New partnership benefits CU Denver Food Pantry

When the Food Pantry on the Auraria Campus opened nearly two years ago, students, faculty and staff of the Auraria Campus were  able to take advantage of the service regardless of their situation. The most recent development for the Food Pantry, which is hosted by the CU Denver Experiential Learning Center (ELC), is its partnership with the Food Bank of the Rockies (FBR).

Here's how the partnership works: When individuals in the University of Colorado Denver community volunteer at FBR, that time is turned into credit that the Food Pantry can use to purchase food.

The Food Pantry is located on campus in the Tivoli Student Union.

Nelson Rodriquez, community engagement coordinator for the ELC, said, “We can purchase food from the Food Bank of the Rockies at a low cost. When people volunteer there under our name we get credit to buy food.”

For every three hours donated under the CU Denver name the Food Pantry receives 20 pounds of food.

One way for the CU community to be involved in helping the Food Pantry stock the shelves is to volunteer through this year's universitywide CU in the Community. “It’s a great team-building exercise if groups are looking for a year-end opportunity,” Rodriguez said.

The Food Pantry also accepts walk-in donations of nonperisable food 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The items do not have to be strictly food either. “We also have hygiene products like shampoo, baby products and toothpaste,” Rodriguez said. “Those are things we need as well.”

The Food Pantry serves an average of 20 to 25 people a week – mostly students.

“This is just a great way to remain engaged in the community,” Rodriguez said, “We are very excited about this new partnership.”

If you would like more information on how to volunteer with the Food Bank of the Rockies under the CU Denver name, see the website or call the ELC at 303-556-6656.