IFCS | A Denver Area Food Bank and More to Nourish Lives

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Seasonal HAPPENINGS

IFCS: A Denver Area Food Bank and More To Nourish Lives

Fresh Thanks is an IFCS enrichment program that provides seasonal, culturally responsive food for special holiday meals through the generosity of community sponsors and donors.

Fresh Thanks Food Distribution will be held

Saturday, November 23, 2024.

Meet us at Arapahoe Community College beginning at 11:30 am for pickup of a Fresh Thanks seasonal grocery box.

Address: 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120
(Enter at S. Santa Fe. Dr & S. Sumner St.)

  • Gates open at 10:45am
  • Distribution begins at 11:30am
  • If you arrive before gates open, you will be turned away

Fresh produce and shelf stable pantry items for holiday celebrations will be distributed, while supplies last.

Download/Print Flyer | Español

For Additional Help

If you are not among the 500 who receive a Fresh Thanks grocery box, visit hungerfreecolorado.org for additional holiday meal resources.

Drive-Thru Distribution FAQs

  • Anyone in need of a little help this year for their seasonal, holiday meal.
  • No advanced registration is needed prior to Saturday, November 23, 2024.  Please arrive by 11:30 am.

To host this Fresh Thanks event as fairly and orderly as possible, we ask that guests avoid coming too early and creating congestion in parking lots where other activities are occurring. 

  • Gates open at 10:45 am
  • Distribution begins at 11:30 am
  • If you arrive before gates open, you will be turned away
  • Distribution begins at 11:30 am. 
  • Grocery boxes will be distributed while supplies last.
  • Please come prepared with the number of adults and children who will benefit from the food, as well as your city of residence.
  • You may only pick up for yourself and one other person/family. When you are asked how many you are picking up, you can mention you are picking up for another household. (Limit 2 Fresh Thanks grocery boxes per vehicle)

  • Each Fresh Thanks grocery box will contain fresh, seasonal produce and pantry staples.

  • Food boxes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to 500 households.
  • Additional food is available Monday through Friday at IFCS’ location in Englewood.

Learn more about The Market @ IFCS.

  • Boxes will be distributed in rain, snow or sunshine. If we have to cancel due to extreme weather, check back at our website for updated information.
  • To ensure health safety, please remain in your vehicle.
  • No, this is a Drive-Thru Food Distribution. Ask family, friend or neighbor to help with transportation.

The Food Bank of the Rockies offers a recipe resource that is great for meal planning inspiration. Visit this site for culturally responsive recipes.

Have Questions?

If you need more information, please contact us or call: 303-789-0501

Holiday Gift and Food Support

Our Helping Hands for the Holidays program registration will run September 30 – October 14, 2024. Visit eligibility criteria and complete an interest form for holiday gift and food support.

Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or  retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. Mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. Fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or 
  3. Email:
    program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

This statement was updated 8.3.22 in accordance with USDA updates and guidelines.

Eligibility Guidelines

IFCS Enrichment Programs have service area and income guidelines.

SERVICE AREA GUIDELINES:
For IFCS Enrichment Programs, we have a service area covering:

  • Western Arapahoe County: Centennial, Englewood, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Sheridan, and unincorporated Arapahoe County.
  • Southwest Denver Neighborhoods: Bear Valley, College View, Fort Logan, Harvey Park, Harvey Park South, Marston & South Platte (Southwest Neighborhoods further defined as being south of Jewell and west of Santa Fe).
  • Northern Douglas County: Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and Lone Tree.

  • Southern Jefferson County: South Lakewood, Littleton, Morrison (Neighborhoods further defined as being south of Jewell along the C-470 Corridor – including Columbine, Bow Mar, Dakota Ridge, and Ken Caryl Ranch) 

Applications outside of these listed areas will not be accepted.


INCOME GUIDELINES:
As of March 1, 2024, a household may meet income-based standards in either of the following two ways:

  1. Participate in one of these public assistance programs:
    • Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
    • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
    • Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
    • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
    • Old Age Pension (OAP)
    • Aid to Needy Disabled (AND)
    • Aid to the Blind (AB)
    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
    • Medicaid Eligible Foster Children
  1. If the household does not participate in any of the above public assistance programs, the household must have a combined gross income that does not exceed the maximum income limit for the applicable household size.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES:
Please refer to the Interest Form for additional, program-specific criteria.

Eligibility and Income Guidelines

Anyone experiencing food insecurity and self-identifying as meeting the Income Guidelines below is eligible for IFCS Food Market services.

Income Guidelines:
As of March 1, 2024, a household may meet income-based standards in either of the following two ways:

  1. Participate in one of these public assistance programs:
    • Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
    • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
    • Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
    • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
    • Old Age Pension (OAP)
    • Aid to Needy Disabled (AND)
    • Aid to the Blind (AB)
    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
    • Medicaid Eligible Foster Children
  1. If the household does not participate in any of the above public assistance programs, the household must meet the requirements based on the chart below, having a combined gross income not exceeding the maximum income limit for the applicable household size.

For IFCS Financial Assistance Programs (Rental and Utility Bill Payment Assistance), we have a service area of western Arapahoe (Centennial, Englewood, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Littleton, and Sheridan) and southwest Denver Neighborhoods. This includes Bear Valley, College View, Fort Logan, Harvey Park, Harvey Park South, Marston & South Platte (Southwest Neighborhoods further defined as being south of Jewell and west of Santa Fe). IFCS Rental Assistance Programs may be limited to the cities listed within Arapahoe County.

For IFCS Enrichment Programs, we have a service area covering:

  • Western Arapahoe County: Centennial, Englewood, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Sheridan, and unincorporated Arapahoe County.
  • Southwest Denver Neighborhoods: Bear Valley, College View, Fort Logan, Harvey Park, Harvey Park South, Marston & South Platte (Southwest Neighborhoods further defined as being south of Jewell and west of Santa Fe).
  • Northern Douglas County: Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and Lone Tree.

  • Southern Jefferson County: South Lakewood, Littleton, Morrison (Neighborhoods further defined as being south of Jewell along the C-470 Corridor – including Columbine, Bow Mar, Dakota Ridge, and Ken Caryl Ranch) 

 Applications outside of these listed areas will not be accepted. (Central Denver, North Denver, and Aurora applications will not be accepted.)