Urgent: Boulder County Food Pantries Brace for Shutdown Impact

URGENT UPDATE: Food pantries across Boulder County are facing an impending crisis as the federal government shutdown continues. Harvest of Hope, a vital food pantry in Boulder, reports an alarming rise in demand for food assistance, with more than 6,000 individuals served this year alone. The situation is escalating, and local organizations are calling for immediate community support.

On October 15, 2025, volunteers at Harvest of Hope noticed dwindling supplies as the pantry struggles to keep up with increasing needs. Executive Director Chad Molter expressed deep concern, stating, “The folks that we serve are facing future anxiety over not knowing what is going to happen to basic needs programs. It’s hard to watch that.”

The federal shutdown has disrupted critical food assistance programs, including the Food Emergency Assistance Program (TEFAP), which has provided approximately 240,000 pounds of food to Harvest of Hope this year. However, as the USDA remains unable to fulfill new TEFAP requests starting November 1, the pantry may face empty shelves in the coming months. Molter emphasized, “We’re downstream from a lot of things happening that we can’t control.”

Many clients rely on programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which are also threatened by cuts proposed in President Trump’s recent legislation. These changes could lead to a substantial loss of support for families in need, further exacerbating food insecurity in the area.

Organizations such as the Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) and the OUR Center are preparing for similar surges in demand. EFAA, which distributed 124 million pounds of food last year, is already witnessing an uptick in requests for assistance. Director Ellen Ross stated, “We’re obviously anticipating an increase if the government shutdown continues.”

The OUR Center in Longmont is bracing for a potential 25% increase in visitors to its community food market if the shutdown extends into November. Executive Director Marc Cowell expressed concern about the availability of food resources, noting, “We could be put in a position to make difficult decisions.”

Meanwhile, Community Food Share is also on high alert, as CEO Kim Da Silva highlighted the risk of disrupted funding for essential programs. “If the shutdown persists, food banks will become a vital resource for those relying on federal assistance,” Da Silva stated.

As the holiday season approaches, the demand for food assistance is expected to rise. Community members are urged to contribute through food donations or financial support to help sustain these essential services. Harvest of Hope allows donations to be made directly through their website at hopepantry.org.

With the clock ticking and uncertainty growing, local food pantries need immediate action from the community to prevent a larger crisis. Those interested in supporting these efforts can visit the respective websites of Harvest of Hope and EFAA at efaa.org to make a difference today.

Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops. The health and well-being of our community depend on our collective response now more than ever.