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Last year, in the United States looked to food banks and food pantries for support, according to a 2023 report from Feeding America. The end of COVID-era government assistance programs and the rising cost of groceries due to inflation have many Americans facing food insecurity.

According to a 2023 Department of Agriculture report, 12.8% of households around the country—about 17 million—were . That's up from the 10.2% of households who had difficulty providing food for everyone in their home in 2021, and also up from the 10.5% who said the same in 2020. It's the highest share of food-insecure households in the U.S. since 2014.

The rise of food insecurity and the economic situation in the U.S. means that food banks are struggling to keep up with the demand. "Local food banks, pantries, and community meal programs have become an essential component of many households' food budgets, especially as we continue to face increased food prices and the end of pandemic-era benefits," Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, accompanying the nonprofit's aforementioned report. In an earlier 2023 survey from Feeding America, 65% of responding food banks reported an .

It can be difficult to know where to go if you want to help, as many do during the holiday season in particular. To help guide you, compiled a list of food bank volunteer opportunities near Denver using data from . Read on to see what you can do for those grappling with food insecurity in your community, from distributing lunches to seniors to serving meals at soup kitchens.

Donation Support
- Organization: Denver Public Schools - Volunteer Services
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Advocate
- Organization: The Borgen Project
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Regional Director-Denver Fort Collins Boulder and Colorado
- Organization: CitiIMPACT
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IVC seeks Active Seniors in the Denver Area
- Organization: Ignatian Volunteer Corps
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Veteran Food Distribution Team Lead (Monthly)- Denver
- Organization: Soldiers' Angels - Denver
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Food Distribution Helpers
- Organization: HOPE COMMUNITIES INC
- Dates: Nov 10 to Feb 8
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Volunteer to Grow food for People in Need at Harvard Gulch with Grow Local Colorado!
- Organization: Project Helping
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Delivery food to refugee families
- Organization: PROJECT WORTHMORE
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Help in a SNAP! Assist With Food Stamp Applications
- Organization: BENEFITS IN ACTION
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Rescue & Redistribute produce to our communities in Denver
- Organization: Denver Food Rescue
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Volunteer Patient Navigator - make a real difference virtually!
- Organization: UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
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Student Opportunity--Help Fight Hunger Around America's Breakfast Tables
- Organization: CEREAL4ALL INC
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Support Your Community! Become a Hunger Fighter
- Organization: Metro Caring
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Aurora Meal Delivery Driver
- Organization: Project Angel Heart
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Food Market Volunteer
- Organization: Integrated Family Community Services
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Volunteer to help feed people in need!
- Organization: Cafe 180
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Volunteer at a food pantry near you!
- Organization: City of Westminster
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Deliver Groceries to Neighbors in Need
- Organization: Rocky Mountain Mutual Aid
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Lakeshore Cafe; Dining Room Volunteer
- Organization: City and County of Broomfield
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Shop for Broomfield Seniors!
- Organization: Cultivate
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Volunteer in the pantry
- Organization: BACKPACK SOCIETY
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Food Pickup
- Organization: FOOD CONNECT COLORADO
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Community Dinner Service
- Organization: BREAK BREAD
- Dates: Nov 7 to Feb 5
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Bilingual Assistant
- Organization: SECOR
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Cook a meal for a Neighbor in Need in the Castle Rock, CO area
- Organization: Lasagna Love
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This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 101 metros.