LiveWell Garfield County gets produce to needy, seniors

PRESS RELEASE
July 18, 2014

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Gardeners, farmers, and producers who find they have too much produce may share the bounty of the county by donating whole, unprocessed produce to LIFT-UP, and the Garfield County Senior Nutrition Program. With each growing season, precious goods are left in fields, gardens, and orchards, and this produce can offer tasty nutritional benefits to those affected by poverty and our senior citizens living on limited incomes.

Beginning the week of July 21, farmers markets in Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, New Castle and Rifle will collect surplus produce from the public to benefit LIFT-UP and the Senior Nutrition Program, in partnership with LiveWell Garfield County. Volunteers will collect produce donations of all sizes at “market manager’s” booths at select locations, and the food will be taken directly to the closest LIFT-UP location and to the senior program kitchens.

Collections will take place weekly during market season at these locations:

  • Glenwood Springs LIFT-UP location: 1004 Grand Ave., Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Produce Market in Glenwood Springs: Grand Avenue, Rite Aid parking lot, Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (through September 9)
  • Carbondale Farmers Market: 4th Street and Main Street, Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (through mid-October)
  • New Castle Community Market: Burning Mountain Park, Thursdays from 4:30-7 p.m. (through August 28)
  • Rifle Farmers Market: Community lot at West 2nd and Railroad Avenue, Fridays from 4-8 p.m. (through September 26)

Donations will be weighed and recorded, and donors will receive a tax receipt from LIFT-UP. Thanks to the new Colorado Charitable Crop Donation Act, Colorado farmers can claim a 25% tax credit for the wholesale value of all fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat products donated to food banks.

There is an ever-growing demand for sources of nourishing food for the most vulnerable in our communities. Since January, 2014, LIFT-UP has served 16,982 clients, distributed 18,102 sacks of groceries, and served 7,600 hot meals through its Extended Table soup kitchens. The county’s Senior Nutrition Program provided 21,940 meals to 1,057 individuals in 2013.

LiveWell Garfield County, LIFT-UP, and Garfield County Senior Programs are committed to ensuring that all people have access to healthy foods, regardless of income. Please visit the market manager booth in your community to make a donation that is in either a box or a bag. For more information on LiveWell Garfield County, contact Dana Wood at 970-625-5200, ext. 8121. For LIFT-UP, contact Kimberly Loving, Executive Director, at 970-625-4496 or kloving@skybeam.com.


LiveWell Colorado is a nonprofit organization committed to reducing obesity in Colorado by promoting healthy eating and active living. In addition to educating and inspiring people to make healthy choices, LiveWell Colorado focuses on policy, environmental and lifestyle changes that remove barriers and increase access to healthy behaviors. Working in partnership with obesity prevention initiatives across the state, LiveWell Colorado aims to provide every Coloradan with access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity in the places they live, work, learn and play.