Another state win. HB25-1274 will send two measures to our ballots this fall to maintain existing funding for the Healthy School Meals for All Program to meet the growing need for school meals & secure additional funding to support nutrition staff and strengthen partnerships with local farmers!

The Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act successfully passed the Senate and the House! Our community was especially passionate about this bill, testifying in support of it to the Senate Health & Human Services committee. The bill now awaits Governor Polis's signature to become law.

The SNAP Restaurant Meals Program has officially become law in Colorado! Colorado will apply to the USDA to implement this program, allow older adults, people with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness who have SNAP benefits to purchase hot or prepared foods at participating restaurants.

Our state senator, Matthew Ball, paid us a visit at Metro Caring to hear about the issues affecting our community—and what we're doing about them! Thanks, Senator Ball for taking time to learn about our work.

The SNAP Restaurant Meals Program bill passed and became law in Colorado! This expands SNAP benefits so people who are experiencing housing instability, older adults, and disabled people can use SNAP dollars to get hot meals, not just cold grocery items.

Congress is proposing unprecedented cuts to SNAP that would slash benefits, expand harsh work requirements, and shift costs to states like Colorado—threatening food security for hundreds of thousands of Coloradans. Urge Congress to reject these devastating cuts and protect SNAP now!

"As a child, I benefited from free and reduced meals growing up in Colorado. They were a lifeline to me and continue to be for countless other kids whose parents grow the very food that nourishes communities across the state." - Brizai Gomez Cortes, Lead Organizer buff.ly/0zIASlX

"Healthy School Meals for All is more than a policy — it’s a promise to every child that they matter, that they’re seen, and that they won’t be left behind simply because their family is struggling." Thái Nguyễn. This bill is our chance to make sure that no child has to learn on an empty stomach.

House Bill 25-1274 passed out of the Senate Finance Committee and is headed to Appropriations. KKTV CBS 11 just did a piece on this important bill. Check it out: buff.ly/lJLaeU1 #COLeg #COPolitics

The Restaurant Meals Program bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee! The bill is headed to the full Senate floor this week.

Healthy School Meals for All is a successful program that keeps our kids fed. Let's give voters the chance to fully fund it. This bill, which would add initiatives to our ballot, is being heard by the House this week. Email your Rep to let them know how important it is! buff.ly/tRPohFT

First generation farmer, advocate and CEO of Hearty Provisions, Roberto Meza was in the Boulder Daily Camera making it clear that Healthy School Meals for All and HB 25-1274 doesn't just help kids. It also boosts our local economies. Read: buff.ly/yxtSzud

Kids deserve healthy foods! We need your help to protect Healthy School Meals for All. This program is at risk due to a major budget shortfall—but HB25-1274 offers a sustainable funding solution through two proposed 2025 ballot measures. Email your legislators now! buff.ly/3ey47A3

Local educator at Denver South High School, Pablo Rivera, is speaking out in support of House Bill 25-1274: “This legislation would make sure this program is fully funded to keep kids fed."

"Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program has been shown to save families about $1,300 per year per child." Colorado House Bill 25-1274 would ensure long-term stability and full funding of this program. 👏👏👏

Wondering about the current status of all the bills we're supporting? Find out here! buff.ly/hPxRjZu #COLeg #COPolitics

SB25-048 The Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act passed the Health & Human Services Committee last week! We were proud to be there with our community leaders who testified in support. Next step: Senate Appropriations Committee #COPolitics #COLeg

"...My diabetes is genetic. This is one of the scariest parts of it because I have three kids and five grandkids. I want my children to be able to take as many precautions to avoid getting what their mom has. But what can they do if their insurance doesn’t cover it? This bill would help." - Roberta

"I have been a Type 1 Diabetic for 49 years this month. This disease affects all races, demographics and generations. An early diagnosis can be helpful only if an individual is given the tools to manage their new condition." -Jocelyn

"Living with this disease is not easy. Even when you have all the medication you need, even when you’re a healthy weight, even when you follow all the guidance, it’s still a crab shoot. That’s why I’m so passionate about preventing this disease. This bill would help us prevent diabetes." - Eric

Our Lead Organizer, Brizai, joined our partners @hungerfree.bsky.social to testify in support of Healthy School Meals for All last week. We need to fully fund this successful program that provides 60,000+ meals to our kids every day.

Community leaders from our Diabetes Among Friends program are at the Capitol today testifying in support of SB25-048 to require private insurance companies to cover pre-diabetes treatment!

Our Lead Organizer, Brizai, testified to the House Education Committee last week in support of Healthy School Meals for All. "At Metro Caring, we see families forced to choose between rent, healthcare, and food... HB25-1274 would allow voters to approve additional funding to keep kids fed."

We're adding HB25-1274 Healthy School Meals for All Program to our legislative agenda. In 2022, Coloradans voted to make breakfast and lunch free for all students regardless of family income. This bill would allow voters a chance to approve fully funding and implementing this successful program.

The Healthy School Meals for All program is an investment in the health of our kids & our local economies! Read our full press statement here: bit.ly/AdvocatesUrgeSupportforHSMABill Spanish: bit.ly/DefensoresApoyoComidasEscolaresSaludablesparaTodos #KeepKidsFed

Denver7 aired a great explainer on the latest update for Healthy School Meals for All. Watch the clip and read the full article below to learn more: #keepkidsfed www.denver7.com/news/local-n...

Legislative win! HB25-1002 has passed the Colorado House and Senate. If signed into law by @govofco.bsky.social, this bill will require every healthcare plan to cover more care for mental health and substance abuse disorders, overall helping Coloradans live healthier lives! #COLeg #COPolitics

The Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act will be heard this Thursday by the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. Check out who is on the committee and give them a call or email to encourage them to vote yes on making it easier for Coloradans to get healthcare! https://buff.ly/4kdibzz

La ley del programa de comidas en restaurante fue introducida oficialmente al senado de Colorado la semana pasada. Esto ayudaría a las personas que tienen dificultades para cocinar y preparar comidas. #COLeg #COPolitics

The Restaurant Meals Program bill was officially introduced to the Colorado Senate last week. This bill would help certain people facing challenges around cooking and preparing meals to use their SNAP benefits at local restaurants.

We’re at the Capitol today with @acluofcolorado.bsky.social and shared stories with Senator Matt Ball about how the proposed “Show Me Your Papers” bill would embed ICE in our communities and tear our families apart. He said he’s in complete opposition of this dangerous bill! #copolitics

We're supporting HB25-1032 Improving Infrastructure to Reduce Homelessness led by @cocoalition.bsky.social to re-establish a homelessness council in the governor’s office, direct fees from real estate filings to support affordable housing and homelessness initiatives & more to reduce homelessness.

We're supporting SB25-048 Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act to make it easier to get treatment for obesity and diabetes by requiring private health insurance to cover treatment, education and prevention programs, medical nutrition services, certain surgeries, and anti-obesity medications.

This #COLeg session, we're supporting HB25-1002 Medical Necessity Determination Insurance Coverage, which would require every healthcare plan to cover preventative care, screenings, and treatments for behavioral and mental health and substance use disorders.

We're supporting the Restaurant Meals Program, led by @endhungerco.bsky.social. This bill aims to expand food access and boost local businesses by allowing specific SNAP recipients—older adults, people with disabilities, and those experiencing housing instability—to use SNAP at select restaurants.

We determine our legislative priorities with our community. As a group, we discussed 10 bills that directly impact hunger and its root causes. Community leaders voted to determine four bills that were most important for us to endorse, and our Board of Directors approved.

During the #COLeg session this year, we could improve healthcare, SNAP benefits, and programs to reduce homelessness. All to end hunger at its root. Explore the bills we're endorsing and advocating for this season!

One of our priority bills this session is HB25-1032 which aims to improve statewide infrastructure with the goal to reduce homelessness. This bill will help Colorado set up a statewide strategy for homelessness resolution. #coleg

Tonight we gathered with leaders in our community to discuss several bills being introduced to the state legislature that address root causes of hunger. Community voted on which bills were the most important and narrowed them down to 4 that we plan to endorse and organize around this season. #coleg

Hi! We're Metro Caring, a Denver anti-hunger organization that's working with our community to meet people’s immediate need for nutritious, culturally relevant food while building a movement to end hunger at its root causes. Learn more about our work! metrocaring.org

Hunger is a policy choice. To prevent it, we must invest in policies that guarantee affordable housing, healthcare, a social safety net, and thriving wages. We'll be posting here about the policies we're advocating for this legislative session. Follow along to take action! #COLeg #COPolitics