COMMUNITY PROFILE CREDIT: PAULA BARD FOOD PANTRY BILL OFFERS ONE SOLUTION FOR FOOD INSTABILITY BY PAULA BARD 6 DENVER VOICE November 2020 “ONCE COVID HAPPENED, WHAT REALLY MATTERED WAS HELPING PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY.” –Colorado State Representative Lisa Cutter STATE REPRESENTATIVE LISA CUTTER, who is finishing her first term representing House District 25 in Jefferson County, recently explained one of the bills she sponsored during the 2020 legislative session. “We originated the Food Pantry Bill in the House,” said Cutter. “It happened very quickly at the end of the legislative session. [State Representative] Daneya Esgar and I worked on it with Hunger Free Colorado. People were eager to support it.” According to the text of Food Pantry Bill, nearly one in three Coloradans report being concerned about the costs of food since the coronavirus pandemic hit. Passed in May, the grant program now connects emergency food providers around the state with Colorado-grown fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat products from local farms. For many of Colorado’s small farmers, this program is an opportunity to shore up their business following coronavirus-related revenue losses. The Bill’s seed was planted when Hunger Free Colorado surveyed food pantry clients on the impact of the coronavirus. Eighty-three percent of pantry clients wanted more produce, meat, and dairy products during their visits. Jason Harrison, food pantry network manager, recalled, “We worked with our pantry partners and members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) to create a program that would provide pantry clients with those critical resources while simultaneously supporting our local agriculture communities.” Through the CARES Act, Colorado received almost $1.7 billion in federal coronavirus aid, signed into law on March 27. Over half of this money was directed to education, but the Colorado Proud and Food Pantries Act, HB20-1422, was awarded $500k in May from this CARES Act money. Governor Polis issued an executive order on October 9, allocating another $100k.
7 Publizr Home