ARPA funding that helped kids and those with food insecurity

The COVID pandemic impacted our community in many ways, and thanks to American Rescue Plan Act Immediate Needs Grant funding, local organizations were able to weather some of those impacts.

Larimer County used Immediate Needs Grant Funding [ING] as a conduit to quickly get these urgently needed ARPA funds to organizations to help fund transformational programs in our community.

One of those organizations, The Early Childhood Council of Larimer County https://ecclc.org/ is a nonprofit, independent organization that strives to ensure young children in our community have good early childhood experiences. Young children were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and this organization used their funding to support several high-priority projects. 

“I appreciate you being here today to recognize the work you did with the grant --- obviously it was money well spent and how you’ve persevered through a very challenging time,” said Larimer County Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally.

A few highlights include their focus on workforce recruitment, worker retention, and childcare worker appreciation including a comprehensive early childhood Workforce Roadmap, Hosting the 2022 Early Childhood Provider Appreciation Awards, and hiring a Workforce Manager, which provides support to individuals entering and advancing in the early childhood sector and leads collaborative projects aimed at recruitment and retention.

Food insecurity and hunger increased dramatically during the pandemic. Interrupted food supply in stores, and other economic effects of the pandemic limited access to food for many in our community.

 Another ING recipient, nonprofit Vindeket Foods, https://www.vindeketfoods.org/ used their funding to buy a 20-foot refrigerated truck that expanded their fleet to three trucks. Vindeket is a non-profit that redistributes food to reduce wasted food. The funds also allowed Vindeket to repair their forklifts, too.

These refrigerated trucks allow Vindeket to pick up donated food from stores, and a variety of other suppliers that would otherwise be thrown away and end up in the landfill. The additional food donated helped many in our community experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic.

“Thank you so much for the good work you do. Food insecurity is a big deal. This is a good investment of our American Rescue Plan Act Immediate Needs Grant that we’re addressing,” said Larimer County Commissioner John Kefalas.