Friends of Longmont Youth (FLY) was recently awarded $75,000 for the Community Meals Program by the Colorado COVID Relief Fund to help respond to the ongoing increase in food insecurity in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. FLY’s mission is to support positive youth development programs, in partnership with the City of Longmont’s Children, Youth, and Families Division. The Community Meals Program is a collaborative effort involving FLY, the Longmont Youth Center, St. Vrain Valley School District’s Nutrition Services, Community Food Share, Longmont Food Rescue, and Bridge House Community Table Kitchen. Funds from the grant will be used to continue and expand existing programming to provide meals for adults and youth, take-home groceries, and to add additional distribution sites.

“Earlier this summer, FLY received a $25,000 grant from the Colorado COVID Relief Fund” said Meca Delgado, Treasurer of the Board of FLY. “Those funds have been used to feed our community over the past few months and this grant will allow us to continue to serve families in need in the Longmont community.”

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect everyone in Longmont differently, and some more than others. The recent decision to continue with online-only schooling means many youth struggle to access daily meals. Single parents, families with lower incomes, communities of color and children have been particularly hard-hit by the devastating economic impacts of the virus.

“Unfortunately, we see our community food needs are still increasing,” said Kyl Caragol, Youth Program Leader with the Longmont Youth Center. “The school district has done an excellent job of providing meal sites, but there are still some significant geographical gaps – some kids would have to walk over an hour to get a school meal. With many parents returning to work, there’s just no one to drive them. Our agency partners have identified several high-need neighborhoods and are serving these meals within the communities themselves, so it’s much easier for youth just walk out their front door to pick up breakfast and lunch.”

In addition to meals, youth and families are provided with take-home activity kits from the Longmont Youth Center, books donated by Friends of the Longmont Library, and cloth masks donated by The Hidden Treasure 2. Resources on housing, employment, mental health, and academic success are also offered to families needing support.

Led by an executive committee in coordination with the Governor’s Office, the Colorado COVID Relief Fund was developed to raise and coordinate allocation of funds based on COVID-19 prevention, impact and recovery needs of community-based organizations in Colorado. The Fund is organized to ensure that the most acute community needs across the state are being addressed and that community voice is reflected in all funding decisions made over time.

Additional information about the Community Meals Program can be found by visiting Children, Youth and Families website.

For more information about the Community Meals Program and the Youth Center, please contact Christina Pacheco Sims, Children, Youth and Families Manager, at christina.sims@longmontcolorado.gov or 303-774-3752.
 
For more information about Friends of Longmont Youth, please contact Meca Delgado, Treasurer of the Board of FLY, at mddelgado21@comcast.net or 303-328-1540.

About the Community Meals Program

The Community Meals Program offers meals at no cost to youth and families in Longmont during this time of economic uncertainty. Pre-packaged groceries are made available weekly, and families can also access services and resources related to employment, housing, childcare, and mental health supports.