In Weld County…
1 in 4
People are Hungry
That equates to over
88,000
of our neighbors
Who Needs Help?
The short answer: people like you and me. The term “working poor” is used often in the media but we see it firsthand. Nearly three quarters of the households we serve have at least one adult who is employed, retired or disabled. They are oil field workers, truck drivers, retired teachers and many other respectable professionals who are at a tough time in their life.
There are common phrases we often hear from people in regards to what brought them to the food bank. “Scarce,” “tight,” and “bad” are just some of the terms used to describe their financial situation. When money is tight, food isn’t the only thing that families have to decide whether or not they can afford to buy. They have to decide if they can afford the medication they so desperately need, which often times has to be taken with food. Towards the end of the month they have to decide if they will be able to pay their rent or mortgage on time. When winter comes and heating costs rise, they have to decide whether they can afford to pay the utility bill. This continuous juggling act leads a majority of our families to buy the cheapest food available regardless of health when pay day comes around.
In Weld County…
1 in 3
Children are Hungry
Growing up hungry brings with it a lot of disadvantages. Over half the students in Weld County qualify for free or reduced price school meals. Those meals are not accessible over the weekend which leads many of them to show up on Monday mornings with little to no food in their bellies. They often will lack focus and motivation when all they can think about is food. If a child does not get enough nutritious food, they fall behind physically, cognitively, academically, emotionally and socially. They, their families, our communities and our country suffer the life-long consequences of these reduced outcomes.
There are many ways you can help our hungry neighbors: