D'Andre

D'Andre and his wife both work full time. He was recently laid off, but finds landscaping jobs to keep him busy while he looks for steady employment. When she's not at work, his wife is going to school for medical transcription. In the mean time, they have six kids to feed. Six friendly, polite, outgoing kids who are more than willing to share a smile or joke with listening ears. D'Andre and his wife visit a local church pantry for food boxes and are extremely enthusiastic about the support of the pantry and the church staff. What would they do without this support? They're not quite sure.

Leslie

In 1999, Leslie was acting as caretaker for her mother and was having a tough time making ends meet. She started visiting a local food pantry and senior center and hasn't stopped since. Her SSI and food stamps help, but without the food boxes she picks up a couple times per month, she wouldn't get fresh produce and healthy items offered at the pantry. Leslie values this home away from home more than words can express and spends much of her time volunteering and giving back to the people who help her so much.

Denver Magazine Faces of Hunger Photo Contest

In an effort to raise awareness about the reality of hunger in our community, we've joined forces with Denver Magazine, Channel 2 The Deuce and FOX 31 for the Faces of Hunger Photo Contest. There are hundreds of thousands of people living in our own backyard who are struggling to put food on the table. It could be your neighbor, your hair dresser, your child's bus driver, your class mate.

Amateur and professional photographers are invited to take photos of a hungry Coloradoan and submit their photos and application to FBR for judging. Mayor Hickenlooper's office, FOX 31's Natalie Tysdal, FBR's Kevin Seggelke, professional photographer, Greg Cradick and Denver Magazine's Michael Ledwitz will judge the entries and winners will be featured in both Denver Magazine and on FOX & The Deuce's morning shows. Top entries will be displayed at a gallery event, open to the public, on September 2, 2009 at Fat Tail Art Gallery.

Visit http://www.foodbankrockies.org/ for the application. We hope to see your photos of faces of hunger very soon.

Robert

On a mild week day morning in April, Robert took his place in a line that stretched a city block. This line is worth waiting in for all these folks because it means a meal. Even if it's the only one they get that day. Robert was in prison for years and when he was released he found himself with no one. And no place to go. With no identification, it was impossible to find employment. Fortunately, he found a number of organizations who were more than willing to lend a helping hand. They helped him get on his feet, gave him a place to rest his head, food to keep him nourished and made sure he was able to renew his barber's license.

Robert was happy to share his story. He's not proud of his past, but he is proud of where he's headed and promises that "When I get back on my feet financially, I'm definitely giving back."

Claudette

71 year old Claudette tells me that lately, it's impossible to make ends meet. For over 28 years she worked for Montgomery Ward and had to retire due to her husband's epilepsy and health issues. Until a few years ago, they managed to make ends meet without assistance. That's just not possible anymore. They're both on social security and rely on a local pantry for food - "a blessing from God," says Claudette. "We live in a small apartment. The energy costs, high cost of food, car insurance, gas...it's overwhelming. Growing old isn't for sissies. Throw in some health problems and before you know it, you're broke."

Curtis

For 10 years, Curtis worked as a Senior Program Analyst for the Denver Newspaper Agency. He made a good living and spent much of his free time volunteering with the company's ACTS Volunteer Program. For the past 2 years, Curtis has spent all his vacation days volunteering at FBR.

In October of last year Curtis was laid off. In a matter of minutes he was without income. After a couple months of unsuccessfully looking for work he called Olive at FBR and asked if he could volunteer at FBR. Curtis shows up at FBR every single morning around 8:30am, leaves mid afternoon and spends the rest of his days looking for work. "Volunteering here is how I get through my days. I was getting really depressed sitting at home looking for work and wondering what I was going to do." Curtis may not be working for a pay check right now, but he's definitely working to make a difference for countless people who are struggling to make ends meet.

2,000 Families & 5,000 Kids

This morning I witnessed a line of our neighbors that extended around a city block in East Denver. Last week, 2,000 families and more than 5,000 children signed up with Volunteers of America to receive a bag of food to get them through this holiday week. They lined up before 8:00am this morning to pick up the much needed food. VOA volunteers served coffee and hot chocolate outside as folks waited in the bitter cold. The line didn't end. And neither did the innocent faces of countless kids who were surprised to find "Santa" inside and thousands of presents waiting just for them. For many, these gifts are the first "new" item they've ever claimed as their own.

VOA has organized this enormously vital effort for over 12 years. FBR has been honored to be given the opportunity to provide the food, Safeway donates hams for each family and a generous group of Realtors donates gifts for the kids. Working together for those who don't have the resources to do so is a beautiful thing.