From our President and CEO
Dear Friends,
The past few years have been a challenge. The world has endured a pandemic and its aftermath. And now we’re facing record-setting inflation and shortages of everyday items like paper goods and eggs. The saying goes that adversity often brings out the best in people. Your unwavering support during these trying times is proof of that and has given muchneeded hope to families struggling to put food on the table.
Community Table has always been a hub for those who want to lend a helping hand. As we continue to fight hunger and homelessness, we look to all of you who have donated food, time and money and say thank you. We know we are not alone in our mission to improve the lives of so many.
To ensure we are ready to help, no matter the circumstances, we continually improve our programs and add needed services to support our most vulnerable community members. You can read more about these new offerings in this newsletter, including helping the growing number of older adults facing hunger.
Thank you for being part of our efforts to help those in need. Your compassion reminds us that kindness is alive and well in our community, and we are endlessly grateful for your support.
With gratitude,
Sandy Martin Chief Executive Officer
TABLE TALK
When you’re hungry, it’s difficult to focus on much else. The volunteers and staff are kind and friendly. The food is well organized, and the portions are generous. I am truly grateful for their assistance.
— Tosha
You can help us have even more impact on fighting hunger and poverty in the coming year by donating today!
Feeding the Golden Years
In Colorado, 7.5% of older adults face hunger, forcing them to choose between purchasing groceries or paying other expenses.
After a lifetime of working, many older adults who looked forward to their golden years now find themselves worrying about their next meal. In fact, seniors being hungry is a nationwide epidemic. Nearly one in six seniors in America faces hunger.
Older adult hunger is so widespread that AARP reports that seniors face a healthcare bill of more than $130 billion annually due to medical issues stemming from hunger. Adequate nutrition is vital in helping seniors stay independent and healthy. Research shows that a lack of food contributes to chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and depression. The relationship between hunger and health can be a vicious cycle. As seniors living on limited and fixed incomes spend more on health care, they have even less to spend on food.
“When we retired, I thought we would have a good life. Then my husband died. My medical bills got higher, and I had trouble making ends meet. The food I receive from Community Table really helps me get by.” - Rita
At Community Table, we’re working hard to fight senior hunger. In 2022, 30% of the people who ‘shopped’ in our pantry were 60 years or older. We know this percentage will only increase as the next largest cohort of people we serve is the 51 – 59 age bracket. That group makes up 18% of those who use our services.
As more and more older adults visit our pantry, we know we need to do more, especially for those who lack mobility and transportation. That’s why we’re expanding
New Community Partnerships
We’ve “teamed up” to better help those we help. We don’t believe in recreating the wheel or duplicating programs and services, so whenever possible, we partner with other organizations doing good in the community.
our mobile pantry program and introducing a new home delivery service. We designed our mobile pantry program to bring food to outlying areas, but it has had the most impact on senior living communities. In 2022, this service provided nearly 60,000 pounds of food to 2,000 older and disabled adult families living at senior complexes in Arvada and Wheat Ridge. Based on this success, we’re expanding our mobile pantry to senior living communities in Westminster, where we’ll provide an additional 1,000 boxes of food during the coming year.
Our mobile pantry program is a good solution for those living in community settings, but it doesn’t help disabled and older adults living independently. To better serve this population, we’re launching a home delivery service using DoorDash drivers. Project DASH is DoorDash for government and nonprofits. Since its launch in 2018, Project DASH has helped deliver more than 15 million meals across the US. We’ve been using Project DASH to deliver healthcare and food “pharmacy” boxes for a local hospital, so we know it’s a good solution to deliver food to homes safely, conveniently and cost-effectively.
Know someone who could benefit from home delivery? Please have them call 720-437-6399 for more information.
Dental Care
We’ve teamed up with No Smile Left Behind to offer onsite dental care. Their state-of-the-art mobile dental office is capable of meeting the comprehensive treatment needs of patients right where they happen to be.
Shower and Laundry Services
We’ve partnered with Bayaud Enterprises to provide FREE laundry and shower services. Their mobile units provide a safe and private environment to shower and wash clothes. As part of the shower program, participants receive new
underwear, socks and toiletries. We provide detergent, bleach, and dryer sheets for those needing laundry services.
Motor Vehicle Services
Many of the folks we help lack the identification they need to access essential programs and services, so we’ve connected with DMV2GO to provide motor vehicle services in our parking lot. DMV2GO is the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles program on wheels that makes it easier for people to access services by bringing the DMV to them. Services Include issuing new Colorado identification cards, driver’s licenses and more.
Job Training and Support
Through our partnership with Goodwill Colorado, we connect people to the ReHire program to develop the skills needed to find a job and succeed in the workplace. “The ReHire Program helped me to move past homelessness and into my own apartment. I have a job now and have learned that anything is possible. I have hope now for my future,” explains Theresa, a formerly homeless veteran.
What’s Happening – Events and More!
ReFUND Colorado
Throughout tax season
Turn your Tax Refund into Food!
If you get a Colorado income tax refund, you can donate some or all to help feed hungry families in our community. Enter Community Table and our registration number 20033002744 in the Donate to a Colorado Nonprofit Fund line on your state income tax return or tax software—or give this info to your tax preparer when you share your tax documents. You can learn more at RefundWhatMatters.org.
Spring Fling Prairie Dog Half, 10k and 5K
April 16, 2023
Join Peedy the Prairie Dog for this seasonal race!
Racers, volunteers and spectators who bring FIVE canned goods to the food drive at the run are entered into a raffle for prizes from local businesses including race entries, gift certificates, apparel and more. Visit 3wraces.com for more information and to register. You can even make a donation when you register!
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
Saturday, May 13, 2023
Coming to your mailbox this spring.
The largest one-day food drive in the nation happens every year in May. This vital food drive helps us stock our warehouse for the busy summer months when food donations are traditionally scarce
Your gift to Community Table is in good hands!
For every $1 you donate, we can provide food for THREE nutritious meals. Community Table has a Platinum Seal of Transparency on Candid/ GuideStar, a 4-Star rating on Charity Navigator and we are a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, which means you can trust we will use your donation to help your neighbors in need.
and struggling families need more food to feed children who are not in school.
Donating is easy! Pick up extra nonperishable food and personal care items such as peanut butter, tuna, canned fruit and beans, shampoo, bar soap and diapers. Your postal carrier will leave a blue plastic bag with your mail. Fill the blue bag or any bag with your donations and place it by your mailbox by 9 am on Saturday, May 13, for collection by your postal carrier or a volunteer.
Help us reach our goal of 85,000 pounds of donated food in one day!
Save the Date!
ACFB Foundation’s Ninth Annual Charity Golf Classic
Monday, August 18, 2023
Legacy Ridge Golf Course, Westminster
Tee off against hunger at the ACFB Foundation’s annual Charity Golf Classic benefiting Community Table. 100% of the proceeds help feed the hungry and provide emergency assistance and self-sufficiency programs for families in need.
Act fast. The Charity Golf Classic sells out. To ensure your spot, become a sponsor today!
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact our resource development team at 720-437-6394 or lcadman@ cotable.org.
Can’t make it to our events. You can still help feed the hungry by making a donation today!
Find us @TheCoTableOrg on 8555 W. 57th Ave. Arvada, CO 80002 cotable.org | 303-424-6685
Because of you, others will eat today. Donate Now!
