Food Assistance (SNAP) and Free Food Resources

There is a federal court case underway to determine whether SNAP benefits must be restored. A federal court ordered the Trump administration to restore full SNAP benefits, and some Colorado SNAP customers began receiving November benefits on Nov. 7. However, the Trump Administration has appealed the court order and the Supreme Court ordered SNAP to pause once again. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide an update as soon as the legal process is concluded.

We are informed that Denver food pantries have fresh food available. If you need immediate food assistance, the following referral services can direct you to your closest food pantries:  

• Food Bank of the Rockies - pantry finder

• Colorado 211 - Call 2-1-1 or 1-866-760-6489, or visit 211colorado.org 

• Hunger Free Colorado Hotline 

• MyFriendBen - government benefits and tax credits screening tool

Important to know:

• Households should continue to submit SNAP applications and redetermination forms so their benefits are processed smoothly when SNAP funding is restored.
• Customers can continue to spend their remaining October SNAP balance at eligible retailers in November.
• After the shutdown ends, customers will retroactively receive benefits that were frozen in November. 
• Medicaid benefits will not be impacted by the shutdown at this time.
• Updates will be posted on this page and our social media channels as they become available.

If you can help:

• Monetary donations to Food Bank of the Rockies make a great impact. They have wholesale purchasing power and distribute food to hundreds of local pantries.
• Monetary donations to the Denver Foundation’s Critical Needs Fund are distributed to neighborhood food pantries and food assistance nonprofits outside of the Food Bank of the Rockies network.
• Additionally, food donations can be dropped off at certain Denver recreation centers. (Dry, nonperishable goods only.) Volunteer opportunities are also available. Visit the Denver Food Resources page for more information on receiving support or helping out:

Denver Food Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will clients be able to use existing SNAP benefits during November?

A: Yes, SNAP retailers will continue to accept SNAP benefits during November.

Q: Will retailers continue to accept EBT?

A: Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) communicated to CDHS on 10/17 that there are no changes to retailers’ ability to accept SNAP benefits during the shutdown. There is no current interruption to reimbursement at this time.

Q: How long will the shutdown last?

A: There is no set timeframe; it depends entirely on when Congress and the White House reach a funding agreement.

Q: If/when the Government reopens, will SNAP recipients receive any benefits they may have missed during the shutdown?

A: Yes, the federal government has stated that households shall receive retroactive benefits once the suspension is lifted upon the availability of federal funding.

Q: Does this also impact USDA tribal commodities?

A: This hold does not have an impact to USDA Tribal Commodities. This is a separate program.

Learn more (Colorado Department of Human Services)

Apply for SNAP online through the Colorado PEAK website. Se ofrece servicio en español.

Please note: this site is maintained by the State of Colorado. When you click the link, you will exit the City and County of Denver webpage.

Apply for SNAP

Apply for SNAP in person at one of our locations.

Visit Denver Human Services in person

Download and fill out a paper application (also available in Spanish, large-print English, and large-print Spanish).

Then, print it out, and mail, fax or return in person at one of our locations.

Mailing Address

Mail your completed application to:

Denver Human Services
1200 Federal Blvd.
Denver, CO 80204

Fax

Fax your completed application to: (720) 944-3094

Hunger Free Colorado

Need help applying for SNAP? The Hunger Free Colorado Food Resource Hotline can help. The hotline:

• Helps you navigate federal and charitable food programs
• Screens for all federal nutrition assistance programs
• Assists with applying for SNAP, also known as food stamps, by phone
• Provides helpful and thorough referrals based on each caller’s needs

Call the hotline at 855-855-4626 (open Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Need transportation, or an application dropped off?

Our document runner program is no longer in service. For assistance, contact:

• Mile High United Way: Call 211 or 866-760-6489, or visit Colorado 2-1-1 to find resources available in your area, including transportation services.
• Denver Connector (available in West Denver, Montbello, and Globeville/Elyria-Swansea): this free "microtransit" service provides ride shares on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Average wait time is 30 minutes. Visit the Denver Connector webpage to download the app, or call (720) 905-4438 to request rides in English and Spanish.

Call us

We can help answer any questions you have about applying for SNAP. We can also give updates on your application. Call us at (720) 944-4DHS (4347). Se habla español.

Carniceria Compare
2796 S. Federal Boulevard
Denver, CO

All DPS students have access to free, healthy, nutritious school meals at breakfast and lunch, thanks to the Healthy School Meals for All program approved by Colorado voters.

It is important for families to complete the You Benefit! form on MySchoolApps. This will help make sure DPS gets full access to available federal funding. You may qualify for discounted school fees, class materials, bus passes, utilities support and more! All household income information provided through this form is strictly confidential, and protected by law. Only one form is required for all children in the household.

Learn More from Denver Public Schools

Denver youth ages 3-18 can get FREE after-school meals at many Denver Parks and Recreation locations. No ID or registration required, just show up and eat. And yes, you can bring a friend, or two, or three, or more!

For hours and locations, visit the Tasty Food program page.

The Denver Food Rescue has a list of free / no cost grocery programs. These are places where you can get fresh groceries for free. You don't need to bring ID or share personal information, either. All are welcome:

Public No Cost Grocery Programs in Denver

The next time you need to pick up a new or replacement EBT card, use our EBT Card E-Lockers at the DHS Welcome Center!

You can use these safe lockers all hours of the day, even before or after normal operating hours. By using the e-lockers, you can receive your EBT card more quickly than you would by mail. The EBT card will be loaded into these locker the day after a request is made, while mailing can take anywhere from three to five days.

With the new e-lockers, there is no need to engage with DHS staff. If any problems should arise, DHS staff are eager to help users learn how to use the e-lockers and resolve any issues.

For additional questions or to get started using the e-lockers, call 720-944-4DHS (4347).

The first step in ensuring your children have enough healthy food to eat is to apply for food assistance (SNAP).

After enrolling, we can introduce you to community partners and resources to show you how to stretch your food dollars. They can also help you discover how to prepare quick and healthy meals and snacks for the family.

Community partner Cooking Matters helps people shop smarter, use nutrition information to make healthier choices, and cook delicious and affordable kid-approved meals.

The Tasty Food for Denver's Kids program hosted by the Office of Children's Affairs provides free meals to Denver youths.

Hunger Free Colorado serves the City and County of Denver and the entire state of Colorado. You can apply for food assistance through its services and connect with food pantries and free meal sites in your area. HFC's operators can also give you directions, share food availability, help you find holiday mealtimes, and other beneficial information about those pantries and sites. Contact the food resource hotline at (720) 382-2920 for Denver and (855) 855-4626 statewide for more information.

Nourish Colorado's Double Up Food Bucks Colorado helps SNAP recipients save money at community grocery stores, farmer's markets, and farm stands. The program also posts easy, step-by-step, family-friendly cooking videos on their YouTube channel.

All Denver Public Schools (DPS) students have access to free, healthy, nutritious school meals at breakfast and lunch, thanks to the Healthy School Meals for All program approved by Colorado voters. It is important for families to complete the You Benefit! form on MySchoolApps. This will help make sure DPS gets full access to available federal funding. Families may qualify for discounted school fees, class materials, bus passes, utilities support and more! All household income information provided through this form is strictly confidential, and protected by law. Only one form is required for all children in the household.

In addition to food funds, SNAP recipients may also access a number of Denver’s premiere museums and cultural centers through the Explorer Pass program, which provides discount general admission to select venues for as low as $1 per person, up to 10 people.

With the Double Up Food Bucks Colorado program, SNAP users also receive a discount on the food they buy at participating locations using their SNAP EBT (electronic benefit transfer – the card that manages food assistance dollars) cards.

Children 18 and younger can access free meals during summer months thanks to the Free Summer Meals program.

The Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado Office is a trusted source for information on long-term services and support options available to older adults. Older Coloradans who need help getting access to nutritious food can call 1-844-COL-ADRC (+1 844 265-2372) for more information.

Another helpful resource is, Meals On Wheels. This well-known program delivers daily meals and provides in-home visits to home-bound seniors. For more information, call 303-294-0111.

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Access-a-Ride Grocery Delivery Services:

Access-a-Ride is RTD's ADA complementary paratransit service. The service provides a food bank and grocery delivery service from participating food bank and grocery store locations. Customers interested in having food delivered to them by Access-a-Ride must either call the food bank directly or visit the grocery store’s website in order to set up an account and place an order.

Learn more about how to make a grocery delivery using Access-a-Ride on the RTD website:

Access-a-Ride Grocery Delivery Services