LIFT-UP, a nonprofit providing food assistance from Aspen to Parachute, has launched its annual year-end fundraising campaign: “Donate to the Plate.” Executive Director Ivan Jackson explained the importance of this initiative in a recent interview with The Sopris Sun.
According to data from Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, one in seven children experiences hunger, underscoring the critical importance of local food assistance programs and their fundraising campaigns.
“This is our biggest fundraising campaign of the year,” Jackson said. “Last year, we raised $370,000, and we’re hoping to exceed that this year.”
Growing demand
The need for LIFT-UP’s services has grown exponentially. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they saw a 600% increase in food insecurity across the Roaring Fork Valley. At the end of 2022, the organization served approximately 55,000 individuals. That number skyrocketed to 128,000 last year and has reached 155,000 as of the end of October this year.
“Living in this Valley is expensive, from housing to groceries,” Jackson noted. “And with government assistance food programs declining post-COVID, families are forced to make tough choices between paying rent or buying food.”
This holiday season, the rising cost of groceries further complicates matters for many families. While turkey prices are slightly lower than last year, other holiday staples, such as turkey trimmings, vegetables and desserts, have increased by 20%, Jackson explained.
Donation options
LIFT-UP accepts monetary donations by check or online through its website. Recurring donations, which allow individuals to set up monthly or quarterly contributions, are also an option.
Food pantries stretch donation dollars by leveraging partnerships with food banks, grocery stores and wholesalers to purchase food at significantly reduced costs.
“For example, $100 can provide 100 meals or feed a child for 100 days,” Jackson shared. “But donations of any amount are welcome, whether $1 or $10,000.”
Some donors choose to give in-kind donations or even gift stocks. “We recently had someone donate stocks, which we coordinate through a broker in Glenwood Springs,” Jackson said. “We also receive gift cards, and businesses like the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park offer incentives. For instance, a $25 grocery gift card donation earns the donor a gondola ticket to the park.”
Additionally, LIFT-UP organizes food drives throughout the holiday season. Ten drives are scheduled between now and the end of the year in partnership with local schools, businesses and other organizations.
“Last year, we distributed over a million pounds of food,” Jackson said. “This year, we’re on track to exceed that.”
New programs in 2025
In 2025, LIFT-UP plans to introduce a mobile pantry — a retrofitted trailer that will serve as a traveling food distribution center. Unlike traditional mobile distributions, where food is preloaded into vehicles, this mobile pantry will allow individuals to choose their food, similar to a grocery store shopping experience.
“This will be a game-changer,” Jackson said. “It will expand our operational hours and allow us to reach communities with limited transportation options.”
The mobile pantry is expected to visit multiple locations daily, serving underrepresented populations such as seniors and those in more remote areas.
Holiday meals and shopping
As the holidays approach, the organization will distribute over 1,000 turkeys and other staples to families in need. “From Thanksgiving to Christmas, we see a significant increase in demand,” Jackson said. “People want to create special memories for their families, even if resources are tight.”
LIFT-UP’s thrift store in Parachute, which reopened in October, has also become a resource for the community. “During COVID, we converted the space into a warehouse due to increased food demand,” Jackson said. “Now, with our new Glenwood Springs facility, we’ve brought back the Parachute thrift store, providing affordable goods to the community.”
Making an impact
Rising grocery prices and supply chain disruptions continue to pose challenges. “Even as some prices stabilize, the overall cost of living in this Valley remains significantly higher than in other parts of Colorado,” Jackson said. “Families are feeling the pinch.”
Despite these hurdles, Jackson remains optimistic about the community’s generosity. “Whether it’s donating food, funds or time, every bit helps,” he said. “Together, we can make a difference.”
For more information or to contribute to the “Donate to the Plate” campaign, which runs through Dec. 31, go to www.liftup.org