SHULGOLD: Food bank sets its sights on hunger in a Denver suburb

Published November 10, 2007 at midnight

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A recent report from the federal government stated that the number of poor people in America's suburbs is now greater than in its inner cities. Those findings come as no surprise to Kathy Underhill, who heads the Arvada Community Food Bank.

Although she has been running the organization for less than two years, Underhill has seen the full extent of hunger and poverty in Arvada, a bedroom-and- shopping-mall community northwest of Denver.

"People are struggling here - they need a lot of help," she said.

During the past 25 years, her organization has delivered food to thousands of families, thanks to what she terms "broad community support." The building that houses her cramped headquarters - totaling 2,000 square feet - was donated by the City of Arvada. Local schools and churches participate in food drives. Contributions also come from corporations and the Denver Foundation.

Underhill and her associates work hard to make Arvada residents aware that there are hungry people in their own neighborhoods.

"Most people don't have any idea of the level of poverty," she said.

"It's not in the forefront of people's minds."

The food bank has created programs serving the general public as well as schoolchildren and senior citizens.

Particularly successful is a program, begun in October 2006, at four Arvada elementary schools: Allendale, Foster, Russell and Lawrence.

"There are so many benefits from it," she said of this "backpack" program, which brings bags of food to qualified students once a week.

"When they're not hungry, they can focus better in class and perform better on tests. Plus, we've seen a decrease in absenteeism at those schools and an increase in parental involvement."

The model for this program comes from Arkansas, and it has become the largest of its kind in the metro region. "But I would love to expand it, to include middle and high schools," Underhill added.

To qualify for food, individuals complete an application that establishes a need and residence within the service area (the food bank serves homes from 38th Avenue to 120th Avenue and from Sheridan Boulevard to Colorado 93). Food boxes can be picked up six times a year. Seniors are allowed 18 visits.

Underhill is proud of the simple process of signing up families, noting that some programs, such as food stamps, require complex multipage applications. "We're members of the Colorado Anti-Hunger Network, which is looking into ways to simplify those processes," she said.

Most who visit the food bank participate on a temporary basis, according to Underhill. Periods of unemployment and illness can often impede the ability to purchase food.

Despite the strain of seeing people in crisis, Underhill has observed inspiring moments of family togetherness.

"A second-grader explained why she didn't use the powdered milk that was in her 'backpack' of food. She said that she saved it for her mom to give to the baby at home."

Food donations are accepted, but Underhill stressed that monetary donations go further. Each year, the food bank spends $62,000 - mostly at discount centers such as the Food Bank of the Rockies and Share Colorado.

"The $3 you spend on a box of cereal can be used by us to buy 15 boxes at those places," she said.

Arvada Community Food Bank

• Purpose: To provide emergency food assistance to qualifying households and community members in the service area

• Founded: 1982

• People helped: 8,100 households (31,500 individuals); 600 children and 185 seniors in other food programs each year

• Staff: Two (executive director and assistant director)

• Volunteers: 90

• Budget for 2007: $175,600

• Web site: arvadacommunityfoodbank.org

Marc Shulgold is the music and dance writer.

shulgoldm@RockyMountainNews.com

or 303-954-5296