Food fight
Durango Food Bank, others across state, struggle amid federal cuts, inflation

Food banks across Colorado are facing a perfect storm. Recent cuts to federal food assistance programs are driving up demand while simultaneously shrinking the supply of food available for distribution. Meanwhile, food prices continue to rise. The 12-month increase in food inflation hit 3.2% in August, faster than overall inflation, and food prices in 2024 were 23.6% higher than in 2020, according to the USDA. 

Supporters of federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) and The Emergency Food Assistance program (TEFAP) say the changes will help prevent fraud. A statement from the White House said the cuts will ensure food assistance is going to the “truly needy.” 

But many food banks across the state, which use TEFAP to buy in bulk for pennies on the dollar from the USDA, say they are struggling to keep enough food on the shelves. 

“The changes to SNAP and TEFAP are definitely affecting our operations and the clients we serve here in Durango,” Sarah Smith, Executive Director of the Durango Food Bank, said. While food drives and donations are important in helping keep the food bank afloat, Smith said it simply does not match the bang for the buck of getting food directly from distributors through TEFAP.

“Purchasing food in bulk allows pantries to get what we need, benefit from greater purchasing power and receive food in easily distributable cases,” she said. “It allows for a more consistent supply of food, better quality control and improved control over variety.”

Sue Ellen Rodwick, executive director of the West Slope’s Food Bank of the Rockies, said her organization is struggling, too. “We are having to get creative in finding new sourcing opportunities and distributing less food to each person,” she told Colorado Public Radio.

Nate Springer, CEO of Care and Share, a food bank based in Colorado Springs that serves 29 counties across Southern Colorado, said the organization has seen a 37% decline in the amount of food available to purchase through TEFAP due to federal cuts. That loss amounts to about 4 million meals they are now unable to provide. 

“We have lots of ways that we get food, lots of ways we acquire food, but there is absolutely no way to replace that purchasing power,” he told CPR. 

Federal cuts increase demand

In March 2025, the USDA paused $500 million in funding to TEFAP, which resulted in canceled food deliveries to food banks. In total, the cuts amount to $1 billion in federal funding, which includes cuts to TEFAP and another program called the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program. These cuts have led to a reduction in the amount of food, such as meat, dairy and produce, available to low-income families.

In addition, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress in July tightened eligibility for SNAP. To now qualify for SNAP, individuals must work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week, unless they are in an exemption category. 

On Oct. 1, those exemptions became even more stringent. For starters, the age exemption for SNAP work requirements rose from 54 to 65. Furthermore, the definition of a dependent child also changed, from under 18 to under 14. Veterans, people experiencing homelessness and former foster youth also must meet work requirements to maintain benefits.

Additionally, SNAP recipients now receive $150 at the beginning of every month, down from $180. Springer said these cuts are going to bring a flood of new people in need of food, and there won’t be enough resources to support the increase in demand.  

“Across the country, people run out of money at the $180 level at about day 18 of the month,” he said. “So when you think about the last time you went to the grocery store, now consider you have $150 to get through the month.” 

Doing more with less

According to Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” report, 12.7% of Coloradans were food insecure in 2023, with the rate for children at 14.3%. Furthermore, a 2024 study from the Urban Institute found that more than one in four adults (27.1%) experienced household food insecurity, a rate higher than pre-pandemic levels. 

In La Plata County, there are an estimated 6,420 food insecure individuals in La Plata County missing at least 1 meal per day, and 52% of food insecure county residents do not qualify for SNAP benefits, she said.

“They are the working poor – families and seniors who are just falling short but are contributing members of our society. This forces many families to make difficult choices,” she said. “For example: utilities and rent vs. adequate food supplies or seniors decreasing medication doses to make it stretch.”

At the same time, Smith said the Durango Food Bank has seen a significant drop in donations from local corporate contributors, specifically with regards to perishable items like produce.

“With increased need and decreased contributions, organizations are being forced to more firmly adhere to service area restrictions, reduce distribution quantities and rely more heavily on the private sector for support,” she said.

In 2024, the Durango Food Bank served 12,000 residents. The food bank is open to all La Plata County residents, with no income guidelines although people must first fill out a form and book an appointment online. Smith said the goal is to turn the food bank into a regional distribution hub for Southwest Colorado, including La Plata, Archuleta, Montezuma, Dolores and San Juan counties.

“This will address the systemic need to acquire, store and distribute food to the many existing food pantries and organizations in the region,” she said.

To that end, the Durango Food Bank recently opened a new 3,100-square-foot facility in Bodo that includes a loading dock, pallet shelving, forklift and pallet jacks. The food bank also purchased a box truck with a lift gate to make deliveries to other pantries. 

However, the recent cuts may put all of this in jeopardy. In addition to the cost of food, there is the cost of additional staff and transportation. The food bank has about $47,000 in infrastructure and facility needs right now, from the costs of a semi-truck to a stretch-wrap machine, refrigeration, entry gate and a truck with a snow plow.

Nevertheless, Smith is hopeful. “Our new facilities and strategic plans are the first step to addressing the impending crisis,” she said. “With the community’s help, we can build a transparent and efficient system to acquire, store and distribute food to those in need across the region.”

Havalin Haskell and Olivia Bagan from Colorado Public Radio contributed to this report. For more from Colorado Public Radio, go to: www.cpr.org.