The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has partnered with Advocates Against Domestic Assault, a domestic violence shelter serving Southern Colorado for over 40 years, to raise awareness of the Colorado Food Program, a resource available to shelters that provide nutritious meals to children and older adults.
Advocates Against Domestic Assault has participated in the Colorado Food Program for nearly 20 years to ensure that families, especially those with children, have consistent access to balanced, healthy meals. This partnership plays an important role in the shelter’s mission to help survivors regain a sense of control and dignity while rebuilding safe and stable lives.
“The Colorado Food Program has been vital to the work we do,” said Charlene Tortorice, executive director of Advocates Against Domestic Assault. “Not only does the program help us better afford food for the families we serve, it allows us to empower parents – especially mothers – to prepare meals, learn about nutrition, and pass those skills on to their children. Through this partnership, we also introduce kids to fruits and vegetables they may never have tasted before. It’s one more way we help them discover what safety, health, and hope can look like.”
Under the Colorado Food Program, shelters like Advocates Against Domestic Assault receive federal reimbursement for the meals they serve to children under 18, allowing them to stretch limited resources and provide high-quality, nutritious food. Meals served through the Colorado Food Program meet U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines and help ensure that children in emergency situations get the nourishment they need to thrive.
“Shelters are doing heroic work, and the Colorado Food Program is here to support them,” said Naomi Steenson, Colorado Food Program director. “We invite others operating emergency shelters in the state to consider applying. ”Emergency shelters serving children and families may be eligible to participate in the Colorado Food Program. To learn more, visit cdphe.colorado.gov/COFoodProgram.
