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

Adding in Protein

To keep IFCS running takes an incredible amount of volunteers and donors. If you read my previous two blog entries, you know that IFCS is a bustling market providing food assistance, and that support from the community keeps IFCS moving forward. Every collaborator plays an important role in alleviating hunger. In this entry, we’ll take a close look at one of IFCS’ many corporate donors: Tico’s Foods of Denver.

Food donors are essential for keeping any food pantry stocked; this is a given. Having fresh food that is nutritious and tastes great is a priceless gift when the goal is to build a healthy, strong community. Stories of families receiving expired, moldy, or rotten groceries from food pantries across the country are all too common, unfortunately. IFCS has worked hard to “freshen things up” and create a more positive experience for participants who visit for food support. Fresh produce, dairy products, eggs, whole grains and rich sources of protein – from chicken to beef to walnuts – line the aisles of the Market @ IFCS, where shoppers can make their selections. Among the protein options is often a popular item manufactured by Tico’s Foods: Tico’s Green Chili with Pork.

Tico’s Green Chili is a much-coveted food throughout the Denver Metro Area and beyond, and you may be wondering how it’s possible that IFCS has Tico’s on its shelves. The Canino Family has been making Tico’s green chili for over 50 years and have incorporated charitable donating into their business since they opened. More than 20 years ago, the Canino Family and Tico’s Foods established a partnership with IFCS: from providing donations of food for open houses and special events, to attending all the Nibbles & Sips fundraising galas (since the event’s inception), Marty Canino and his family have supported IFCS. The Canino family members and their businesses have also supported IFCS with in-kind and financial donations.

When the COVID pandemic hit in spring of 2020, doors shuttered across the community and Tico’s production orders went unfulfilled. Their prepared foods had expiration dates and, like many other businesses at the time, they had to take a loss. IFCS was fortunate to receive the large quantities of food that were earmarked for – but could no longer be delivered to – county school cafeterias, local restaurants, and government entities. IFCS was awarded funding through special grants for Colorado Proud manufactured foods, and this allowed them to purchase Tico’s food products for the Market. Thanks to the generosity of the Canino Family, a relationship that formed decades prior opened the way for IFCS to begin a commercial buying relationship with Tico’s Foods. This relationship offered three-fold sustenance during challenging pandemic circumstances: it helped sustain the Market @ IFCS, the participants needing food assistance, and the Tico’s Foods business.

In 2023, Marty Canino agreed to help IFCS document the value that corporate partners bring to the table. Enjoy this 77 second video clip here:

When I watched this video, Marty Canino’s story about how his family has always cared about their community is reminiscent of my childhood and family too. It reminds me of how my grandfather, who was Italian and part of the Son’s of Italy community, would get together with other foundation members to feed large groups of people in central California. He had reasons why he would spend days cooking (on his own) huge vats of Marinara for huge pasta feeds. I know that is fairly different from what the Canino family is doing with IFCS, but it’s the same community feeling and family values. Both families give time, energy, and food generously – and are happy to do so – because they care about others!

Does the Canino family story conure up memories of your own family’s generosity? I think it’s wonderful to have leaders in our community who inspire us. Speaking of families, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and many gatherings of relatives and/or friends are being planned for the holidays. The Team at IFCS is planning for their annual FreshThanks holiday meal food distribution, an event that brings families, friends, and teams of employees together to give and to receive support. I look forward to sharing more about it in the next blog entry!


Kathryn Adams is a Nurse Freelance Writer who started out her career as a Firefighter EMT-B then RN and has transitioned to professional writing.  She started volunteering with IFCS in 2018 because she has a passion to help others. When she isn’t writing she enjoys hiking, yoga, skiing, and traveling. She lives with her husband, dog and kitty in the Colorado Mountains.

 

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.)