Metro Caring

Graphic showing the bill passed the house, senate, and signed by governor to become law. It reads: HB25-1274 Healthy School Meals for All Program. In 2022, Colorado voters approved a ballot proposal to make breakfast and lunch free for all students, providing more than 60,000 free meals to students each day. This bill will allow voters a chance to approve fully funding and implementing this successful program.

Another state win. HB25-1274 will send two measures to our ballots this fall to maintain existing funding for the Healthy School Meals for All Program to meet the growing need for school meals & secure additional funding to support nutrition staff and strengthen partnerships with local farmers!

The Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act successfully passed the Senate and the House! Our community was especially passionate about this bill, testifying in support of it to the Senate Health & Human Services committee. The bill now awaits Governor Polis's signature to become law.

The SNAP Restaurant Meals Program has officially become law in Colorado! Colorado will apply to the USDA to implement this program, allow older adults, people with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness who have SNAP benefits to purchase hot or prepared foods at participating restaurants.

Senator Matt Ball takes a photo with 12 women from our Cocina y nutricion cooking class.

Our state senator, Matthew Ball, paid us a visit at Metro Caring to hear about the issues affecting our community—and what we're doing about them! Thanks, Senator Ball for taking time to learn about our work.

Person in a wheelchair gets a bowl of salad from the table. The graphic reads: "SB25-169 Lets certain SNAP recipients--—older adults, people with disabilities, and those experiencing housing instability—use their benefits to buy prepared meals from restaurants. This would help people who face challenges around cooking and preparing meals." Graphic shows the bill passed the Senate and House and was signed by the governor to become law.

The SNAP Restaurant Meals Program bill passed and became law in Colorado! This expands SNAP benefits so people who are experiencing housing instability, older adults, and disabled people can use SNAP dollars to get hot meals, not just cold grocery items.

Congress is proposing unprecedented cuts to SNAP that would slash benefits, expand harsh work requirements, and shift costs to states like Colorado—threatening food security for hundreds of thousands of Coloradans. Urge Congress to reject these devastating cuts and protect SNAP now!

Tell your Senator to vote yes for this important bill! buff.ly/vGHSP99

Letter: Programs to Feed Kids Are Worth the Investment "Healthy School Meals for All and the local food purchasing program is making a positive difference for students, our schools and our communities, however, without sustained funding, we risk losing…

"As a child, I benefited from free and reduced meals growing up in Colorado. They were a lifeline to me and continue to be for countless other kids whose parents grow the very food that nourishes communities across the state." - Brizai Gomez Cortes, Lead Organizer buff.ly/0zIASlX

With less than two weeks left in the session, we need YOUR help to pass this bill and create a path to fully fund Healthy School Meals for All. Send and email to your Senator TODAY urging them to support Healthy School Meals for All: bit.ly/keepkidsfed

Graphic with children smiling wide. It reads: "Growing up, if you didn't have lunch money, you didn't eat. I remember the hunger, the shame, and trying to hide an empty stomach while pretending everything was fine. Healthy School Meals for All is more than a policy--it's a promise to every child that they matter, that they're seen, and that they won't be left behind simply because their family is struggling. For some kids, this is the only real meal they'll get all day. I am urging legislators to make sure that no child has to learn on an empty stomach." - Thái Nguyễn, Executive Director, Kaizen

"Healthy School Meals for All is more than a policy — it’s a promise to every child that they matter, that they’re seen, and that they won’t be left behind simply because their family is struggling." Thái Nguyễn. This bill is our chance to make sure that no child has to learn on an empty stomach.

Graphic with young girl eating lunch at school. It reads: HB 25-2174 to fund Healthy School Meals for All passed out of the Senate Finance Committee! KKTV11 just did a piece on the bill -- check it out. The bill will now move to the Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 25-1274 passed out of the Senate Finance Committee and is headed to Appropriations. KKTV CBS 11 just did a piece on this important bill. Check it out: buff.ly/lJLaeU1 #COLeg #COPolitics

The Restaurant Meals Program bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee! The bill is headed to the full Senate floor this week.

Healthy School Meals for All is a successful program that keeps our kids fed. Let's give voters the chance to fully fund it. This bill, which would add initiatives to our ballot, is being heard by the House this week. Email your Rep to let them know how important it is! buff.ly/tRPohFT

First generation farmer, advocate and CEO of Hearty Provisions, Roberto Meza was in the Boulder Daily Camera making it clear that Healthy School Meals for All and HB 25-1274 doesn't just help kids. It also boosts our local economies. Read: buff.ly/yxtSzud

Kids deserve healthy foods! We need your help to protect Healthy School Meals for All. This program is at risk due to a major budget shortfall—but HB25-1274 offers a sustainable funding solution through two proposed 2025 ballot measures. Email your legislators now! buff.ly/3ey47A3

Local educator at Denver South High School, Pablo Rivera, is speaking out in support of House Bill 25-1274: “This legislation would make sure this program is fully funded to keep kids fed."

GUEST OPINION: Healthy school meals Is a smart investment While our state is facing some tough decisions this year as it relates to our budget, families in our area are dealing with their struggles. About 37% of Colorado households

"Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program has been shown to save families about $1,300 per year per child." Colorado House Bill 25-1274 would ensure long-term stability and full funding of this program. 👏👏👏

Metro Caring's 2025 Legislative Priorities - Metro Caring This legislative session, we could improve healthcare, SNAP benefits, and programs to reduce homelessness. All to end hunger at its root.

Wondering about the current status of all the bills we're supporting? Find out here! buff.ly/hPxRjZu #COLeg #COPolitics

Jocelyn, Roberta, and Eric stand in the Capitol posing for a photo after giving testimony.

Jocelyn reads her testimony in the Old Supreme Court room for the Health & Human Services Committee. Eric and Roberta sit with her at the table.

Metro Caring staff and community members stand on the staircase inside the Capitol.

SB25-048 The Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act passed the Health & Human Services Committee last week! We were proud to be there with our community leaders who testified in support. Next step: Senate Appropriations Committee #COPolitics #COLeg

Ms. Roberta poses in the Capitol with a pink binder in her arm and other arm propped against the side railing with her hand propping up her chin with a slight grin on her face.

"...My diabetes is genetic. This is one of the scariest parts of it because I have three kids and five grandkids. I want my children to be able to take as many precautions to avoid getting what their mom has. But what can they do if their insurance doesn’t cover it? This bill would help." - Roberta

Ms. Jocelyn smiles slightly at the camera standing in the Capitol building after giving testimony.

"I have been a Type 1 Diabetic for 49 years this month. This disease affects all races, demographics and generations. An early diagnosis can be helpful only if an individual is given the tools to manage their new condition." -Jocelyn

Eric holds up a poster board with pictures of his glucometer that shows a range of blood sugar numbers from 67 to 426. He's wearing a Metro Caring t-shirt in the Capitol building.

"Living with this disease is not easy. Even when you have all the medication you need, even when you’re a healthy weight, even when you follow all the guidance, it’s still a crab shoot. That’s why I’m so passionate about preventing this disease. This bill would help us prevent diabetes." - Eric

Graphic sharing a quote from Brizai: "School meals are often the most reliable source of nutrition for many children across the state. They were a lifeline to me and continue to be for countless other kids whose parents grow the very food that nourishes communities across the state. No child should go hungry when a solution is within everyone in this room's reach."

Our Lead Organizer, Brizai, joined our partners @hungerfree.bsky.social to testify in support of Healthy School Meals for All last week. We need to fully fund this successful program that provides 60,000+ meals to our kids every day.

Four people sit at a desk with microphones speaking in support of a bill in the Capitol.

Community leaders from our Diabetes Among Friends program are at the Capitol today testifying in support of SB25-048 to require private insurance companies to cover pre-diabetes treatment!

Brizai gives testimony at a table with three others speaking into the microphone at the Capitol.

Our Lead Organizer, Brizai, testified to the House Education Committee last week in support of Healthy School Meals for All. "At Metro Caring, we see families forced to choose between rent, healthcare, and food... HB25-1274 would allow voters to approve additional funding to keep kids fed."

Graphic with photo of a child holding a lunch tray and smiling at the camera. Text reads: Supporting HB25-1274 Healthy School Meals for All Program. In 2022, Colorado voters approved a ballot proposal to make breakfast and lunch free for all students, providing more than 60,000 free meals to students each day. This bill would allow voters a chance to approve fully funding and implementing this successful program.

We're adding HB25-1274 Healthy School Meals for All Program to our legislative agenda. In 2022, Coloradans voted to make breakfast and lunch free for all students regardless of family income. This bill would allow voters a chance to approve fully funding and implementing this successful program.

The Healthy School Meals for All program is an investment in the health of our kids & our local economies!

Read our full press statement here: bit.ly/AdvocatesUrgeSupportforHSMABill
Spanish: bit.ly/DefensoresApoyoComidasEscolaresSaludablesparaTodos

#KeepKidsFed

Colorado lawmakers consider asking voters to approve more funding for free school lunch program State lawmakers are considering sending voters a ballot measure this fall to provide more funding for a program that offers free meals to every Colorado student.

Denver7 aired a great explainer on the latest update for Healthy School Meals for All.

Watch the clip and read the full article below to learn more:
#keepkidsfed
www.denver7.com/news/local-n...

Graphic with bill name (Medical Necessity Determination Insurance Coverage) with arrows that show the bill passed the House, passed the Senate, and is now actively awaiting signatures.

Legislative win! HB25-1002 has passed the Colorado House and Senate. If signed into law by @govofco.bsky.social, this bill will require every healthcare plan to cover more care for mental health and substance abuse disorders, overall helping Coloradans live healthier lives! #COLeg #COPolitics

This bill will now be heard March 13. Want to speak on it? You can sign up to testify about the importance of this bill. www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2...