Our Village to Every Table: Sustain Village Pantry
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Village Exchange CenterHelp VEC's Village Pantry raise $77,600 to feed 230 families weekly between Nov 2025-Mar 2026.
$17,056
raised by 60 people
$77,600 goal
24 days left
2
matches
Live
New update
This Giving Tuesday
We Are Inspired By the Voices of Families
“When we arrived in Colorado, support programs were suddenly halted, and our family struggled daily. Village Exchange Center became a beacon of light, providing fresh, nutritious food every week. This consistent care has brought stability and hope when we needed it most.”
- Nematullah's Story
“With five young children and high rent, life in America is very hard. The fresh milk, eggs, and vegetables from the pantry are a lifeline for low‑income families like mine. Your support gives us hope and helps us keep going.”
- Siddiqa's Story
💙Why Giving Today Matters💙
- Every donation is matched 100% up to $20,000
- Every gift boosts our chance at extra funds from CO Gives Day’s $1M+ Incentive Fund.
- Early giving builds momentum toward our $77,600 goal
SNAP Cuts. Funding Slashed. Families in Crisis. This Is Our Emergency Response.
Village Exchange Center's (VEC) Village Pantry is a culturally responsive, market-style food pantry serving immigrants, refugees, and food-insecure families across the greater Denver metro area. Our clients reflect 42 countries of origin and are navigating compounded barriers due to immigration status, language access, and systemic inequities.
Village Pantry serves an average of 700 families (representing 2,800 individuals) each week. But this year, the need has intensified, with engagement peaking at 1,000+ families a week.
Due to federal funding claw backs, the Village Pantry lost $2.4 million in funding just as demand surged by 35% in 2025. And now, with SNAP benefits cut for thousands of residents, families are left with fewer options. For them, food access is not just urgent—it’s existential.
We’ve stretched every dollar through $1.5M in in-kind donations, the dedication of 300+ volunteers, and strategic partnerships. But to sustain pantry operations through the end of 2025 and into 2026, we need your help.
📢Our CO Gives Goal:📢
$77,600 by December 31st
With $77,600, we can ensure that VEC:
• Minimally feeds 230 families weekly from November 2025 through March 2026
• Distributes 103,500 pounds of food
• Secures 30% of our pantry's funding for the last two months of 2025 and Q1 2026
• Sustains the pantry's quality and operations during the hardest months of the year
Thanks to our efficient model, each family receives a week's worth of food at a cost of ~$20 to VEC. That's 25 pounds of healthy, culturally requested staples like rice, beans, tortillas, milk, eggs, and fresh seasonal produce. For many, it's the only reliable source of nutrition.
Your Donation in Action! |
|---|
$20 Feeds one family for 1 week
|
$100 Feeds one family for 1 month
|
$300 Feeds one family for 3 months
|
$1,000 Feeds 50 families for 1 week
|
$4,000 Feeds 50 families for 1 month
|
| $12,000 Feeds 50 families for 3 months |
💡Why Give to Village Pantry?💡
• High-impact, high-efficiency: Our cost per individual is just ~$4.50, including labor and operations.
• Culturally responsive: We serve families with dignity, honoring their traditions and needs.
• Holistic care: Pantry days are touchpoints for wraparound services through our Cultural Broker program, connecting families to WIC, Medicaid, housing, mental health, legal aid, and more.
• Scalable and ready: We’ve built a model that can expand quickly to meet rising demand.
In 2025 alone, VEC's Village Pantry has already distributed over 800,000 pounds of food to 24,000+ unique individuals, including 8,900 children. Not only is this evident of need but the trust our community places in us.
💓Your Gift Builds Stability💓
Your donation helps restore critical resources lost to federal cuts and ensures access to nutritious, culturally relevant food and integrated care. for families who face systemic exclusion. We believe everyone deserves access to nourishment, care, and community. Which is why we say: From Our Village to Every Table.