Why The GrowHaus' Work is Critical
In Uncertain Times, Food Insecurity Remains Pervasive
We are experiencing a food insecurity crisis where 15% of our neighbors in Denver say they do not have enough money for food, according to new data from DDPHE. Parents are carrying the burden of having to cut the size of their children’s meals. The challenge of access to healthy food leads to poor physical health outcomes, mental health challenges, and hinders a child's ability to learn in school. Most consequential, children in The GrowHaus' home community of Globeville in North Denver have a life expectancy of 11 years less than more affluent children only a few miles away.
Amidst these challenges, The GrowHaus’ 16-person team, made up primarily of Latina women from the communities served, is supporting thousands of people every week and proving that community-led solutions alleviate food insecurity and build community wealth and well-being.
New Food Access Sites Expand Options for Healthy and Culturally Meaningful Foods
The GrowHaus food access team, made up of eight community members, is facing Denver’s food insecurity crisis head-on and reaching nearly 6,000 people every month. Originally serving the Latino immigrant communities of Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea, The GrowHaus is sharing its expertise to expand fresh food access and is now managing 26 food access sites across the City of Denver via partnerships with Denver Public Libraries, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Archway Communities, and community health care clinics.
$50 covers the cost of a fresh food box for a household of four
Food Education Sparks Leadership Journeys
Study after study underscores the importance of food education, and The GrowHaus has seen first-hand the effectiveness of a neighbor-to-neighbor model. The GrowHaus’ Promotora (Community Health Specialist) team and Education Team lead year-round cooking classes and home visits, where children and adults come together to build healthy habits and community connections by celebrating traditional flavors and discovering ways to prepare unfamiliar fruits and vegetables.
During youth programs, cooking and gardening workshops are just the beginning of a child’s leadership journey. Children and teens learn life skills, like following recipes and working as a team, and explore their power as emerging community leaders during field trips and independent passion projects.
$200 covers the materials for a multigenerational cooking class
Career Pathways for Our Neighbors
To address the root causes of food insecurity and to provide wealth-building opportunities, The GrowHaus hires and invests in the career pathways of our community members. The GrowHaus hires teens and adults to lead community programming where they prioritize skill development, personal growth, and leadership development.
$500 supports a team member in attending a professional development training
This Work is Possible Because of Our Community of Engaged Supporters
Join The GrowHaus' community of supporters in confronting Denver's food insecurity challenge head-on by making your Colorado Gives Day Gift today!
The GrowHaus' closest friends know the importance of our work and have agreed to collectively give an additional $30,000 to The GrowHaus when 300 people make their Colorado Gives Day donation.
Your gift today will create immediate impact!
Gifts of $250 or more not only deliver health and hope but also come with a 25% Colorado Enterprise Zone income tax credit.
An Inner Source of Strength
By Angelo Gallo, Assistant Manager of Food Access
"My name is Angelo Gallo, and my story is not just about professional growth but also about personal transformation."
My journey with food access is colored by memories from my home country, Venezuela. I witnessed families receiving food boxes with expired and substandard items. I've seen people in desperate situations with no choice but to eat expired food. My memories from Venezuela are my inspiration.
"I know the feeling of having someone look out for you when you miss food from your home country. You feel seen."
Our mission is to cultivate community-driven food justice through education and food access.
Everyone deserves a healthy meal. Yet, in many communities there are extensive barriers to fresh food access. The GrowHaus primarily serves the Globeville and Elyria Swansea (GES) neighborhoods as well as other neighborhoods experiencing food insecurity through partnerships with Denver Public Library and Boys and Girls Clubs.
Since 2009, The GrowHaus has partnered with community members to offer fresh food access and ongoing health and wellness programming to ensure our community has the tools and resources to live nourished lives. We run various programs for kids, adults, and families to learn about growing and cooking food, as well as overall wellness.
We strive to be a community-driven organization, meaning that our goal is to have all programs led and implemented by members of our community or others from similar neighborhoods. We are successful when the youth, families, and communities we work with are empowered to feed, nourish and strengthen themselves and each other.
Organization name
The GrowHaus
2009
Tax id (EIN)
20-3533527
Category
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition
Organization Size
Large Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Enterprise Zone Credit
Address
3840 York Street Suite 210Denver County, CO, US