Copyright Boulder Daily Camera
Boulder County is awarding $1.15 million to four community food providers to help fill food access gaps for people in need as the federal government shutdown continues. Of that amount, $850,000 will go to food network supporter Community Food Share, while $100,000 will go to each of three local family resource centers — the Sister Carmen Community Center in Lafayette, the OUR Center in Longmont and the Emergency Family Assistance Association in Boulder. The money is coming from a fund balance in Boulder County’s Human Services Department, Boulder County spokesperson Jim Williams said. The commissioners plan to formally approve the award at Thursday’s business meeting, with the money expected to be distributed to the four organizations by the end of the week. Boulder County food banks are continuing to see an increase in need, county officials said. November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits were paused for about 19,000 Boulder County residents, while local federal employees remain furloughed during the shutdown or have lost their jobs. While some Boulder County residents over the weekend may have received a reduced portion of their normal November benefit amounts, county officials noted, it’s not clear when full benefits will be restored. According to the Associated Press, states administering SNAP payments continue to face uncertainty over whether they can — and should — provide full monthly benefits during the ongoing legal battles. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule Tuesday on the Trump administration’s request to keep them frozen during the shutdown. Community Food Share reported that nearly two-thirds of those visiting the food bank in the last several weeks were there because of the potential loss of SNAP benefits, while one-third were seeking food assistance because of government furloughs or concerns about not being paid by their employers. “Local nonprofits are doing everything they can to support our community during these uncertain times, but they cannot do it alone,” Boulder County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann said in a written statement. “We need everyone who is able to contribute to step up and help ensure our neighbors have the food they need to survive. This is not about the government shutdown — it’s about people in our community who are struggling to put food on the table.” Community Food Share is both a food bank and a provider of food for other local organizations. Community Food Share also helps support smaller food banks such as Harvest of Hope Pantry, Nederland Food Pantry and Erie Community Food Bank. “Boulder County has a strong network of food banks and pantries, but the strain on the community safety net is intense right now,” Community Food Share Director Kim Da Silva said in a written statement. “We are grateful for our communities pulling together around us in response. It’s a great example of the importance of acting locally to make a difference.”
