Four Panelists Address Montezuma County Food Insecurity After Film Screening

Panelists at the Sunflower Theatre in Cortez laid out how SNAP interruptions, limited transportation and rising need are deepening food insecurity in Montezuma County. The discussion followed a screening of the documentary A Place at the Table (2012) and drew four local leaders who described immediate pressures on families and food programs.

Sharon House, a worker at the Ute Mountain Ute Social Services Center, highlighted tribal responses. “The tribe recently opened its own food pantry,” House said, adding that the center “assisted 439 people from Towaoc and other area communities this month.” House also said “it was a welcome event this month when the tribe opened the Nuchu Food Market so that people didn't have to drive a dozen miles to Cortez every time they needed groceries.”

Data presented at the panel underlined the scale of need. Alix Midgly of the Good Food Collective said “60 percent of students in Montezuma County qualify for free or reduced lunches.” The-journal reported Good Food Collective estimates that 18.2 percent of school-aged children in the county population of 26,204 experience food insecurity and that 13.6 percent of all county residents are food insecure; nearly 60 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches per those data.

Speakers also traced the short-term shock from a federal funding lapse that interrupted SNAP benefits. “County social services director Kelli Hargraves said as many as 5,000 people are receiving SNAP benefits in the county.” The-journal reported that “the pause affected 4,912 county users in Montezuma and Dolores counties” and that “Full SNAP benefits were restored to Montezuma County residents Thursday, ending nearly two weeks without aid.” Hargraves described the local response: “During the two-week lapse, the county department saw a surge in callers trying to understand what was happening.” She wrote, “On Monday, Nov. 10, alone we had 180 phone calls,” and recounted that people asked, “What if I really need the benefits?” or “What should I do, I don’t have any food in my house?” Hargraves said the disruption “forced families to make tough decisions between buying food and paying rent, utilities, car loans or medications,” and that the destabilization “creates consequences that trickle down, with potential evictions, utility shutoffs and health concerns.”

Local pantry leaders described persistent barriers. The executive director of Cortez’s Good Sam’s Food Pantry, Kirbi Foster, said many locals “can’t afford to pay the retail prices at local grocery stores.” Panelists emphasized logistics: “All agreed that transportation is a key issue. People in outlying areas, especially seniors, may find it difficult to even get to food pantries.” They added that “Transportation is also a problem for bringing items to those food banks, especially Towaoc,” and urged residents that “volunteer help is always welcome.”

Community coordination emerged as a longer-term response. Thanks to TeamUp, a United Way project, multiple groups are collaborating as the Montezuma Food Coalition; the group is renovating a pink stucco building on the southeast corner of North Beech and North Streets to serve as a hub. Laurie Hall, co-owner of The Farm Bistro and director of Southwest Farm Fresh Co-op, said, “We’re building the structural connection in one place between organizations that share the same goal, to create health in the community.”

For residents, the panel underlined both urgency and action: local food banks and the Good Samaritan Food Bank are seeking volunteers and donations, libraries will host a holiday diaper drive November 3rd through December 5th, and the League of Women Voters will host a presentation on SNAP and Health First Colorado at 10:15 AM on Saturday, November 15th with guest speaker Montezuma County Director of Social Services Kelly Hargraves. Expect continued demand on pantries and transport solutions to shape who can access assistance as the county moves to coordinate services more tightly.