Article Contributed on: 2/2/2007 10:16:49 AM
The Colorado Anti-Hunger Network (CAN) recently recognized Adams County Community Development for outstanding leadership in alleviating hunger in Colorado at its annual membership meeting.
Adams County developed a food assessment that identified the extent of food insecurity and hunger throughout the county. In 2006, Community Development completed the Food Security Assessment - one of the first of its kind implemented in Colorado - in order to improve coordinating, planning and providing food assistance to families in need.
"The Board of County Commissioners is pleased that the county's food study is being recognized as a model for what counties can do as a first step in fighting hunger and improving nutrition," said Chairman
W.R. "Skip" Fischer. "We have asked our Food Distribution Center to build stronger partnerships with all entities involved in providing food assistance to Adams County residents."
"The study has already helped us to open a dialogue with other food aid partners, identify more potential food resources and solicit input from Adams County residents on how to improve services, said Keith Frausto, administrator of Community Development.
"This award is a real honor for us," said
Barbara DesMarteau, director of the Community & Economic Opportunity Department. "In partnership with Adams County Social Services and other food aid agencies, Community Development was able to produce a study that captures critical information on the financial realities of feeding a family and what many residents are experiencing in Adams County."
Community Development has been invited by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) to make a national presentation on the study's methodology at the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in Washington D.C. in February.
Community Development will host additional meetings on the results of the Food Security Survey on Tuesday, Feb. 13, and. Thursday, Feb. 15. The public is invited to attend. Locations and times will be published at a later date. Contact
Lily Rhoades at 303-286-4193 for additional information.
"In these meetings we will present the results of the study and begin soliciting participation in planning future food aid coordination efforts," said Rhoades, coordinator of the Adams County Food Distribution Program and team leader for the Food Security Survey. "We particularly want to involve the municipalities and school districts of Adams County, since they can provide a crucial role in improving nutrition and giving people access to food assistance."
CAN is a group of private, public and nonprofit agencies coming together to learn about available food resources, share information and improve availability and delivery of services and resources benefiting Coloradoans who are experiencing hunger and food insecurity.