Food for Hope is excited to share the Winter and Spring 25-26 release of Well Magazine. You can read the Food for Hope article on page 18!
November Newsletter - 2025!
Dear Food for Hope Supporters,
I am writing to you as we are winding up Feed 5000, and the largest week of food distribution in Food for Hope history! Our efforts have resulted in hundreds of schools served with extensive food support for kids all across Adams County. We have a small staff, and we have all been stretched to our limit over the past few weeks. But you, our community, have held us up. You have donated, showed up, sweat alongside us, packed, sorted, and encouraged. Thank you! In this month's blog, I detailed more about what we have experienced over the last month and all the ways our supporters have made our work possible. I encourage you to check it out at the link below.
The aching feet, blisters, and scratched up hands are worth it when we know thousands of children will have what they need in the coming weeks. Our work is not over, but we are grateful. And if you are reading this message, then I am especially grateful for you. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Warmly,
Executive Director
emily@foodforhope.net
Feed 5000 - Highlights
Feed 5000 is complete! We packed 2,500 holiday meal boxes with the help of hundreds of amazing volunteers and supporters! Thank you to our incredible community for lifting up others in need this holiday season. Together, we’re spreading hope, joy, and plenty of heart.
These boxes supported students at 160 schools and over 10,000 individuals all over Adams County!
Thank You, Food for Hope Community!
During the SNAP Emergency, Feed 5000, and ALL of November, you showed up in every way possible — through generous monetary gifts, food donations, extra volunteer hours, and endless encouragement. Our community came through, and because of you, we were able to continue feeding local students and families when they needed us most. Thanks to your help, we were able to distribute close to 5,000 extra supplemental food bags, stock additional food in our pantries, and give out hundreds of grocery gift cards to sustain families during a difficult time.
We’re also deeply grateful for the incredible grants and new partnerships that came our way during this time — a true reflection of your belief in our mission and the power of sharing the work we do.
From all of us at Food for Hope, thank you for standing beside us, spreading hope, and feeding hearts across Adams County.
Community Connections
As we head into the holiday season, we’re feeling extra grateful for the incredible community support we are receiving! Below are some of the amazing community partners from our crazy November Month:
SO MANY INDIVIDUAL FOOD DONATIONS - THANK YOU!
NOCO Women's Chamber of Commerce - Feed 5000 Support & Birthday Bags
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church Food Drive (Monthly): 77lbs
Dion's Pizza: $1,000 Extra SNAP Community Support Grant and Pizza Donation for Feed 5000 Core Volunteer Team
Modern Woodmen of America: Food Drive 1,134lbs
Target Distribution Center Team: Pallet Unloading
Do Gooder Games: 117lbs
Home School Group: 440lbs (Food Meal Bags)
Local Boy Scouts: 123lbs
Cub Scouts Pack 417: 471lbs
Windfall Brewery: 425lbs
Advanced Space: 246lbs
Rocky Mountain Pride Bands: 566lbs
*The rest of the donations have not been updated yet. We are behind but will catch up soon!
If your company or group is interested in partnering with Food for Hope, we’d love to connect—please reach out to Darcie or Tiffany.
Food for Hope Merch for the Holidays!
Our Online Merchandise Store is full of beautifully (& locally) designed apparel that gives back. We NOW have Kids Sizes Available in Fun Colors!
Each purchase helps feed local students and families in need — and share the gift of Hope for the holidays!
Upcoming Events!
Dutch Bros Community Fundraiser!
Saturday 11/22 - Go Treat yourself, friends or family with a Dutch Bros Drink at 15 Local Locations (Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster, Brighton, Commerce City, Federal Heights and more!). $1 from each drink will support Food for Hope Food Programming!
Chicken n Pickle CUP Campaign Thornton, CO
12/16 thru 12/31
$.25 from each cup purchased goes back to Food for Hope!
Take your Family & Friends for some Holiday Fun!
CO Gives Day!
All donations will be doubled up to $50,000!
Increase your impact and make your year-end donation that day or schedule your donation using the button below!
SAVE THE DATE:
Food for Hope Spring Gala, 4/16/26 at The Establishment, Westminster.
Would you help share our story?
Your voice is powerful! Food for Hope has a waitlist of schools requesting our programs, and that means children are missing out on essential nutrition every day. You can help our organization grow by sharing this newsletter, our website, or our social media pages with friends, family, and coworkers. This simple action takes less than a minute, and you’re helping expand our reach to support our work. Let’s build a stronger, more compassionate community—one connection at a time.
Social Media: Food for Hope CO
Panda Express Chooses Food for Hope for Ribbon Cutting Donation!
Panda Express has officially opened a new location in Thornton at 7120 E 128th Avenue. The restaurant celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday morning, joined by the City of Thornton’s Office of Economic Development, Thornton Area Chamber of Commerce and Food for Hope! Upon cutting the ribbon, Panda Express donated $1000.00 to Food for Hope’s efforts in food insecurity at Adams County Schools. The popular fast-casual chain continues to grow in the community, offering another convenient spot for residents to enjoy its American-Chinese favorites!
11/12/25 - 11/18/25: Food for Hope Selected as Nonprofit Partner for Kyle Clark’s “Next” on 9NEWS
Food for Hope Selected as Nonprofit Partner for Kyle Clark’s “Next” Word of Thanks on 9NEWS
Food for Hope is honored to be chosen as a nonprofit partner for Kyle Clark – Next on Channel 9 News in Denver. This incredible opportunity comes at a crucial time, as we work to complete our Feed 5000 campaign and ensure local families receive a Holiday Meal Box this season.
Kyle Clark and the Next community are helping us close the final gap in donations, making it possible for thousands of families to enjoy a complete, nourishing holiday meal. Any additional funds raised will go directly into expanding our food programming, strengthening our In-School Food Pantries, and supporting students and families facing food insecurity across Adams County.
We are deeply grateful for this partnership and for everyone who steps in to support their neighbors. Together, we’re building a brighter, more hopeful holiday season for our community.
October Newsletter
Dear Supporters and Friends,
Working in hunger relief is never easy, but Food for Hope is currently facing one of the biggest challenges our organization has ever encountered. With SNAP benefits suspended for at least a month, millions of families across the nation are worried about having enough to eat. Right here in Adams County, over 30,000 children are at risk of going hungry. At a recent meeting, a representative from another food pantry shared that a parent told her they expected to eat very little in order to ensure their kids were fed. They said they would just drink water as long as it means the children have what they need.
No parent should have to be in this situation. Food for Hope is uniquely positioned to help during this crisis, and we are doing our best to mobilize extra resources in the coming weeks. However, we are not funded for the volume of food needed to meet this elevated need. This is where our incredible community can make a real difference. Your support is needed now more than ever. Our small organization can do mighty things with the backing of those who believe in our work.
You can help by choosing local, leading with your heart, and investing in your own community. I wrote our October Blog with more details about the SNAP Benefit suspension, so take a moment to check it out.
Whether your heart leads you to support a family through our Feed 5000 Holiday Meal Boxes, or to provide immediate relief via our SNAP Gap Emergency Fund, every gift makes a tangible difference. Every meal, every box, every act of kindness helps ensure children and families don’t have to face hunger alone.
Together, we can continue to stand strong as a community that cares, supports, and nourishes. Thank you for being a beacon of hope for so many in Adams County.
Warmly,
Executive Director
emily@foodforhope.net
Feed 5000 - Holiday Meal Boxes
IT'S TIME FRIENDS...This holiday season, join Food for Hope in bringing warmth, dignity, and full plates to local families through our Feed 5000 Holiday Meal Program!
Each $35 donation provides a complete holiday meal box for one Adams County family—filled with shelf-stable sides, dessert, and a gift card for fresh produce or meat. Every box is distributed through our partner school districts, ensuring that families who need it most feel supported and cared for.
This season, let’s make it about Families Supporting Families.
Give today and help spread hope—one meal, one family at a time!
Support a Local Family for the Holidays Here!
Food Pantry Highlight:
Wolverine Den at Mapleton Public Schools
This month, we’re thrilled to spotlight the Mapleton Schools Wolverine Den Food Pantry! Opened in March 2025, this pantry has been growing slow but steady—and is already making a meaningful impact. Just last week, we supported over 75 individuals from 16 Mapleton families!
During check-in, we learned that many families hadn’t visited a food pantry in over a year. It was heartwarming to see them shop for nutritious, shelf-stable items like oatmeal, cereal, pasta, rice, proteins, fruits, sauces, condiments, and vegetables.
We’re also excited to share that Food for Hope recently added a freezer to the Mapleton location—allowing us to now offer frozen meats and tortillas. Families have been especially grateful for this addition! We will also be adding a refrigerator and adding more fresh options in the coming months.
Each visit reminds us that access to good food truly brings hope and dignity to our neighbors. Click the link below to help us add extra food to the shelves of this location and at other schools during the upcoming month!
Food for Hope Named Hometown Heroes!
The Food for Hope team was honored to be selected as Hometown Heroes by Modern Woodmen of America, a Fraternal Financial Organization dedicated to supporting local communities.
The Hometown Heroes program recognizes individuals and organizations who make a difference through selfless service and dedication. Honorees are nominated by community members, and each award includes a generous donation from Modern Woodmen to support a local charity or cause of the recipient’s choice.
A huge thank you to Mandi and the team at Modern Woodmen of America for recognizing our work and partnering to fight food insecurity in our community. We also celebrated this special recognition with a fun luncheon at Main Event in Thornton, CO!
Community Connections
As we welcome fall and head into the holiday season, we’re feeling extra grateful for the incredible community support we receive all year long! Below are some of the amazing community partners from October who made a big impact.
CIMA Energy Golf Tournament: 282lbs and $3100
Orchard Town Center: Spooky Sweets Stroll $1500
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church Food Drive (Monthly): 74lbs
Dion's Pizza: $1,000 Grant and Staff Lunch
Modern Woodmen of America: Hometown Heroes Award and Donation
Echo City Church Food Drive: 1,304lbs
Malley Transitional Care Food Drive: 70lbs
If your company or group is interested in partnering with Food for Hope, we’d love to connect—please reach out to Darcie or Tiffany.
Food for Hope Merch NOW AVAILABLE!
Food for Hope is excited to share our new Online Merchandise Store! Each item you purchase helps to feed local students and families who need our help with food in their homes. Take a look around at the beautifully (& locally) designed apparel!
Upcoming Events
Monday Nov. 17, 2025 - Friday Nov. 21: Feed 5000 Week!
Click here for more information.
SAVE THE DATE:
Food for Hope Spring Gala, 4/16/26 at The Establishment, Westminster.
Would you help share our story?
Your voice is powerful! Food for Hope has a waitlist of schools requesting our programs, and that means children are missing out on essential nutrition every day. You can help our organization grow by sharing this newsletter, our website, or our social media pages with friends, family, and coworkers. This simple action takes less than a minute, and you’re helping expand our reach to support our work. Let’s build a stronger, more compassionate community—one connection at a time. Check out our social links below!
Thank you for following along with Food for Hope in our journey to come alongside families experiencing food insecurity. There are currently a lot of things happening in our community and around the world that can make us feel helpless. Feeling unable to do something when you are witnessing painful events only amplifies the heartache. September is actually Hunger Action Month, and I wrote a blog about things that we can do when we are feeling helpless. I hope you will consider your circumstances, your resources, your gifts, talents, and time. What can you give to another that would help and potentially ease tension that exists in their life? Reach out to me at my email below and let me know what you decide to do! Taking action and creating positivity are powerful tools, and we can all do something.
Also, stay tuned! Feed 5000 season is just around the corner! With your help, we will provide a full Thanksgiving meal to over 10,000 Adams County residents. You won't want to miss it! More details coming soon. Best wishes for all the fall joys coming our way.
Warmly,
Executive Director
emily@foodforhope.net
Become a Monthly Donor. Click here!
Each year, Food for Hope surveys local families that shop at our In-School Food Pantries so we can evaluate meeting their needs and make any necessary changes to help them in the most effective way.
The Spring 2025 Survey responses reflected:
39% - Shop in our In-School Food Pantries once a week
94.2% - Say our Food Pantries have had an overall positive impact on their children's health.
55.1% - Say without our Food Pantry resources they or someone in their household, including children, would have to skip a meal at least once a week.
89.8% - Say Food for Hope meets their preferences for culturally appropriate foods.
79.7% - Say Food for Hope meets their dietary and health needs with food choices.
Food Pantries - Open for Business!
This past month, Food for Hope proudly re-opened 9 In-School Food Pantries, bringing fresh and shelf-stable food directly to students and families experiencing food insecurity. As we set up, organized, and delivered food, we were greeted with smiles and gratitude from our school communities. Our pantries serve families in School Districts 27J, Adams 14, Mapleton, Pinnacle Charter School, and Adams 12, including McElwain Elementary, STEM Launch, Northglenn High, Shadow Ridge Middle School, and Coronado Elementary. Most pantries are open during the week for families and students to shop, while Pinnacle Charter School offers a convenient online order system to meet the needs of their community.
You can also help by sponsoring a child for $25 a month. Click here!
Thornton Area Bike-n-Brew 2025 - Results are in!
The 3rd Annual Thornton Area Bike-n-Brew, hosted by Satire Brewing, was a huge success in support of Food for Hope! Riders enjoyed a fun trail ride, engaging vendors, and exciting live music, all while coming together for a great cause. Thanks to the incredible support from participants, vendors, and Satire Brewing, we raised over $3,900—enough to provide food support for 780 local students experiencing food insecurity. Stay tuned for the 4th Annual Bike-n-Brew, and thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible!
Community Connections
As we kick off a new school year and step into fall, we are especially grateful for the incredible community support we receive all year long! Below are some of the amazing community supporters from September who made a big impact.
CHFA - Volunteer Day!
Omni Interlocken - Volunteer Day!
Echo City Food Drive: 74lbs
Starstone Church Food Drive: 985lbs
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church Food Drive (Monthly): 87lbs
Labor Day Weekend Community Food Drive-Stargate NHS Students: 111lbs
Cross of Christ: 95lbs
If your company or group is interested in partnering with Food for Hope, we’d love to connect—please reach out to Darcie or Tiffany.
SNEAK PEAK!!
Mark your calendars! Food for Hope is launching a merch store on October 1st! All items are made to order, and not available anywhere except for on our website. All purchases will benefit our mission AND will help you step up your wardrobe game! Stay tuned to your email and our socials for the official link to be released next week.
Upcoming Events
Sunday Oct 12, 2025, 11am-2pm: Spooky Sweets Stroll, Orchard Town Center
Monday Nov. 17, 2025 - Friday Nov. 21: Feed 5000 Week!
Click here for more information.
SAVE THE DATE:
Food for Hope Spring Gala, 4/16/26 at The Establishment, Westminster.
Would you help share our story?
Your voice is powerful! Food for Hope has a waitlist of schools requesting our programs, and that means children are missing out on essential nutrition every day. You can help our organization grow by sharing this newsletter, our website, or our social media pages with friends, family, and coworkers. This simple action takes less than a minute, and you’re helping expand our reach to support our work. Let’s build a stronger, more compassionate community—one connection at a time. @FoodforHopeCO
Adams County Awards Food for Hope $40,000!
The Adams County Board of County Commissioners awarded a total of $800,000 in Community Enrichment Grants to 21 nonprofit organizations. These grants support programs addressing basic needs, household stabilization, and community well-being. Food for Hope received $40,000 under the Community Stabilization & Basic Needs tier for its “comprehensive childhood hunger relief programs!
Back to School Notes from Emily, our Director - August Edition
Welcome to a new school year! Many of us are experiencing the challenges of busy schedules, homework, packing lunches, and the logistics of getting children all the places they need to go. In a recent interview (which you can see below!), a news anchor asked me what it was like for parents to navigate this time of year with limited resources. There are so many expectations: back to school shopping, school supply lists, snacks, sports equipment. It seems like an unending stream of needs! The costs can be overwhelming for everyone, but particularly parents who are struggling to pay their standard life expenses. Food for Hope is striving to do our part to help these parents and their students start the year off in a positive way. Our pantries, weekend food bags, and School Fuel snack program ensure children will always have the vital nutrition they need, regardless of circumstances at home. You can partner with us in this effort by signing up to be monthly donor! The link is below.
Despite the adjustments this time of year requires, I hope that you and your family are entering this new season with hope and expectation. Best wishes for a fabulous year!
Warmly,
Emily Stromquist -Food for Hope Executive Director
Calling all Core Volunteers!
Each year, Food for Hope gathers our core volunteers to build community, undergo training, and celebrate all they have helped our organization to accomplish. You may be wondering - who is considered a core volunteer? These are the volunteers who play a pivotal role in our weekly operations. They consistently work at food pantries, drive the truck and restock shelves, work at events, help procure food, and more. Along with some annual training, we gave out awards and some fun giveaways too. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces we value deeply—and even reconnect with some we haven’t seen since May. Thank you for those took the time to join us at this event. We appreciate that you choose to continue to walk with us in service to our community. Our volunteers truly are the heart of Food for Hope!
Interested in Volunteering this School Year? Contact Tiffany.
We are grateful for the incredible community support we receive throughout the whole year! Below are some of the partnerships and connections that made a difference this Summer.
Bubble Bash - Orchard Town Center - Duck Pond/Donations
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church - Monthly Food Drive support
Tailwinds of Hope - 242 pounds of food from their golf tournament!
If your company or group is interested in partnering with Food for Hope, we’d love to connect—please reach out to Darcie or Tiffany.
Would you help share our story?
Your voice is powerful! Food for Hope has a waitlist of schools waiting for our programs, and that means children are missing out on essential nutrition every day. You can help our organization grow by sharing this newsletter, our website, or our social media pages with friends, family, and coworkers. This simple action takes less than a minute, and you’re helping expand our reach to support our work. Together, we can grow our programs, increase access to vital resources, and serve more families in need. Let’s build a stronger, more compassionate community—one connection at a time.
@FoodforHopeCO
Upcoming Events!
10/04: ICAN 5k with 3W Races
10/12: Spooky Sweets Stroll, Orchard Town Center
11/17 - 11/21: Feed 5000 Week!
Denver7 News features Food for Hope - shares how you can help!
We were thankful to be visited by Denver7’s Claire Lavezzorio and chat with her about Food for Hope operations. We shared that we currently have twelve schools on a waitlist for services, and that we are making an effort to raise funds to bridge that gap as soon as possible. Thank you to Patty & Scott - our amazing volunteers who showed up and showed off their hardwork!
MSN Shares Food for Hope In-School Food Pantry Interview & Video!
We’re honored that MSN shared the story of Food for Hope’s In-School Food Pantry program, highlighting the impact it has on students and families right here in our community. Together, we’re making sure children have access to nutritious food so they can learn, grow, and thrive.
You can be part of the story—Donate, Volunteer, or Share to support Food for Hope today!
