch your dollars as far as possible to end hunger among our most vulnerable neighbors.