At Eagle Valley Community Foundation we have our ear to the ground on current community issues and the challenges our neighbors face. The month of April brings specific attention to some of our core values and goals including volunteer appreciation, young children, and environmental sustainability. We hope you will join us in celebrating Month of the Young Child, Volunteer Appreciation Month, and Earth Month by reading to learn more about our current initiatives and how you can support health, wellness, and equity in our community! 

Unprecedented Need In Our Community

With the reduction in emergency SNAP allotments, in March The Community Market served over 1,000 visitors per week and an additional 3,200 family members of those visitors (the graph below highlights the year over year increase in visitors through March). In April, we are already seeing weekly impact of over 4,500 community members served. We expect to see continued need throughout the year as families in our community adjust to these changes. The average SNAP reduction in Eagle County is about $90 per person per month, meaning families of 4 are losing $360 worth of essential benefits. Coupled with unprecedented inflation, our neighbors and markets are at the limit of what we can afford. 

According to the USDA, the price of food for home consumption rose by 11.4% last year and it’s expected to rise by another 8.6% in 2023. Compare that to the last two decades, when average year-to-year food price inflation was 2%.

In order to keep up with this increasing need, we are ordering over $15,000 of food a week in addition to rescuing over 10,000 pounds in order to keep the shelves stocked for our most vulnerable neighbors. We have a urgent and critical need for funding and awareness around this issue as we are continually challenged to meet our promise to our community.

Steps You Can Take To Ensure The Shelves Stay Stocked: 
1. Donate Now- Financial support ensures that we can keep up with the increasing need in our community. Whether a monthly donation of $5 or a gift at the Foundational Family level, everyone plays an important part. 
2. Volunteer- Volunteers serve a critical need at The Community Market. Sign up today to make a hands on impact. Shifts are available at both locations, Edwards and Gypsum, and start with a 2 hour commitment. 
3. Spread Awareness- Follow our social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) and let other community members know about this critical need. 

In Honor of Earth Month- Introducing REcover

More than 38 million Americans lack reliable access to nutritious meals. In Eagle County alone, over 8,700 community members are food insecure. Meanwhile, 108 billion pounds of food go uneaten in the U.S.— the equivalent of 40% of the country’s food supply. 

While food rescue has always been at the core of The Community Market, we know there is more that needs to be done which is why we are excited to launch REcover. 

REcover exists to bridge the gap between good food that goes to waste and our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. We aim to create better connections in our food system by partnering with restaurants, food purveyors, and companies to collect and utilize their excess food to provide meals to the community. REcover is a certification program with restaurants and food establishments to provide nutritious food to communities impacted by food insecurity. Any business that has excess food that could be going to waste can be a partner! For more information on the program click here. 

Pounds of Appreciation to our Existing Partners in Food Recovery: 

• Avon Bakery & Deli
• City Market (Vail, Avon & Eagle)
• Costco
• Knapp Harvest
• Kum & Go (Eagle & Gypsum)
• Ridley’s Family Market
• Starbucks (Avon & Edwards)
• The Market At Vail 
• Vail Resorts
• Village Market
• Walmart

During April, Eagle Valley Community Foundation and its programs MIRA and The Community Market are excited to celebrate the Month of the Young Child. Month of the Young Child focuses public attention on the needs of young children and their families and recognizes the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

Eagle Valley Community Foundation serves our community’s youngest citizens through various programs, The Community Market and The MIRA Bus, as well as meaningful partnerships with other community organizations serving youth.

A child’s chance for a bright tomorrow starts with getting enough food to eat today. Kids who don’t get enough to eat — especially during their first three years — begin life at a serious disadvantage. Children facing hunger are more likely to be hospitalized and they face higher risks of health conditions like anemia and asthma. And as they grow up, kids who miss meals are more likely to have problems in school and other social situations. The Community Market has two locations in Edwards and Gypsum available to families and their children, as well as locations and support programs at various schools throughout the community including the Family Learning Center and Edwards Early Learning Center.

To grow and develop optimally, children need to receive nurturing care. This means that they enjoy adequate nutrition and good health, feel safe and secure, and have opportunities for learning starting from birth. Breastfeeding, immunization, and timely care during illness all contribute to a child’s healthy growth and development. Clean air, water and sanitation, and safe places for play and recreation are likewise important for young children to explore and learn. MIRA is excited to celebrate its efforts for childhood wellness and our child serving partners through our Dia De Los Ninos and other efforts. A huge thank you to our partners Vail Health, Eagle Valley Library District, The Bookworm, SpeakUp ReachOut, Mountain Youth, Early Head Start, and Eagle County Government. 

Elevar Kick Off

Thanks to the support of the Colorado Health Foundation Elevar is officially elevated! We are excited to be hosting our Advisory Board Kick Off Meeting on May 3 at the Slifer House. This event is intended for BIPOC leaders in our community looking to learn more about the program and supporting the founding cohort. Check out the information below and do not hesitate to reach out with any questions! 

While the Colorado Health Foundation has provided generous seed funding to cover the administrative costs of the program, Eagle Valley Community Foundation is seeking donors and partners who would like to invest in leaders of color in our community to support grant making.  For more information about making a gift to support this program, please contact Grace Anshutz at grace@eaglevalleycf.org.