{"id":15869,"date":"2025-10-31T15:20:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T21:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/state-lawmakers-approve-10-million-to-bolster-colorado-food-banks-as-snap-benefits-dry-up\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T19:35:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T19:35:21","slug":"state-lawmakers-approve-10-million-to-bolster-colorado-food-banks-as-snap-benefits-dry-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/state-lawmakers-approve-10-million-to-bolster-colorado-food-banks-as-snap-benefits-dry-up\/","title":{"rendered":"State lawmakers approve $10 million to bolster Colorado food banks as SNAP benefits dry up"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Speaker
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., center, is joined at left by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins as they head to a news conference to talk about SNAP food aid benefits at the Capitol in Washington on Oct. 31. (J. Scott Applewhite\/The Associated Press)<\/span>dur-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note<\/strong>: This article is free to all readers.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Colorado legislature\u2019s Joint Budget Committee on Thursday unanimously approved allocating $10 million from the state\u2019s reserves to shore up food banks and food assistance programs as federal SNAP benefits remain suspended during the government shutdown.<\/p>\n

But nonpartisan staff emphasized that Colorado does not have the financial resources to cover the full scope of lost benefits.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is effectively us trying to plow a field with a fork. The scale of this particular emergency vastly outstrips any ability for the state to mitigate it in any truly meaningful way,\u201d said Tom Dermody, the JBC\u2019s chief legislative budget and policy analyst.<\/p>\n

Dermody presented the $10 million proposal from the governor\u2019s office to the budget committee and said it falls far short of replacing the $120 million per month the state currently receives in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, which supports 600,000 Coloradans with grocery costs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the best that the state has. We don\u2019t have the mechanism to actually step in and provide that funding,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Food banks\u2019 ability to buy food at steep discounts means the $10 million could translate into $50 million worth of groceries for households.<\/p>\n

The state funding will be distributed through grants to Feeding Colorado, which will allocate funds to the state\u2019s most in-need food banks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe south and southeast part of Colorado has proportionally more SNAP recipients in terms of their population than anywhere else in Colorado,\u201d said Dermody, describing where some of the funds will go. \u201cSo my understanding is that there will be a focus to send assistance, whether financial or actual food products, to those communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the two Republicans on the JBC, Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer and Rep. Rick Taggart, expressed frustration that the money won\u2019t be going to every part of Colorado.<\/p>\n

\n

The List: Food Resources for Montezuma County<\/h4>\n

Good Sam\u2019s Food Pantry<\/strong>Address: <\/strong>30 N. Beech St., Cortez<\/p>\n

Phone<\/strong>: (970) 565-6424<\/p>\n

Hours:<\/strong>Tuesdays and Fridays: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.https:\/\/www.goodsamscortez.org<\/a>\/\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

Evangel Assembly of God<\/strong>Address:<\/strong> 209 W. Fifth St., Cortez<\/p>\n

Phone<\/strong>: (970) 565-4198<\/p>\n

Hours:<\/strong> Monday and Tuesday: 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Please call ahead. All calls will be returned.https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cortezevangelassemblyofgod\/<\/a>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

Family Worship Center<\/strong>Address:<\/strong> 500 N. Washington St., Cortez<\/p>\n

Phone:<\/strong> (970) 565-4198<\/p>\n

Hours: <\/strong>Thursday: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

Commodities (TEFAP) Distribution<\/strong>Phone<\/strong>: (970) 565-6424<\/p>\n

Cortez: <\/strong>Available at Good Sam\u2019s Food Pantry during regular hours, starting November 2025<\/p>\n

Mancos: <\/strong>Mancos FoodShare, fourth Monday of each month, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

Mancos FoodShare<\/strong>Location: <\/strong>Mount Lookout Grange, 680 Grand Ave., Mancos<\/p>\n

Hours:<\/strong> First and third Mondays: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.https:\/\/mancosvalleyresources.com\/2019\/07\/mancos-food-share\/<\/a>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

ROCK Food Distribution<\/strong>Address: <\/strong>128 E. U.S. Highway 491, Dove Creek<\/p>\n

Phone:<\/strong> (970) 564-5363<\/p>\n

Hours: <\/strong>Second Friday of each month: 3 p.m.https:\/\/www.rockchurch.com\/ministries\/food-distribution<\/a>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

Dove Creek Care and Share Food Pantry<\/strong>Address:<\/strong> 214 U.S. Highway 491, Dove Creek<\/p>\n

Phone:<\/strong> (970) 769-0006<\/p>\n

Hours:<\/strong> Wednesday through Friday: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DCCares\/<\/a>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

Rico Pantry<\/strong>Address:<\/strong> 1 N. Commercial St., Rico<\/p>\n

Phone:<\/strong> (970) 967-2861<\/p>\n

Hours: <\/strong>Tuesday and Wednesday: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

Care and Share Mobile Market<\/strong>Location: <\/strong>Rec Center, Towaoc<\/p>\n

Phone<\/strong>: (970) 739-3562<\/p>\n

Distribution Day: <\/strong>Third Wednesday of each month\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

Montezuma County Senior Center<\/strong>Address: <\/strong>107 N. Chestnut St., Cortez<\/p>\n

Phone<\/strong>: (970) 565-4166<\/p>\n

Distribution: <\/strong>Last Tuesday of each month. Please contact the center to sign up for a food box\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

Senior Lunches \/ Meals on Wheels<\/strong>Cortez<\/strong>: (970) 565-4166<\/p>\n

Dolores: <\/strong>(970) 882-7337<\/p>\n

Mancos:<\/strong> (970) 533-7721\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

Four Corners Food Not Bombs<\/strong>Location:<\/strong> The Warehouse, 30 N. Beech St., Cortez<\/p>\n

Schedule: <\/strong>Sundays: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Vegan\/vegetarian potluck, supplies and hot meal available.instagram.com\/fourcornersfoodcoalition<\/a>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

Hope\u2019s Kitchen \u2013 First United Methodist<\/strong>Address:<\/strong> 515 Park St., Cortez<\/p>\n

Meal Service:<\/strong> Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.https:\/\/www.firstumccortez.com\/hopes-kitchen<\/a>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.Grace\u2019s Kitchen \u2013 St. BarnabasAddress: 110 W. North St., CortezMeal Service: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.https:\/\/www.stbarnabascortez.org\/graces<\/a>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)<\/strong>Address:<\/strong> 432 N. Broadway, Cortez<\/p>\n

Phone: <\/strong>(970) 565-4310<\/p>\n

Hours: <\/strong>Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/371710104018474\/<\/a>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP\/EBT)<\/strong>Agency: <\/strong>Montezuma County Department of Social Services<\/p>\n

Address: <\/strong>109 W. Main St., Suite 170, Cortez<\/p>\n

Phone: <\/strong>(970) 565-3769<\/p>\n

Office Hours: <\/strong>Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.https:\/\/montezumacounty.org\/social-services\/\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

Dolores County DSS<\/strong>Address:<\/strong> 8560 Road 7.2, Dove Creek<\/p>\n

Phone: <\/strong>(970) 677-2250<\/p>\n

Hours:<\/strong> Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.https:\/\/dolocnty.colorado.gov\/social-services<\/a> Source: Montezuma County<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a statewide solution,\u201d said Kirkmeyer from Weld County. \u201cWe have no guarantee where it\u2019s getting to. We know it\u2019s not even close to the amount of dollars that are needed to provide the food that will be needed for food security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Nonpartisan staff agreed that it\u2019s not statewide, and said the solution was \u201criddled with holes.\u201d Colorado is among about two dozen states suing the Trump Administration, demanding it tap into a congressionally approved emergency reserve fund to keep SNAP benefits going as the shutdown continues.<\/p>\n

Kirkmeyer criticized the governor for using reserves, arguing the state should draw from its disaster emergency fund instead.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an emergency in this state regardless of why it\u2019s caused, whether it\u2019s man-made or natural made,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is an emergency in this state, where we have 600,000 people who are not going to have food security. And we\u2019ve got people back at the federal level, blame it on whoever you want, it\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colorado\u2019s nonpartisan budget director and Democrats on the committee noted that even if the state used emergency funds, Colorado would still need to repay that money with general budget funds next year, something Kirkmeyer disputed.<\/p>\n

Taggart, who is from Grand Junction, said he understood the challenge of using limited state reserves.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I also realize this is food, and I\u2019m scared to death because I\u2019m from one of those regions that relies on this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Democratic Rep. Emily Sirota of Denver, who also sits on the JBC, called the suspension of SNAP benefits a federally induced \u201cdisaster\u201d and said she wondered how Gov. Jared Polis came up with the $10 million figure.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I hear is this is the best that we feel we can put forward from the state at this time,\u201d she said, noting there is a lot of pain the state has to plan for ahead \u2014 like spiking health care costs \u2014 all while contending with its own budget shortfall.<\/p>\n

Other Democrats on the committee also lamented the troubles caused by the government shutdown. Congress has been at an impasse since September, with Democrats demanding that the next round of government funding extend expiring health insurance subsidies, while Republicans say the two issues must be considered separately.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis shutdown could last for months, and then we are having looming disaster after disaster,\u201d said Sen. Judy Amabile, a Boulder Democrat who sits on the JBC. \u201cPeople are going to start to have to choose between eating and paying their rent, between paying their rent and paying their utilities. And we are going to see a massive amount of suffering.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local food resources<\/div>\n

Ballantine Communications Inc. has created resource guides specific to Montezuma County, Dolores County, San Juan County, N.M., and La Plata County with information about free food, grocery support and SNAP benefits. To view the resource guides, visit:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Montezuma County Cares: https:\/\/www.the-journal.com\/montezuma-county-cares\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2022 Durango Cares: durangoherald.com\/durango-cares\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2022 San Juan County: https:\/\/www.tricityrecordnm.com\/san-juan-county-cares\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

estimates its $10 million could be leveraged to bring in about $50 million <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[28,29],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-15869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-headlines","tag-newsletter"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15869"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15869\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19888,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15869\/revisions\/19888"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15869"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=15869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}