Word of Thanks for Sun Valley Kitchen

All funds raised through this campaign will support the long-term sustainability of our No-Cost Grocery Program and broader anti-hunger efforts over a multi-year period, helping ensure Sun Valley neighbors have continued access to nourishing food and community support for years to come.

A Neighborhood in Transition

Just steps from Empower Field at Mile High sits Sun Valley, one of Denver's oldest and most diverse neighborhoods. It is home to immigrant and refugee families, older adults, young children, and neighbors living on fixed or limited incomes. It is also a neighborhood in the midst of extraordinary change.

As one of Denver's largest redevelopment efforts transforms Sun Valley, hundreds of new affordable and mixed-income housing units have opened, with more still to come. By the end of 2026, the neighborhood is expected to more than double in size, growing from approximately 1,500 residents to more than 3,000 people. New neighbors are moving in every week while many longtime residents continue to navigate rising costs and food insecurity. Through it all, Sun Valley remains what it has always been: a community where people know one another, look out for one another, and do their best to make sure no one is left behind.

More Than a Food Program

For more than a decade, Sun Valley Kitchen + Community Center has been part of that story.

Twice each week, to combat food insecurity, more than 60 Sun Valley households receive three bags of groceries filled with essentials like bread, eggs, fresh produce, pantry staples, and prepared foods, plus a freshly prepared meal for every member of the household. Many of those meals are made by youth employees from the neighborhood, including young people who once stood in the grocery line with their parents and now help nourish the community that helped nourish them.

We've met older adults settling into new apartments after decades in the neighborhood. We've seen families share stories across languages and cultures while waiting in line together.

The Need Is Growing

We've also seen the need grow.

In just the past few months, we've welcomed approximately 40 new families into our No-Cost Grocery Program. And while Sun Valley is changing, many residents continue to face significant financial strain. An estimated two-thirds of households earn less than $30,000 annually, making access to healthy food and community support increasingly important. With hundreds of new affordable and mixed-income homes continuing to open, we know the need for these services will only continue to grow.

Every new set of keys handed over in Sun Valley represents both a new beginning and another neighbor who deserves to be welcomed with dignity and care.

As Sun Valley evolves, our commitment remains the same: to ensure every neighbor has access to healthy food and the support of a caring community.

The Power of Saying Yes

Your investment helps ensure that when a family walks through our doors, we can say yes. Yes to a bag of fresh produce. Yes to milk and eggs. Yes to a prepared meal to fuel a long day. Yes to the simple but powerful belief that everyone deserves access to good food and a community that cares.

Thank you for standing with the Sun Valley community.

Learn More

Food access is just one part of our mission. Beyond food access, we provide holistic health services and employment opportunities, and an emerging urban farm to grow fresh food for the neighborhood. We connect older adults, bring neighbors together through community events, and create spaces where relationships can flourish. 

To explore how we’re investing in youth, supporting holistic well-being, and creating opportunities for neighbors to connect, we invite you to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.