Key Points:
- Food Fund Relaunched: Denver Schools Foundation reactivated its Food Security Fund to support families hit by SNAP delays.
- High Demand: Over $100,000 distributed, with requests exceeding $200,000 as food insecurity rises.
- Pandemic Lessons: The foundation uses its 2020 experience to keep students fed and ready to learn.
The Denver Schools Foundation has reactivated its Food Security Fund to help students and their families facing food shortages due to delays in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments. The initiative, first launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, was designed to provide meals and essential food support when schools were closed.
Today, the fund is once again providing critical aid as families experience interruptions in food benefits. The foundation is distributing grocery gift cards and restocking school food pantries across the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district, which serves about 89,000 students.
Supporting Families Through Food Insecurity
The federal government’s temporary shutdown earlier this month has caused significant delays in SNAP payments, affecting more than 600,000 Coloradans who rely on the program to purchase groceries. While schools continue to offer free breakfasts and lunches for students, many families are still struggling to provide meals at home.
Sara Hazel, president and CEO of the Denver Schools Foundation, said schools have seen a noticeable rise in requests for food assistance. “We are hearing from schools that parents are just asking the front desk, ‘What resources do you have?’” Hazel explained. “Luckily, kids are still receiving meals at school, but we know families are food insecure.”
Since restarting the fund on October 31, the foundation has distributed over $100,000 to DPS schools and community hubs, which operate food pantries and offer other social services. However, the foundation has already received more than $200,000 in requests for support, reflecting the growing need among families.
Meeting Demand Amid Rising Need
Ashley Muramoto, a spokesperson for the Denver Schools Foundation, confirmed that requests for assistance continue to increase, even as some federal benefits begin to resume. The foundation aims to address as many requests as possible, though resources remain limited.
The community hubs and schools use the donations to provide essential groceries and supplies for families until SNAP benefits are fully restored. “We’ll keep the fund open as long as it’s needed,” Hazel said.
While federal actions continue to determine when benefits will be fully distributed, the Denver Public Schools Foundation’s initiative is helping bridge the gap for families in immediate need. The fund’s renewed operation ensures that students remain nourished and ready to learn, even as broader food assistance programs face delays.
Building on Pandemic-Era Lessons
The Denver Schools Foundation’s quick response echoes its 2020 pandemic initiative, when district staff prepared grab-and-go meal bags for families across Denver during school closures. That experience has helped schools efficiently respond to new food security challenges today.
By coordinating with district staff, community hubs, and local donors, the Denver Public Schools Foundation continues to support educational stability by meeting a basic need—food security. For many students, consistent access to meals not only improves health and attendance but also supports concentration and learning in the classroom.
As Hazel emphasized, the Denver Schools Foundation’s mission goes beyond emergency relief. It reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that every child in the Denver Public Schools system has the stability and nutrition needed to succeed in school.
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