Below you will find a list of resources that can help families and individuals find food at food pantries, and enroll in programs like SNAP, or food stamps, that can extend buying power at grocery stores and other food retail outlets (e.g., some farmers markets, corner stores). The resources include how to access home delivered meals, the Summer Food Service Program, farmers markets and soup kitchens. Some of the listings include additional information related to employment services, health services, tax assistance and aging and disability. The information below can be accessed through websites, by telephone, or in-person at local offices. The resources included in this document are updated annually. If you have updates you would like us to include please contact foodaccess@denvergov.org.
SNAP or Food Stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
Denver Human Services (DHS) lists multiple ways to sign up for SNAP, including online, over the phone, with a paper application, by mail/fax, or in person, at one of several locations. DHS can connect you to other food resources in our community, such as free summer meals for kids, food pantries, and area farmers markets. Call 720-944-4DHS (4347) for more information. Se habla español.
- DHS has Neighborhood Resource Sites that co-locate DHS services with community partners. People can sign up for SNAP at these locations and an EBT card will be sent to them in the mail. (When signing up at a DHS site, the EBT card is provided at that time.) The Neighborhood Resource Sites are:
- Federico F. Pena Southwest Family Health Center
- 1339 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219, 303-602-0000
- St. Francis Center
- 2323 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80205, 303-297-1576
- Families Forward Resource Center
- 12000 E 47th Ave · In Small Business Loans Denver · 303-307-0718
- The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) provides statewide information about signing up for SNAP. Also addresses students and SNAP eligibility, Double Up Food Bucks, qualifying foods, documents needed to apply, frequently asked questions about EBT cards, and nutrition education. Employment and training are available through Employment First. The following organizations, also provide services to sign people up for SNAP: Hunger Free Colorado Food Resource Hotline, the 211 Resource Line, Benefits in Action, Metro Caring and Food Bank of the Rockies.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthy food, health referrals and other services free of charge to Colorado families who qualify. WIC’s goal is to keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under age 5 healthy. By filling out this online form, a WIC clinic near you will contact you soon.
WIC does not ask or keep information about visa status or citizenship. All responses are kept confidential. WIC gives you resources, knowledge and tools to help you and support your family. It’s free for moms, dads, grandparents, foster parents and all Colorado families who qualify. Whether you're pregnant, already a mom or raising a child younger than 5, you can get the right personalized support for you and your family.
Food Pantry Maps and Listings
- The 211 website has a map of food pantries that is searchable by address, city or zip. There are 127 food pantries listed in the Denver area. One can also search for other services such as housing, employment, health services, tax assistance, pregnant and new parents, mental health and addiction, childcare, and aging and disability. Through the website, individuals can create their own personalized resource page.
- Through this Food Finder map, one can input an address and search for nearby food programs and other services, including food pantries, kids meals, TEFAP sites, soup kitchens, home delivered meals, baby items, nutrition education and farmers markets. It also shows sign up locations for SNAP and WIC.
- Food Bank of the Rockies has developed a Pantry Locator. Simply enter your address, including city and zip code, to find the food pantries near you, including mobile pantries. They also have a list of food programs for children, including summer and after-school meal sites, and Totes for Hope, a food backpack program.
- View a list of Denver Metro emergency food providers in an Excel format. The list was compiled by the Denver Department of Public Health & the Environment.
Telephone Resources
- The Food Resource Hotline connects Coloradans to needed food and nutrition resources, regardless of legal status. All caller information is confidential and services are available in 150+ languages. Callers are connected to food pantries, helped to sign up for SNAP or food stamps, and referred to other food resources. Call 855-855-4626.
- This 211 emergency hotline helps direct callers to services for, among others, the elderly, the disabled, those who do not speak English, those with a personal crisis, those with limited reading skills, and those who are new to their communities. All calls are confidential. Find out about food pantries, soup kitchens, federal nutrition programs (SNAP, WIC, and others), Summer Food Service Programs, and home delivery services. Listings are updated at least once per year. Through the website, individuals can create their own personalized resource page. Call 211.
Food Delivery Services
- Benefits in Action (BIA) delivers food boxes containing non-perishable and fresh foods to those living in the Denver metro area who are unable to acquire food on their own. Use the website or call the office at 720-221-8354 to start receiving food. BIA also offers application assistance with SNAP and federal health care programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.
- Metro Caring provides food delivery services as well as on-site no-cost market shopping. Application information is provided in Spanish and Mandarin. Education classes are also offered on topics including nutrition, cooking, diabetes and Kidz in the Kitchen program for children and their families.
Many local food pantries offer food deliveries – check with a food pantry near you.
Farmers Markets
The Colorado Department of Agriculture, through its Colorado Proud program, has a searchable list of farmers markets in Denver and throughout the state. The website also contains the Farm Fresh Directory, a Produce Calendar and Recipes featuring Colorado products.