1. Food Security: A Primer
By Cassidy Tawse-Garcia, Executive Director, Gunnison Country Food Pantry

2. Food Security Definition
“People are considered food secure when they have availability and adequate access at all times to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.”
– United Nations World Food Programme

3. Clarifications: Food Security Food Insecurity Hunger
“Having access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members.” (CO Blueprint to End Hunger)
Food Insecurity
“A household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.” (CO Blueprint to End Hunger)
Hunger
“An individual-level physiological condition that may result from food insecurity.” (CO Blueprint to End Hunger)

4. Definition Continued…
Food Access
Nutrition
Health/ Equity

5. Level of concentrated poverty
Community Indicators
Food Security
Access to Resources
SNAP/ WIC enrollment
FARM enrollment
Cost of Living
Level of concentrated poverty

6. In Colorado: 1 in 10 residents are food insecure
Including 1 in 6 children and 1 in 10 seniors
Existing Hunger and Nutrition Programs are underutilized:
Ranking 44th in the country for SNAP and 48th for WIC
For SNAP, that’s 6 in 10 of those eligible
36% of Coloradans experiencing hunger earn too much money to qualify for SNAP/WIC
These residents rely on food banks and pantries
Rising cost of living is pushing more people to the edge

7. In Gunnison
It is estimated that 2700 residents are Food Insecure (2015 OVPP “State of the Valley Report”)
As of July 2018, 4500 individuals are on public benefit programs (Gunnison DHHS)
For the school year, avg. of 24% of students qualified for Free and Reduced Meals (FARM) (Gunnison Watershed School District)
Between 2000 – 2013 there was a 17% increase in kids living in poverty (2015 CO Kids Count Report)
Gunnison has the highest percentage of children living in “concentrated poverty in the state,” at 23% (2015 CO Kids Count Report)
The Multicultural Resource Center serves 552 people a year (2015 stat)
In 2017, through our four programs, the Gunnison Country Food Pantry served people, of that 2,600 came to our Pantry for services. That is 1 in 5 residents in Gunnison County

8. Cost of Living
Research shows that in times of economic prosperity, Food Pantries experience more use, because the cost of living is increase and wages are not keeping up.
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This means: more money is going to rent, and less is left for food.
In Gunnison, 27% of renters spend more than 50% of their monthly income on rent.

9. We must find “gatekeepers” in these populations
New areas of need
College students
Immigrant population
Seasonal workers
We must find “gatekeepers” in these populations

10. What we can do: Increase enrollment in existing Federal programs
High return on investment for improved health and increases local economy through grocery store purchases
Support local entities working on Food Security Efforts
Mountain Roots Food Project
Gunnison Country Food Pantry
Faith-based organizations
Farmers Markets
DHHS
New Healthy Futures Program

11. What we can do:
Increase Food Donations to defray costs of providing food assistance
The Pantry currently must raise $40,000 per year to ensure fresh produce, meat and dairy are available to recipients
Talk to your representatives and municipalities about the importance of supporting Food Security efforts
We cannot become a resort economy where our work force cannot afford to live here.
Work collaboratively!

12. Education is key!
“You can give a man a fish, but if you teach him to fish…” (Did I get that right?!)
Creates Self-Sufficiency, which is ultimate goal

13. Education leads to…
Access
Education
Self-Sufficiency

14. Thank you so much for you time! Reach out to me anytime at
Best,
Cassidy Tawse-Garcia