Governor Polis requests $10 million for food banks across the state

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - As we enter week four of a federal funding shutdown, more than 600,000 SNAP recipients in Colorado will not receive food assistance benefits in November. 

As a result, food banks, which are already running lean, will have to step up to take on the extra demand as we approach the holiday season.

Governor Polis announced on Wednesday that he has requested $10 million in emergency funding to help fill the gap.

"November is going to be unprecedented. I think we'll see the largest number of people that we've ever seen," says Nate Springer, Care and Share CEO.

Care and Share will be receiving nearly a quarter of the ten million emergency dollars set aside by the state of Colorado and without SNAP, Springer says that money is crucial to keeping food on the table for recipients.

"For every meal that we can put out at care and share - the snap program does nine for families. And so, it's the nation's primary nutrition program. And what food banks around the state are. We're really a safety net," says Springer.

Food banks are already serving so many people, according to Nate Springer, they’d be in trouble if the state didn’t step up now.

"I'm going to really be depending on the food banks, stuff that I can make a meal out of, or if I'm just going to be eating soup with them," says a SNAP recipient.

Governor Polis says that the five largest food banks in Colorado would receive $10 million to keep shelves stocked and the money will be split up based on the regional population. 

But of course, the non-profit can't express enough gratitude for the volunteers that work to make it all possible.

"For me personally, to be able to give that, some of my time to what I think is a good cause and not just that, but also to to do it with friends and other like minded individuals. It's a really good feeling," says Francisco Gonzalez, a volunteer.

Right now the state is still trying to figure out where the $10 million will come from, but the governor is confident they will have the funds available by next week. 

If you would like to donate or volunteer with Care and Share, you can learn more here.

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