Members heard a presentation from Kim DeSilva, CEO of Community Food Share, introduced by Rotarian John Caldwell. DeSilva shared insights into the scope of hunger relief efforts locally and across the country.
Community Food Share is part of the national Feeding America network, which includes more than 200 food banks working together to address food insecurity in the United States. DeSilva explained that food insecurity differs from starvation—it reflects barriers such as high housing costs, healthcare expenses, and limited income that prevent families from reliably accessing nutritious food.
Founded in 1981 to address growing hunger in Boulder County, Community Food Share has grown dramatically, distributing over 13 million pounds of food annually across Boulder and Broomfield counties. Through partnerships with 42 local agencies, mobile pantries, and direct-service programs, the organization now provides the equivalent of more than 30,000 meals each day. Approximately 72% of the food distributed consists of nutritious items such as produce, dairy, and protein.
DeSilva also highlighted the organization’s food rescue efforts, which collect surplus food from grocery stores, farms, and distributors to prevent waste while feeding neighbors in need. Volunteers play a critical role, contributing thousands of hours each year.
Programs such as mobile pantries and senior food delivery help ensure that families, students, and older adults across the community have reliable access to healthy food. Community partnerships remain central to the organization’s mission of strengthening local food security.