Policy Alert: Federal SNAP Cuts Threaten Food Security in Eagle County

As Congress debates the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), proposed changes would have serious consequences for Colorado—and a direct impact on the families and individuals served by Eagle Valley Community Foundation (EVCF).

The House Agriculture Committee has introduced a bill that would cut $290 billion from SNAP through:
Harsher work requirements
Shifting costs to already stretched state budgets
Reducing benefit amounts
Eliminating key supportive programs like SNAP-Ed and Heat & Eat

What This Means for Our Community:

Even before these proposed cuts, local families were struggling. Through our Community Market program alone, EVCF serves over 4,000 people each week, including working families, seniors, and children who rely on food support to stay healthy and nourished. In the past year, we’ve seen a 15% increase in need—a number that would only grow if these cuts move forward.

Here’s how the proposed changes could affect Eagle County:

1. Work Requirements Could Harm Caregivers and Older Adults

New rules would require many caregivers and adults aged 55–64 to meet strict work mandates or risk losing SNAP.
➡ Locally, this could affect hundreds of low-wage workers and grandparents raising grandchildren who already rely on The Community Market to close the gap.

2. Shifting SNAP Costs to States Will Impact Local Programs

Colorado could be forced to pay hundreds of millions in SNAP costs—jeopardizing state funding for other social supports.
➡ As state dollars are stretched, local nonprofits like EVCF will feel the pressure to fill even more gaps with limited resources.

3. Cutting Future Benefit Increases Will Push Families Deeper into Poverty

Rolling back updates to the Thrifty Food Plan would cut benefits by $380 million over 10 years in Colorado.
➡ The average SNAP benefit in Colorado is just $6.11/day—already not enough. Our Community Market team sees families regularly forced to choose between food and rent.

4. Eliminating SNAP-Ed Would Undermine Health Education

The SNAP-Ed program teaches families how to stretch their food budget and make nutritious choices. In 2023, it helped over 21,000 Coloradans—including many in rural communities like ours.
➡ Without it, the burden of nutrition education falls even more heavily on community providers like The Community Market and MIRA.

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What We’re Doing:

At EVCF, we remain committed to closing the hunger gap in Eagle County—no matter the national policy environment. With your support, we will continue:

✅ Distributing fresh, culturally relevant groceries across 2 markets and mobile locations
✅ Offering hands-on nutrition education in partnership with MIRA

What You Can Do:

• Stay informed and follow our updates on policy changes
• Support our work—your donation helps us respond quickly when families lose critical benefits
• Raise your voice—tell lawmakers SNAP is essential

Together, we are a safety net when systems fall short. Thank you for standing with us.