by Jessica Hughes | Oct 20, 2025 | Glendale City News
Photo taken by Jessica Hughes with Mountain Light Photography Denver City Council approved the Vibrant Denver bond package and will appear on the November ballot.
The Vibrant Denver Bond addresses infrastructure needs to some of the city’s most iconic places such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Photo taken by Jessica Hughes with Mountain Light Photography
by Jessica Hughes
In November, Denver voters will be able to vote on the $950 million “Vibrant Denver” bond package that was recently approved unanimously by the Denver City Council.
Mayor Mike Johnston’s ambitious bond is the largest bond ever put forward in the city’s history and proposes “to repair and improve Denver’s infrastructure and community space — including roads, bridges, parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, and libraries.”
This comes on the heels of several recent moves to improve Denver’s downtown, including the 16th Street Mall Project, which celebrated its completion this summer, as well as rejected city improvements, such as Governor Polis’s $29 million pedestrian bridge project. At the same time, Trump threatens to decrease federal funding for some programs, the city also faces massive budget cuts worth $250 million, which recently included firing nearly 170 employees and eliminating hundreds of vacant positions. But when you add all of this up, can the city really afford nearly $1 billion in debt?
Johnston says the bond would be fully funded from property tax income, without adding any new taxes. “The Vibrant Denver bond package allows us to come together to decide our priorities for our neighborhoods and families,” said Mayor Johnston. “This bond will help us build the Denver of the future, without raising taxes, while also ensuring the protection and preservation of critical infrastructure already in place. It will also allow us to control our own destiny by creating a local funding source for needed local projects.”
According to the City of Denver, they “set general obligation (GO) bond programs intentionally every 4-10 years so that as previous bonds are paid down, new bonds can be issued without new taxes — allowing the city to keep pace with infrastructure improvements.”
Th
The Vibrant Denver Bond is the largest bond ever proposed in the city’s history. Photo taken by Jessica Hughes with Mountain Light Photography
e mayor’s office said each of the approximately 60 projects can be completed over the next six years within the city’s existing bond capacity, since previous bond programs are almost complete. According to the city’s 2024 comprehensive financial report, the city has about $1 billion in existing debt from previous bond packages voters approved, including the Elevate Denver, a 10-year, $937 million general obligation bond program approved by voters in 2017, and RISE Denver, a five-year, $260 million general obligation bond program approved by voters in 2021.
“In North Denver over the past several years, we’ve seen improvements to recreation centers, parks, fire stations, libraries, playgrounds, and less noticeable but equally important infrastructure like irrigation, street repairs, and bridges. Almost all the infrastructure we rely on daily is built or maintained through our bond programs — critical investments that do not raise taxes but create lasting, tangible benefits for our communities,” said City Council President Amanda P. Sandoval. “General Obligation Bonds allow us to build and maintain the spaces that define our city, ensuring Denver’s legacy of strong, community-driven infrastructure continues for generations to come. The 2017 GO Bond included funding for pedestrian safety improvements along Federal Boulevard, an issue I advocated for, to make one of our city’s busiest corridors safer for everyone. I look forward to working with residents to shape our next bond program and invest in the future of our neighborhoods.”
But before Denverites vote no to avoid adding more debt, it’s important to note the city can only use property tax revenue to fund GO bonds and pay off bond debt. If Vibrant Denver isn’t approved, the city will have a surplus of property tax revenue in the coming years, since it’s on schedule to pay off its current debt, and bonds cannot be used to pay for any operational costs like staffing or services, only for the construction of public infrastructure and facilities. Ultimately, the city would be left with a surplus of money that they couldn’t use for any other cause. So, while it may seem like bad timing, the City of Denver is keeping up the pace of regularly scheduled bond issuance and maintenance.
Each of the bond projects is categorized into five separate sections, which voters will be able to approve or reject. Nearly half of the funding will be allocated toward transportation and mobility, including streets, bridges, and traffic safety improvements. Here is a snapshot of the five categories voters will get to vote on, with the top few most expensive projects within each category.
Transportation and Mobility —
the largest category by far at $441 million
- 8th Avenue Viaduct & Multimodal Improvements | $89,200,000 — The most expensive item on the ballot at almost $90 million is the repairs to the 8th Avenue bridge near Burnham Yard. Despite the City of Denver’s claims that repairs are long overdue, it seems coincidental with the recent rumors of the new home of the Denver Broncos stadium.
- Globeville Elyria-Swansea Connections: Marion Underpass | $75,000,000 — this plan completes the final connection linking Globeville to Elyria and Swansea. It also provides Globeville direct access to the RTD N Line station and several other structural improvements.
- 6th Avenue Viaduct Repairs & Mobility & Access Improvements | $50,000,000 — This project addresses one of the busiest roads in Denver, 6th Avenue, by completing the critical structural repairs, additional access points and a complete re-design for the future replacement of the bridge.
City Facilities
- First Responder & Public Safety Training Center | $75,000,000 — This project would combine the sheriff, fire, and police training needs into one facility to provide greater efficiencies in training recruits, expand the number of trained public safety personnel, and bring training resources up to competitive standards.
- Red Rocks Backstage Expansion and Accessibility Improvements | $35,100,000 — The backstage renovation and expansion would address ADA accessibility (which has been a hindrance to growth for Red Rocks in recent years), additional parking, as well as facility improvements backstage.
Parks and Recreation
- Park Hill Park Buildout | $70,000,000 — After the city announced, earlier this year, its plans to acquire the former Park Hill Golf Course, it comes as no surprise that there is a proposal to build out the park’s new facilities. The plans include steps to ready the park with proper irrigation, landscape, walkways, and parking lots.
- Southeast Recreation Center & Skate Park | $20,000,000 — Money for this project would support acquisition ONLY for the SE Skate Park Hub, which would provide access to skateboarding, roller-skating, etc., to the existing DPR Sports Complex. Development of the recreation center would require additional funding.
Housing and Sheltering
- Affordable Housing Project Development | $45,000,000 — Money for this project allows the city to invest in land, buildings, and/or site preparation to provide affordable housing and to mitigate displacement.
Health and Human Services
- Denver Health Sam Sandos Westside Family Health Center Replacement | $20,000,000 — If approved, the money would support construction of a new clinic in the Westside neighborhood that will increase access to healthcare for the people of Denver. This comes as the Big Beautiful Bill is set to slash healthcare funding in Colorado. The bond is only expected to provide funding for a portion of the entire project.
For more about what’s included in the Vibrant Denver bond, visit Denvergov.org
by Amber Wyatt | Oct 20, 2025 | Travel
by Amber Wyatt
The Skinny Dip: A classic cocktail with a lemon twist, known as The Skinny Dip, awaits at The Bar Car, where the vintage ambiance and neighborhood camaraderie make every sip feel like home, no matter where you’re from.
Cozy Patio: The Bar Car at 819 Colorado Blvd. welcomes locals with its cozy patio, signature menu, and the promise of good times where “friends and neighbors meet.”
Neighborhood Favorite: With a lineup of craft beers, top-shelf spirits, and hearty pub fare, The Bar Car continues to be a favorite neighborhood stop for both drinks and bites.
On a stretch of Colorado Boulevard better known for fast traffic than lasting community, BarCar has carved out something rare: a true neighborhood bar that doubles as a second home. For majority owner Victor Muñiz and part-owner Andrew Callahan, the mission is clear — create a space where locals feel seen, safe, and connected.
“Working at BarCar is working at a neighborhood spot that is truly a neighborhood spot,” Callahan said. “It is for the neighborhood, by the neighborhood. Most of us live close by.” For Callahan, who has lived in the neighborhood for over a decade, the bar is both a livelihood and a love letter to the community.
That grassroots spirit is built into the very structure of the business. Unlike most establishments, BarCar is largely employee-owned. “We are a mostly employee-owned bar,” Callahan explained. “Almost all of the investors, except for I think one right now, are employees of the bar. We’ve told our entire staff that if they work with us for a couple years and want to become an investor, we’re open to that. That is a path they can take.”
This model has given the bar an unusually high level of buy-in from its team, especially from veteran bartenders who appreciate the stability and the opportunity to shape the place where they work. “Having the opportunity to become financially invested is a big plus,” Callahan noted. “Not a lot of places always offer that.”
That sense of ownership translates directly to hospitality. Muñiz, who also owns the Owl Saloon, describes BarCar as nothing short of a dream realized. “It’s my dream come true,” he said. “Everything about it — friends, family — it’s just a great place to be all the time.”
For Muñiz, the family feel isn’t a metaphor. It’s the guiding principle. “We created a community where we have your makeshift family here,” he explained. “That’s what it’s about. That’s what bars are about in my opinion.”
That philosophy manifests in everyday moments. Neighbors use BarCar as a meeting place before concerts, after games, or just to catch up on life. “A lot of people come before they do other things in life and meet up here or afterwards,” Muñiz said. “Honestly, I think that’s the best thing we do — we keep the neighbors together.”
The idea of BarCar as a community hub is reinforced by personal milestones. When Callahan married his wife, who also works in the hospitality industry, they hosted their wedding reception at another venue — then, naturally, the celebration moved to BarCar. “At around 9:30 or 10, most of the people at our wedding, who were industry workers as well, showed up here,” he recalled. “It became quite a big party to have the neighborhood people getting married, you know?”
Muñiz, who spent years as a bartender and server before stepping into ownership, says that lived experience informs his leadership. “I believe in a bartender-driven industry,” he said. “I know we could have extra staff, but at the end of the day, it’s a staff of people that care and like doing what we do.”
That tight-knit crew has weathered challenges together, particularly during the pandemic. “Coming out of COVID, we had a lot of employees that we needed, and we’re back to the hardcore seven,” Muñiz said. “That’s how we built this bar before COVID, and then we’re back to that again. It’s seven people that give a shit.”
And that’s exactly the vibe patrons notice. BarCar feels less like a business transaction and more like a gathering in someone’s living room — with better cocktails. “We want to be there for everybody that’s looking to have a good time in a cool, comfortable environment,” Muñiz said. “We’re all about being a safe place for people to come and hang out and not worry about the bullshit life has.”
The menu reflects that same spirit of neighborhood hospitality. During my visit, longtime bartender Brandy mixed me a Skinny Dip — a smooth, subtly sweet cocktail built with Deep Eddy sweet tea vodka, a squeeze of lemon, and just enough water to keep it light. It was the kind of drink made for conversation, and sure enough, I enjoyed it while chatting with Callahan and the cook, Will, who proudly shared that the kitchen rotates its cheese curd flavors. The current favorite? Dill pickle. Naturally, I had to try them. Crisp, golden, and tangy, the curds carried just enough bite to spark a round of laughter as the basket quickly disappeared among us.
That theme of comfort and camaraderie carried right into lunch. I went for a proper Chicago dog, stacked with the traditional fixings, and paired it with sidewinder fries that were as hearty as they were shareable. To balance it out, Brandy slid across the bar a Jabroni Negroni — the house’s playful take on a classic. Made with Hendrick’s gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, the cocktail leaned pleasantly bitter and sour, a bold counterpoint to the rich food and the easy banter flowing through the room.
As Callahan put it, “This neighborhood bar — we focus on just making sure everyone’s taken care of. Everyone knows each other around here. And everyone that’s new to the neighborhood, we always welcome them in.”
On Colorado Boulevard, where strip malls often outnumber handshakes, BarCar has become something enduring: a place where the beer is cold, the people are warm, and the neighborhood spirit is alive and well
by Editorial Board | Oct 20, 2025 | Editorials
Editorial —
Comrade Polis
One of the keys to progressive left policies is to make sure people do not have any alternatives. When the Soviets imposed their form of communism on East Germany, it had to build the Berlin Wall to prevent the masses from escaping the workers’ paradise to West Germany. The progressives of North Korea attempted to prevent its citizens from escaping not only to South Korea but also to slightly less oppressive China.
Denver has decided it loves maximum density and a minimum number of cars. Afraid that not all Coloradans may want to live in Denver’s “affordability paradise,” the state legislature, as well as Governor Polis, have begun imposing Denver inspired restrictions and mandates on towns and counties across Colorado.
As a practical matter, progressives intensely dislike single family homes and, for that matter, nuclear families. The new law (HB 24-1152) prohibits local jurisdictions imposing mandatory owner occupancy laws and specific minimum square footage for residencies. No more single-family homes with those lots potentially becoming mini apartment buildings with streets jammed with cars. Since progressives can’t just say they hate nuclear families, they say what they are doing is make housing more “affordable” and fighting against “climate change.”
Housing will undoubtably become more affordable due to the legislature’s and the governor’s actions as fewer people will want to live in Colorado. The price of what were once called single family homes will plummet.
Next the state legislature adopted HB24-1313 which prohibits municipalities from adopting or enforcing parking requirements within a quarter mile of various transit stops. The legislature mandated that municipalities allow high density high rises near transit stops. The urbanization of Denver suburbs will, if successful, overwhelm infrastructure, strain schools, and destroy community character. In Polis’ mind what is there not to like?
Unfortunately, the proletariat outside of Denver have not been enamored by the Polis vision. Many communities refused to implement the necessary ADU regulations/ordinances. Moreover, six cities — Glendale, Greenwood Village, Arvada, Aurora, Lafayette, and Westminster — sued the state to stop the implementation of the legislation.
Polis’ vision of what suburbs in Colorado should look like.
Watching the peasant revolt, Governor Polis looked to President Trump’s authoritarian tactics for inspiration. Polis elected to issue an executive order that the rebel cities either comply or face losing out on $277 million in housing grants. Of course, there is nothing in the State Constitution or state statutes giving him the power to do so, but then again where does Trump get the authority for many of his executive orders.
The rebel cities in their lawsuit rely on the over century-old Article XX, Section 6, allowing home-ruled cities to operate free of state control on matters of local concern including zoning and land use. There are no exceptions for affordability and/or climate change. While on the surface the rebel cities appear to have a slam dunk case, Polis knows he has appointed many of the judges who will hear the case at the district court level and on appeal. Colorado courts have already largely gutted large parts of the citizen adopted constitutional amendment called the TABOR amendment. The Colorado Supreme Court was also happy to try to deny Republican voters the right to vote for Trump for President until the U.S. Supreme Court intervened. As a result, few people these days have any trust in the Colorado courts to fairly adjudicate the meaning of the state Constitution or Colorado laws.
It is well known that Polis is seriously looking at running for U.S. president in 2028. He would appear to be a worthy successor to the power-hungry Donald Trump.
— Editorial Board
by Editorial Board | Sep 29, 2025 | General Featured
Guest Editorial
Bianka Emerson
by Bianka Emerson
Bianka Emerson is President of Colorado Black Women for Political Action and is a gubernatorial appointee to the Environmental Justice Advisory Board for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
In America, turning on the kitchen faucet for a safe glass of water should be a given, not a gamble. Yet for far too many communities already burdened by environmental hazards, that simple act comes with fear and uncertainty
The tragedy of Flint, Michigan, is never far from mind, even here in Colorado. Every time I fill a glass, I want to trust that the water is safe. I want to trust that the taxes I pay, and the water bills I shoulder, are funding a system built to protect my health, not quietly threaten it. And I want my family, friends, neighbors, and people I fight for every day to share same trust.
But too many of us can’t.
One reason is simple: we don’t even know how many lead pipes still exist in our drinking water system. That uncertainty is the shadow of Flint, a reminder that what we don’t know can harm us.
And lead isn’t the only danger.
Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is one of the materials commonly used for pipes in drinking water systems today. PVC is promoted by the industry as a quick fix, but that convenience comes at the expense of long-term public health. Especially because there is an ugly truth that gets buried in the sales pitch by the plastics industry: PVC contains toxic chemicals that can leach into our drinking water. And as with lead, the communities most likely to bear the risks are the same ones already overburdened by environmental hazards.
This is a clear case of environmental inequity, with the heaviest burdens falling on communities already overexposed to pollution and under-protected by infrastructure.
PVC is made from vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen. Its production releases dioxins and other dangerous byproducts into the air, often in or near neighborhoods with limited resources and political influence. From manufacturing to disposal, PVC leaves a toxic footprint. And when used in drinking water systems, the danger doesn’t stop at the factory gates as chemical additives can migrate into the water itself, especially as the pipes age, degrade, or are exposed to high temperatures.
The push for PVC fits right into this inequitable pattern. When city councils and utility boards opt for PVC, they’re making long-term decisions. And when those pipes begin to degrade, as all plastic inevitably does, it won’t be the contractors or suppliers who suffer the consequences: it will be us who are drinking water laced with endocrine-disrupting chemicals; it will be elders with compromised immune systems; and it will be pregnant women, children just starting their lives, and babies, all of whom are uniquely vulnerable.
What’s worse, PVC production itself is an environmental justice disaster. Look at Cancer Alley in Louisiana, an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River lined with more than 150 petrochemical plants. Many of those plants, including PVC manufacturers, operate in communities where residents face some of the nation’s highest cancer rates due to chronic industrial pollution. Residents there suffer some of the highest cancer rates in the nation. The same corporations making the PVC pipes pitched as “safe” for our water are also polluting the air these communities breathe.
Drinking water utilities in Colorado should adopt a precautionary principle: if a material poses a plausible risk to human health, it doesn’t belong in our drinking water systems. Safer alternatives exist, and they don’t come with the same long-term health liabilities.
Second, communities must have a seat at the table in infrastructure decisions. Too often, these choices are made behind closed doors, with little public notice or opportunity for input. Residents deserve transparency about the materials being used in our water systems and the health risks they carry.
Finally, we need national standards that address the environmental justice dimensions of water infrastructure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should not only regulate chemicals leaching from drinking water pipes but also consider the life-cycle pollution of materials like PVC, especially in vulnerable communities. The EPA is already investigating the human health risks associated with vinyl chloride, which tells us just how dangerous that chemical is.
For generations, the health of marginalized communities has been the price of cheap infrastructure. PVC is just the latest chapter in that story. We have the knowledge, the resources, and the alternatives to write a different ending, and it’s one where safe water is a universal right, not a privilege reserved for some.
The pipes we choose today will carry water into our children’s bodies for generations. Let’s make sure those pipes carry life, not poison.
by Jeff Shultz | Sep 22, 2025 | Travel
by Jeff Shultz
The South Metro Fire and Rescue will seek voter approval for a 3 mill property tax increase in hopes the increase will help the emergency agency overcome a huge anticipated budget shortfall in 2026 and beyond.
The proposed ballot question will appear on the November 4 general election ballot for voters in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties.
Currently the district has a property tax rate of 9.25 mills but changes in the law has created a potential budget shortfall for the fire and rescue district.
The SMFR Board of Directors discovered the budget shortfall when the board met last year to plan its 2025 budget.
“That timing followed the passage of HB 24B-1001 in the special session, which significantly reduced property tax revenues for fire protection districts like ours,” said Jim Albee, SMFR Board Chairman.
“As we reviewed our long-term financial projections, it became clear that without action, South Metro would face a $16 million shortfall by 2026 and a projected $270 million gap over the next decade.”
In addition to the budget shortfall created by HB 24B-100, SMFR would need an extra $34 million annually to maintain its level of service to communities and retain staff.
Albee has served on the SMFR Board for five years and has been the board chairman for the same amount of time.
“My commitment has been driven by a deep belief in the importance of the life-saving services we provide and a responsibility to ensure we remain financially sustainable for the future,” he said.
According to Albee, the property tax increase would provide the needed $50 million to give SMFR the needed funds to maintain its current levels of service while also giving SMFR additional funds to operate from.
Plane Crash: On Friday, August 22, 2025, South Metro Fire Rescue and the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-engine biplane crash at Centennial Airport. The pilot safely evacuated the plane.
“While a portion would cover necessary administrative functions that support public safety, the majority would go toward critical service delivery, equipment, apparatus, maintenance, and facilities to ensure we can meet our community’s expectations.”
Albee said the district’s staffing and equipment costs are the district’s two highest budget items.
“Over 80 percent of our budget is tied to personnel,” Albee said, noting that if additional funding is not secured staff reductions would be “unavoidable.”
“Reductions could impact personnel, which would directly affect response times and service delivery, and programs.”
Equipment costs and maintenance would have to be prioritized, he added
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen cost increases ranging from 40 percent to nearly 80 percent on critical gear and apparatus.”
Grass Fire: On August 12, 2025, South Metro Fire Rescue and Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a vegetation fire near 11032 Cottontail Lane in unincorporated Douglas County.
The rising costs for equipment is one of the biggest reasons for SMFR seeking additional funding. Some equipment cost increases include:
- The cost of a new fire engine has risen from approximately $725,000 in 2019 to $1.3 million today. Our fire engines, medic units, and other apparatus are replaced according to our Fleet Capital Replacement Schedule that looks at useful service life and the age of our fleet to determine the appropriate time for replacement.
- A 100-foot hose has increased from about $660 to nearly $930.
- Bunker gear, which includes a helmet, jacket, protective pants, boots, and gloves, is essential to protect our firefighters from carcinogens encountered during emergency responses.
“Each firefighter is required to have two full sets of bunker gear, and these must be replaced every five years for safety compliance,” Albee noted.
“The cost of one set has risen from $3,660 six years ago to over $5,120 today — a 40 percent increase.”
“Ensuring our teams have the proper protective equipment, reliable apparatus, and advanced medical tools is fundamental to maintaining safety for both our personnel and the public.”
House Fire: South Metro Fire Rescue and Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies recently responded to a single-family residential house fire on Eagle Valley Way in Highlands Ranch. Engine 20 arrived to find smoke coming from the roof and quickly pulled a hose line to extinguish the fire.
As part of their long-term planning, the SMFR board is identifying areas of growing populations within the district for possible new stations. “We anticipate adding two new stations over the next five to 10 years to help maintain appropriate response times and meet community needs,” Albee said.
Meanwhile, Albee says there are no expansion plans by the district. “Our immediate priority with any new revenue is to stabilize and sustain current services for the communities we serve today.
“While future expansion could always be considered, it is not in our current plans and would only be done with careful planning, ensuring we can maintain our high standards of service without compromising financial sustainability.”
Albee and the board see the property tax increase as an investment in the three counties (Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson) the district serves.
Currently, the fire district’s ISO rating, which is used in determining property insurance premiums, is at its best level and passage of the property tax increase will ensure the rating to stay where it is at now.
“Our current ISO rating is Class 1, the highest possible, which reflects the strength of our operations. “Additional funding will provide the best opportunity to maintain this rating through continued investment in staffing, training, equipment, and facilities.
“Maintaining a strong ISO rating helps keep insurance costs lower for residents and businesses and reinforces our commitment to excellence.”
If the ballot measure fails this November, then the board will have some difficult decisions to face.
“Those difficult decisions could include slower response times due to fewer firefighters on crews, potential delays in station openings, and closure of some existing stations.”
Further cost cutting measures could include a reduction in specialty services such as wildfire, water rescue, hazmat, and technical rescue
photos courtesy of SMFR
by Jeff Shultz | Sep 22, 2025 | General Featured
by Jeff Shultz
A volunteer at SECORCares works at restocking shelves at the food bank’s Free Food Market, located in Parker. The market serves approximately 450 families per week.
Depending on what side of the aisle you sit on, the bill known as “One Big Beautiful Bill” is either good for Colorado or will have a negative impact on the state. According to the House Ways and Means Office the bill will help families across the nation, including Colorado.
The typical family will get up to $10,900 in additional take-home pay and workers will see increased wages up to $7,200. According to the House and Ways Means Office, households earning less than $100,000 will benefit from a potential 12 percent tax cut.
However, rural Colorado families may not see all of the benefits of The BBB.
According to The Bell Policy Center, a non-profit group who monitors economic mobility in Colorado, the bill will have a devastating impact on Colorado’s rural communities.
According to BPC, rural areas in Colorado, especially those in southeast Colorado, are some of the poorest in Colorado.
“It’s important to recognize that income is not equally distributed across Colorado,” BPC said.
BPC reports that urban, suburban, and mountain resort communities have high concentrations of upper income families. To pay for the tax cuts in the BBB, according to Bell, the bill makes huge cuts to long-standing social safety net programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
SNAP is an important revenue source for one Douglas County area food bank.
SECORCares is a food bank service that reaches approximately 3,000 families per week through its three free food programs in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Elbert counties.
“At our brick-and-mortar Free Food Market, we currently serve about 450 families each week,” according to Brie Dilley, Executive Director of SECORCares.
“Beyond the Market, we extend our reach through two additional programs: our Mobile Market, which brings food directly into neighborhoods, and Food for Thought, our backpack program providing school-aged children with nutritious food to take home for the weekend,” she said.
SECOR’s Mobile Market delivers food directly into neighborhoods. SECORCares is a food bank service that reaches approximately 3,000 families per week through its three free food programs in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Elbert counties.
The backpack program is a partnership with 35 schools in the three county region SECOR serves.
Dilley added the proposed changes to programs like SNAP may cause some families to push the panic button. “The greatest impact of these changes is felt by the people we serve. Reductions in social safety nets often push families from ‘barely scraping by’ into full-blown crisis.”
“Unfortunately, reducing and/or complicating SNAP benefits does not diminish food insecurity, it shifts the burden from the government to the nonprofit sector,” Dilley added.
Proposed changes to such programs are coming at a bad time for SECOR, as the demand for SECOR’s services has increased over the past three years.
Dilley said between 2022 and 2023 SECOR experienced a 200 percent increase in helping area families.
“We attribute this dramatic rise to the trifecta of inflation and economic instability, the Denver-area migrant crisis, and the end of COVID-19 emergency allotments,” she said
Dilley added that the demand has remained so high it has forced SECOR to place a cap on its services.
“While it’s difficult to project exactly how many more families we would serve if we expanded appointment slots, our best estimate is an increase to around 600 families each week in our Free Food Market — about 150 more than we currently serve,” she said.
Sadly, SECOR is seeing a troubling trend, Dilley added.
“We are also seeing a growing number of returning guests — families who had once relied on us, found stability for a few years, and are now back.”
Dilley said SECOR welcomes them back with “open arms” but their stories are heartbreaking.
“Many believed they had reached steady ground, only to find that stability wasn’t quite enough to withstand today’s economic challenges,” she said.
SECOR is primarily dependent on private donors and local grocers through SECOR’s grocery rescue program.
According to Dilley, both sources provided more than 1.2 million pounds of food for guests last year. “Sadly, we are now seeing a decline in both of these critical areas. Grocery rescue donations are down significantly, and we’re hearing from more and more donors who — because of the same economic pressures our guests face — must scale back their giving,” Dilley said.
“One of our favorite stories to share has always been about former guests becoming donors. Unfortunately, in this season, we are also seeing the reverse.”
For more information on SECOR visit www.secorcares.com.
Photos courtesy of SECORCares
