• Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Login
Community Rec
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
Community Rec
No Result
View All Result
Home Community Development

Beyond Hunger Program at YMCA of Metro Denver

Taylor Brown by Taylor Brown
September 8, 2022
in Community Development, Helping Hands, In Print
0
Beyond Hunger Program
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

How the Beyond Hunger program — a response to the COVID-19 pandemic — is helping to uplift and support the Denver community.

The COVID-19 pandemic made food access harder for everyone — especially those already in need of food assistance. The YMCA of Metro Denver wanted to aid in this issue by creating the Beyond Hunger program, an organized program that helps distribute food to those in the community who need it.

“The Beyond Hunger program helps to supplement food for families in our community on a weekly basis, so those who participate and receive food bags can feel more confident they will have food available that week,” said Peter Duda, the program manager for Beyond Hunger. “With our focus on including fresh food items, participants are receiving foods they otherwise may not have access to, like fresh fruits and vegetables and meat.”

The Beyond Hunger program operates with food distribution on a weekly basis every Thursday. Duda receives the food items at the Southwest YMCA that have been ordered from community partners to be distributed that day. Volunteers arrive at the Y for the first shift — 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. — to set up tables for laying out food items, breaking down boxes and working in an assembly line to fill bags with the food items. The food bags are then ready to go.

Volunteers arrive for the second shift — from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. — for food bag distribution. Participants drive up to the YMCA front door, are greeted by Duda and volunteers, and receive one or two bags of food to bring home to their families.

The program creates a space for people in the Denver community to receive or to give back. The YMCA takes in food donations from both individuals and organizations in the community that help fill about 65 bags of food every single week.

“Our program also relies on the work of our amazing volunteers,” explained Duda. “They tell us they also benefit from the program because they’re able to meet new people and give back to their own community.” 

EXTRA

Unique Features of the Beyond Hunger Program, by Peter Duda

While all food is good food, when there is limited access to any food we strive to provide nutritious food items to our participants, as these types of foods can be even harder to access. Most food pantries provide a lot of shelf-stable food items such as canned and boxed goods. Beyond Hunger is unique because of the focus on providing fresh food items every single week.

The Beyond Hunger program is a YMCA program, which positions us to help connect our Beyond Hunger participants with other programs, services and resources that support them in other ways. This includes health programs within the YMCA such as diabetes prevention, nutrition, mental wellness and fitness programs — as well as supplies resources through our community partnerships.

There are no eligibility requirements for someone to receive food bags. We do not ask any demographic or personal questions — if you sign up and show up for a bag of food, you’ll get it no questions asked.

*Photo courtesy of YMCA of Metro Denver. 

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Tags: Beyond Hunger programcommunitycommunity recreationCOVID-19operationsSeptember/October 2022YMCA of Metro Denver
Previous Post

Impactful Change Through DEI Initiatives

Next Post

Developing Inclusive Leaders with Sulaiman Rahman of DiverseForce

Taylor Brown

Taylor Brown

Taylor Brown is the assistant editor of Community Rec Magazine. She can be reached at taylor@peakemedia.com.

Related Posts

Recovery
Programming

Getting the Most Out of Recovery in Community Rec

July 14, 2025
YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region
Cover Story

YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region: On the Cutting-Edge of Innovation

July 9, 2025
Players Health
Brand Voice

Creating Accessible and Safe Recreation Environments with Players Health

July 9, 2025
Outdoor fitness
Ask The Expert

Q&A on the City of Lima’s New Outdoor Fitness Court

July 9, 2025
Facility Design
Facility Development

Facility Design for Belonging

July 9, 2025
Pickleball
Features

Game on for Pickleball

July 9, 2025
Next Post
developing inclusive leaders

Developing Inclusive Leaders with Sulaiman Rahman of DiverseForce

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Exposure Guide + Media Kit

July/August 2025 Issue

Get Updates in your inbox

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

Contact us at info@communityrecmag.com

  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us

The Current Issue

The Latest from CO

  • Strength in Unity: How the Greater Wichita YMCA Merger Elevates Services and Savings
  • Bath Area Family YMCA Names Amy Vendt as New CEO
  • Getting the Most Out of Recovery in Community Rec
  • YMCA of Western North Carolina President and CEO Paul Vest to Retire

© 2025 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide

© 2025 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.