Weld Food Bank Works to Alleviate Hunger, TRI-102.5 Staff Volunteers Some Time [PICTURES]

Hunger is a reality for 1 in 8 Coloradoan's. According to the Weld Food Bank, it costs about $850 a month to feed a family of four, that's one-third of monthly income for those living in poverty. On Thursday, the TRI-102.5 family (most of our staff) including all the people in the office you don't hear on the radio spent the afternoon volunteering at the Weld Food Bank. It was only a small part, but if felt good knowing we were doing a little to help those in need in our area. Greeley and Weld County are not immune to great need.

Many struggle to find food to eat each day right here in our backyard.

Here in Greeley, we have the highest poverty rate in the state at 21.7%. Additionally, 36.2% of Greeley children under age 18 live in poverty. Overall in Weld County, 12% of our residents live in poverty and we have 14.6% of children under 18 living in poverty, compared with 16% of people 65 years old and over. In Weld County 9% of all families and 28% of families with a single mother have incomes below the poverty level (American community Survey, 2005).

[ Weld Food Bank ]

Weld County covers a large area and that means there is a larger number of people in need. As a community we can work together to help. Below, a photo I took on our tour of local farmers that gave over 910,000 pounds of fproduce to Weld Food Bank.