Lifespan Local: Building Food Systems

Southwest Denver was hit hard by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Families found themselves struggling to provide for one of life’s most basic and important needs: food. Pantries in the community saw demand increase 3-4 times.

Thanks to the support of donors including The Colorado Health Foundation, Lifespan Local worked with community food pantries and regional support providers to help pantries keep up with the surge in demand and manage complex transportation and supply issues. Simultaneously, staff conducted interviews and surveys with community members, pantries, food suppliers, farms, and agencies within the food system.  It became obvious that there was a massive underlying issue: agencies did not work together. Years of competition for funding and food and a general lack of capacity led to agencies operating in isolation.

As 2021 kicked off, Lifespan met with regional and local food partners and an idea emerged to form a hyper local coalition connected to a network of regional partners. In February, the Southwest Food Coalition launched with 12 member agencies with the guiding principles of equity and action.

The Coalition has created a paid Community Advisory Board to center community voice in the Southwest Denver food system. The Coalition coordinates a pilot food hub with Food Bank of the Rockies, and Lifespan recently purchased a box truck to be shared among Coalition members. The Coalition recently received grant funding from Jefferson County’s Office of Public Health & Community First Foundation to support the Coalition for two years. The proposal includes funding for the Coalition to be co-led by Lifespan Local staff and a Community Member, funding to continue paying Community Advisory Board members, and adding a Community Connector. Funds will be used to pay Coalition Members and community leaders to manage specific food systems projects and Coalition members will receive equity training and consultation to create participatory organizations.

Beyond the tangible accomplishments, the Coalition is seeing conversation and support among agencies at an all-new level. Agencies finally have a peer group where they can share frustrations, advice, and encouragement. The Coalition has a long way to go in addressing food insecurity and food sovereignty in Southwest Metro Denver but Lifespan is honored to be help move this cooperative project forward.

To keep up to date on the work of the Coalition, check out this website or follow the group on Facebook.