DENVER — In Colorado, one in seven children faces food insecurity, and the risk is higher for students during summer months.
To help combat this issue, nonprofit 10Four Youth Center has opened its doors, ensuring that students continue to receive nourishing meals even when school is out.
The Food Bank of the Rockies collaborates with more than 800 Hunger Relief Partners, including 10Four Youth Center. As part of their after-school care, 10Four provides a well-balanced meal consisting of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy.
"By the time our youth get home, it's often 7:30 p.m., and parents are just coming back from work. We want to eliminate some of that pressure," 10Four Program Director Christine Alford said. "You know that your youth has already been fed a substantial snack here at 10Four."
The center also educates students about the importance of food and nutrition.
"This place has taught me the meaning of food, what it can do to your body, and how it can affect your mood," student Angel Beltram said.
10Four Youth Center's summer program, running from June 10 to Aug. 7, offers STEM curriculums, art projects, and outdoor adventures, aiming to close the opportunity gap and provide experiences that kids might not otherwise have. Each day, they partner with the city and county of Denver to provide breakfast and lunch through a program called "Tasty Food: Where Denver Youth Eat Free."
"We want to make sure that they are able to be fed during the summer. We know that during the school year, a lot of the times that potentially could be one or two of the only substantial meals that they're getting, so making sure that we incorporated that into our summer programs was huge for us,” Alford said.
9NEWS' 9Cares Colorado Shares drive helps organizations like 10Four. The campaign is aimed at filling food banks and pantries across the state.
Donations to the drive support four major Colorado food banks: Food Bank of the Rockies, Community Food Share, Food Bank for Larimer County and Weld Food Bank. You can donate while you are shopping at King Soopers or donate directly online.
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