Just over 6% of Eagle County residents face food insecurity, according to Feeding America, a nationwide food bank nonprofit. While this number is better than the state rate of nearly 10% and the national 11.5%, organizations.
Our valley has a number of people who need help with everything, from emergency shelter to rent and utility payments to food. That need will probably continue in 2022.
The Eagle Valley Community Market food bank opened in late 2018 and saw demand grow 400% in 2020. The Community Market has locations in Edwards and Gypsum, and sets up a network of five to seven mobile market locations each week.
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EAGLE COUNTY The local food bank benefited greatly from the CARES act in 2020, and if signed into law this week, the American Rescue Plan could provide more relief.
Kelly Liken with the Eagle Valley Community Market said that while COVID-19 created devastating food insecurity for many, it also spurred the U.S. Congress to discuss the situation more than it had been in recent years.
There’s no doubt that 2020 was a peculiar year with COVID-19, stay-at-home orders, shutdowns and events being canceled, but Red Maple Catering learned during that time that food demonstrates a sense of community. Now, that community is expanding across state lines.
Red Maple Catering’s director of operations and owner, Fletcher Harrison, left, and Jason Harrison, founder and corporate executive chef, right, share a passion for the food and the business side of owning a catering company. Red Maple has expanded to Dallas and Park City, UT since the company’s inception in 2014. (Brent Bingham
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“Although we had hopes of staying open, we had been paying attention to the news from across the world and formed a contingency plan. Our valued clients were supportive, generous and demonstrated a sense of community,” said Jason Harrison, founder and corporate executive chef of Red Maple Catering. “This reminded us that more than ever, food is a way we connect,