DENVER (CBS4) – A group of government and nonprofit organizations across Colorado are coming together for some of Colorado’s most vulnerable.

Wednesday the Colorado Health Foundation announced what they called the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one in six Colorado kids are hungry, and overall about one in 10 Coloradans struggle with having the necessary money to buy needed food.

In 2016, government assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — also known as SNAP — and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children — known as WIC — poured $1.3 billion in economic development into the Colorado economy.

But only six in 10 of those eligible participated in these programs, leaving $455 million of available federal money on the table.

One-in-ten Coloradans currently struggles with hunger or faces food insecurity. (Pixabay)

DENVER — A new coalition - including nonprofits, health care providers, state agencies, schools and more - has launched a new campaign aimed at ending hunger in Colorado. 

Ki'i Powell, director of the Office of Economic Security at the Colorado Department of Human Services, said currently, 1-in-6 children and one-tenth of Colorado's seniors don't know where their next meal will come from. Powell said the coalition's new report, "The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger," is just the first step in addressing what she sees as a solvable problem.

"We feel that Colorado is up to the challenge of ending hunger in our state,” Powell said; “and through the efforts of collaboration - and a plan - can effectively do this."

Broad coalition of diverse groups joins forces to ensure no Coloradan goes without the food they need

(Jan. 17, Denver) – A large and broad collection of Colorado leaders, including hunger and nutrition nonprofits, health care providers, state agencies, local county governments, schools, community based organizations, and individuals experiencing hunger launched an effort today aimed at ending hunger across the state.

The coalition launched their work with a report, The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, which lays out a multi-year effort including clear and actionable strategies to end hunger for all Coloradans by building on past successes and employing innovations in local communities statewide.

“This is, quite simply, an imperative for our state. To have a single Coloradan – particularly our kids and our seniors – go to bed hungry or worry about how they will eat the next day is unacceptable,” said Governor John Hickenlooper. “Letting our kids go hungry. Making our seniors chose between medicine and food. This is not who we are.”