DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that $3 million in Walmart settlement funds will be donated to food banks, pantries and diaper programs in the state.
Weiser announced Thursday that the Colorado Department of Justice will transfer $2.5 million in funding to partner companies to the Colorado Department of Human Services.
Approximately $2 million will go to food banks and food pantries, and $500,000 will go toward diaper programs. The remaining money will be given as a grant.
“We know that many people are turning to groceries, asking, ‘Can I afford to buy food?’ and we will use these funds to support those suffering from food insecurity. We were committed to finding a way,” Weiser said.
The money came from a settlement Mr. Weiser reached with Walmart last year over overcharging customers.
Demand for food banks continues to grow
Under the terms of the settlement, the funds will be used to support local food pantries and other programs for low-income Coloradans who rely on food and other necessities. An organization called We Don’t Waste is benefiting from this funding.
“Unfortunately, as a result of many factors, including the pandemic, demand continues to increase and we continued to feed people. Inflation is the leading cause of food insecurity and reductions in SNAP benefits. ” said We Don’t Waste founder Arlan Prebrood.
Prebrood founded We Don’t Waste 14 years ago. The organization collects food that would otherwise go to waste and gives it back to the local community.
“In the past two months, we have secured enough food for 200 million meals, resulting in approximately 50,000 tons of food being kept out of landfills and into the mouths of people who are food insecure. ,” Prebroud said.
WeCycle, an organization that provides essential baby products, will also receive part of the funding, which the director-general said will help it meet growing demand.
“Weecycle serves over 2,000 children on average each week, but the demand for our services is only increasing and we can’t keep up. So if we had more funding, , we will be able to provide more items to more children,” Morgan Seibel said.
The full amount is expected to be distributed by June 2024.