Join Us in Ending Hunger

Mesa County Hunger Alliance Timeline

November 2014
November 2014

Mesa County Hunger Alliance begins convening.

May 2015
May 2015

Lunch Lizard Mobile Summer Meals program launches. School District 51 Food and Nutrition Services operates the Lunch Lizard, which began in partnership with the Western Colorado Community Foundation.

August 2016
August 2016

Kids Aid moves into its own warehouse, after being in operation since 2004. Nearly two decades later, Kids Aid provides weekend food to children in over 100 community locations across Mesa County. Partnerships range from libraries, preschools, District 51’s Lunch Lizard and Colorado Mesa University.

January 2018
January 2018

Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger released.

October 2018

Colorado Health Foundation provides grant funding to Western Colorado Community Foundation for a planning grant to develop the Mesa County Blueprint to End Hunger.

September 2019

St. Mary’s Regional Hospital – In collaboration with Food Bank of the Rockies, Sodexo Dining Services increases commitment to food rescue efforts and systematizes process to donate recovered food to HomewardBound.

January 2019

The “SNAP Ambassador Pilot Program” was developed, which resulted in over 50 members of partner agencies and community volunteers being trained by Mesa County Department of Human Services (DHS) on how to complete SNAP applications with clients.

August 2020
August 2020

Mutual Aid Partners is founded as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, galvanizing creative food distribution channels & boosting collaboration between social service organizations and grassroots efforts.

September 2020

Colorado Health Foundation provides multi-year grant funding to support the Mesa County Hunger Alliance.

October 2020
October 2020

St. Mary’s Regional Hospital and Food Bank of the Rockies began the process of working together towards a shared facility for FBR and Meals on Wheels Mesa County. This resulted in the hospital establishing greater support for hunger relief work as part of Community Health.

Mesa County Blueprint to End Hunger

Mesa County has a plan to end hunger! Inspired by the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger , Mesa County developed its own Mesa County Blueprint to End Hunger, thanks to funding from the Colorado Health Foundation and great engagement from the Mesa County Hunger Alliance.

Mesa County Blueprint to End Hunger

Strategic Plan for 2025
Mesa County’s goals to reduce food insecurity are closely aligned with the five goals of the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger while building on local needs, strengths, and opportunities of organizational partners here in Mesa County. This is a local action plan to address hunger in our community. Like all communities, Mesa County has unique assets that have been incorporated and built on in developing our own local action plan.