Robert

On a mild week day morning in April, Robert took his place in a line that stretched a city block. This line is worth waiting in for all these folks because it means a meal. Even if it's the only one they get that day. Robert was in prison for years and when he was released he found himself with no one. And no place to go. With no identification, it was impossible to find employment. Fortunately, he found a number of organizations who were more than willing to lend a helping hand. They helped him get on his feet, gave him a place to rest his head, food to keep him nourished and made sure he was able to renew his barber's license.

Robert was happy to share his story. He's not proud of his past, but he is proud of where he's headed and promises that "When I get back on my feet financially, I'm definitely giving back."

Stamping Out Hunger...17 Years Running!

On May 9,2009 the 17th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive had letter carriers around Colorado busy! Throughout the country, letter carriers picked up food donations from mail boxes along their routes. How does the day work? We've laid out a brief(ish) play by play to guide you through the schedule of getting the food from people's homes to the mouths of our hungry neighbors.

University Park Post Office... ( just one of the many offices participating) At 5:00 pm, letter carriers return to the post office in trucks filled to the brim with food. Volunteers from Cornerstone Church and Food Bank of the Rockies assist the letter carriers in bringing in and sorting the donated food. Can after can...box after box pour through the door until the last carrier returns at 6:00 pm.

Once all the food is packed and sorted, the postal bins are loaded on FBR’s truck and brought to our warehouse. A long day ending for the letter carriers equals a busy evening fueling up for volunteers and staff at FBR. Over 100 volunteers arrive to tackle the overwhelming amount of food arriving at FBR! Our more muscular volunteers lift food bins off the truck and onto the scale - they’re heavy, averaging 1200 pounds!

Next, bins are rolled to the sorting area. Volunteers examine every can and box to ensure it’s sealed and safe. Boxes are stacked on a pallet and wrapped for safe keeping. They don't stick around long! Monday, these boxes are distributed to hunger relief agencies who will directly give them out to our neighbors in need. The night finally wraps up around 10:00 pm.

Volunteers and letter carriers most likely woke up the next morning with a few sore muscles, but all the lifting, sorting and boxing is worth the effort! Thousands of hungry people will be ensured a much needed meal because of the work and generosity that went into the 17th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. It's a mouthful!

Thank you National Association of Letter Carriers, Volunteers and everyone who donated food. You are truly making a difference!

200 Blue Shirts Join Forces in the Fight Against Hunger

One person can make a big difference in the fight against hunger....200 people joining forces for 6 hours on a given Saturday can make a HUGE difference!

This past Saturday, more than 3,000 local Comcast employees and their families and friends volunteered at more than 25 community organizations across Colorado as part of Comcast's eighth annual "Comcast Cares Day." This national day of service is one of the largest single days of corporate volunteer efforts in our country. FBR was fortunate enough to be gifted with 200 hard working people who showed up and made this place look brand new!

At 9:00am, shifts of volunteers wearing matching blue shirts were assigned a task. Packing food boxes, sorting and cleaning food drive items, painting walls, floors and doors, making cards for our Senior clients and landscaping. No matter the job, they all worked equally hard and by 4:00pm, FBR's warehouse and landscape looked brand new. It's amazing what a difference one day and 200 hearts and hands can make.

THANKS to Comcast for being an invaluable partner in the fight against hunger! And a special thanks to Sandra and TLC Gardening Services for going to the extra mile to make our property beautiful. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!

Music by Jon Troast's album "a person and a heart."

Fighting Hunger, Springsteen Style

"The Boss" graced Denver with his legendary presence on Friday night. Those fortunate enough to find themselves at the Pepsi Center listened to hours of powerful music and generously responded to Mr. Springsteen encouraging them to donate to Food Bank of the Rockies. He said, "We've lived in some tough times, but this is unusual" and asked folks to donate to FBR. We were invited to host a booth at the concert, where countless Springsteen fans replied to his request and dropped off cash donations, totaling over $4,000.

This isn't the first time Bruce and his E Street Band have given a "shout out" to FBR. They've toured through Denver three times and have graciously included FBR in all the concerts, raising enough to provide over 250,000 meals in total. FBR is honored to be a charity that Mr. Bruce Springsteen supports. A huge FBR SHOUT OUT right back at ya for doing your part in fighting hunger and feeding hope!

Claudette

71 year old Claudette tells me that lately, it's impossible to make ends meet. For over 28 years she worked for Montgomery Ward and had to retire due to her husband's epilepsy and health issues. Until a few years ago, they managed to make ends meet without assistance. That's just not possible anymore. They're both on social security and rely on a local pantry for food - "a blessing from God," says Claudette. "We live in a small apartment. The energy costs, high cost of food, car insurance, gas...it's overwhelming. Growing old isn't for sissies. Throw in some health problems and before you know it, you're broke."

Things are Hoppin' at FBR!

April 8th was a busy Wednesday at FBR! It's not often that we're served the very food that's being donated, but yesterday that was the case. The Colorado Egg Producers donated 194,000 eggs to FBR all while cooking up fresh omelette's for our volunteers and staff! As if that wasn't excitement enough, the Easter Bunny showed up and took pictures with over 50 kids from Little Giants Day Care (and a few adults too).

This is the second year in a row the Colorado Egg Producers have donated a truck load of eggs to FBR. In total, they'll help more than 600,000 people who are at risk of hunger in Colorado through the donation of eggs around our state. Thanks to everyone who was involved in making the day a "hoppin" success!

194,000 eggs about to be unloaded into FBR's warehouse.

FBR's Kim and Kristina escort the Easter Bunny to his photo session.

A young food banker gives his candy to the "Big Bunny."

The kids from Little Giants Day Care thoroughly enjoyed their visit with FBR's Easter Bunny.

Curtis

For 10 years, Curtis worked as a Senior Program Analyst for the Denver Newspaper Agency. He made a good living and spent much of his free time volunteering with the company's ACTS Volunteer Program. For the past 2 years, Curtis has spent all his vacation days volunteering at FBR.

In October of last year Curtis was laid off. In a matter of minutes he was without income. After a couple months of unsuccessfully looking for work he called Olive at FBR and asked if he could volunteer at FBR. Curtis shows up at FBR every single morning around 8:30am, leaves mid afternoon and spends the rest of his days looking for work. "Volunteering here is how I get through my days. I was getting really depressed sitting at home looking for work and wondering what I was going to do." Curtis may not be working for a pay check right now, but he's definitely working to make a difference for countless people who are struggling to make ends meet.