Integrated Family Community Services

IFCS’ Hunger Alleviation Program fills a gap by providing immediate assistance to those facing food access and insecurity during COVID-19. Since 1964, IFCS has served millions of children, families, and seniors in need in Arapahoe County. In response to state-wide school closures, limited product availability and price increase at grocery stores, in addition to increased unemployment, IFCS pivoted quickly to support households with groceries. Singing on as a member of Food Bank of the Rockies’ Emergency Assistance Team, IFCS created a Grocery Box Pickup Program, operating Monday through Friday, to provide fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable items to those who find themselves food insecure or experiencing hunger. While many in the community learned of the need for food from news outlets, IFCS experienced it first-hand. Our long-standing presence in the community as a hunger relief organization poised IFCS to be a first responder. In the days following Colorado’s Stay at Home Order, IFCS experienced a jump in clients served from 269 the week of March 9, 2020 to 6,000 clients monthly, and the increase continues.