ABOUT US
Our Beginnings
Integrated Family Community Services (IFCS) began in 1964 when south metro Denver resident Maida Navis noticed that some of her neighbors needed extra help. Working families were not making ends meet, neighborhood children went without necessities, and elderly residents were losing their independence.
Mrs. Navis gathered neighborhood leaders for a “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” effort, forming the original Inter-Faith Task Force for Community Services. The task force provided services designed to help struggling neighbors achieve independent living – some for the first time.
Those early leaders were determined to provide assistance that would always be a hand up rather than a handout. In 1968, IFCS was designated an “official poverty agency” of south metro Denver.
Mission
Integrated Family Community Services (IFCS) provides basic human services and enrichment programs to low-income people, using community resources. IFCS fosters self-sufficiency and respects the dignity of each client, serving the greater Denver metro area.
Programs
Through a variety of resources IFCS helps individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency. Best-known for our food market, IFCS services also nourish lives in a broader sense through financial assistance, school supplies, holiday grocery boxes, and recreation center vouchers.
Funding Sources
Donations from businesses, individuals, community organizations, as well as grants from foundations and federal, state and local governments are IFCS’ major sources of funding. Fundraising, material and in-kind donations, and thousands of volunteer hours play an integral part in the continuation of IFCS services.
IFCS Today
Since 1964, in collaboration with community partners, IFCS has provided an immediate response to hunger, the most basic need. We believe everyone deserves to be healthy, and that individual access to nutrition affects the overall health of our community.
Responding to Greater Needs... Because of YOU!
There is greater hunger in Colorado communities as a result of the post-pandemic rollback of state and federal aid, coupled with inflated grocery costs and rental rates. The generous support of donors and volunteers has made IFCS a staple of assistance for those who need it most.
- We provide food for as many households as possible: by shifting to a smaller selection and prioritizing participants’ preferences, we now offer a reliable choice of culturally relevant foods in larger quantities.
- We help families stay in their homes: with hunger alleviation support, back-to-school and holiday programs, limited public utility bill and rent assistance, and no-cost recreation vouchers, IFCS is helping households as they navigate emergencies.
- We nourish those who are unhoused: as a part of a network of local organizations, IFCS provides shelf-stable, easy-to-prepare meals for those living in vehicles, motels, or on the street.
- We welcome everyone: with nearly 80% of IFCS participant families identifying as non-white, and 70% speaking non-English languages at home, we’ve grown our capacity to communicate in other languages.
Colorado Hunger Facts
According to Food Bank of the Rockies, “The most recent data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study reveals that [within] Food Bank of the Rockies’ service area: 1 in 9 people are food insecure. Included among those people are the 1 in 7 kids who experience food insecurity.“
Recent Data from the Colorado Health Institute, US Census Bureau, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, shows:
- 11% of Coloradans lack reliable access to nutritious food.
- 17% of Colorado households have children that are not getting enough to eat due to high food costs.
- 7.7% of older adults live below the poverty line in Colorado, making them at higher risk for food insecurity.
- 9.4% of Coloradans struggle financially, living below the federal poverty line.
See this data and more in a Hunger Facts Page compiled by Hunger Free Colorado.
IFCS Serves Food Deserts
IFCS’ service area includes various neighborhoods designated as “food deserts” and zip codes identified as having highest needs, as you can see by these maps.
Lack of access to healthy food options leads to a greater risk of chronic disease and poor health outcomes including diabetes and obesity. The USDA defines food deserts as low access to supermarkets or grocery stores.
The Community Needs Index measures economic and demographic data to better understand community demand for healthcare services. The index score is an average of five different scores measuring barriers to various socio-economic capital for each community at the zip code level. The darker the gradient, the higher the need.
Post-pandemic, IFCS is seeing the highest needs for food support ever in our history. Food insecurity is not decreasing, and in some cases we even see increases in the monthly numbers of visitors to our Market. Without the emergency resources provided during the pandemic, and with rising costs caused by inflation, many more are struggling with hunger.
