Background
Food Bank of the Rockies recognized the need to modernize their Food for Health program through a hybrid approach. With a $20,000 initiative, they set out to create a program specifically designed to support food-insecure individuals with diet-related diseases while serving 220 participants through improved accessibility and flexibility via digital solutions.
Challenge
The organization needed to create an accessible and flexible system that could effectively serve participants across multiple counties while accommodating diverse linguistic and cultural needs. They sought a solution that would provide consistent, reliable access to healthy food options while maintaining program integrity and ease of use.
Solution
Through a partnership with iQpay, Food Bank of the Rockies implemented a comprehensive digital purchase card system. The solution provides a $35 monthly allowance per participant, enabling access to fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables. The system includes multilingual support with cards available in Spanish, French, Somali, Arabic, and Swahili, ensuring accessibility for diverse communities.
Implementation
The program followed a strategic rollout plan beginning in January. The initial phase focused on the Denver Metro area, covering five counties, with planned expansion to Western Colorado and the Eastern Plains later in the year. The implementation carefully considered geographic constraints, explicitly excluding Wyoming and certain Colorado counties served by Food Bank of the Rockies to ensure focused and effective service delivery.
Results
Under the leadership of Jason Kingsley and Andrea Robinson, the program has successfully launched its digital transformation. The implementation of the digital card system has created a more streamlined and accessible process for both administrators and participants, with particular emphasis on serving multilingual communities and providing flexible food options.
Impact
The digital transformation has enhanced the Food Bank’s ability to serve their community through several key improvements. The program has created more consistent and reliable access to healthy food options, improved accessibility through multilingual support, and established a scalable foundation for future expansion. The digital solution has particularly benefited participants by providing flexible purchasing options and regular monthly support.