Winter is Coming; Where Can I Get Low-Cost Food?
By: Members of the Routt County Food Security Watchdogs

Who Are Routt County Food Security Watchdogs
& What Do They Do?

Representatives from LiftUp of Routt County, Routt County Department of Human Services, Routt County United Way, The Health Partnership, Routt County Council on Aging, Heart of Steamboat Methodist Church, Routt County Public Health, Northwest Colorado Health, Integrated Community and Yampa Valley Community Foundation come together every other month to discuss how to solve food security gaps in Routt County and work to communicate low-cost food options to our community.

The Watchdogs welcome community members to help us achieve our 2024 goals targeting the reduction of food insecurity in Routt County (email director@liftuprc.org for more info). Click here for a list of agencies that provide Free or Reduced Cost Food Available this Winter in Routt County.

Tips for Stretching Your Food Dollars

• Frozen fruits and vegetables are often just as healthy as fresh and cost less.

• Plan meals, write a list of the foods that you will need and stick to the list when grocery shopping.

• Get creative with foods you already have in the house, like freezing overripe bananas to use later in banana bread or smoothies.

• Purchase foods that are sold in bulk as they can be cheaper than packaged foods.

• Use coupons, flyers and sales when you shop, and check the clearance section.

• Look at price labels to see the unit price per item and find the lowest unit price per ounce or pound when comparing the same items by different brands.

• Purchase foods that are not brand name.

• Use plant-based proteins like beans or tofu instead of meat, or use half the meat in a recipe and substitute plant-based proteins for the rest.

This past weekend, Brian and I had the privilege of taking five of our youth to Quest, the annual Colorado Episcopal Youth fall retreat for grades 6–12. It was a powerful reminder of the depth, kindness, and maturity these young people bring into our lives and a deeply life-giving time for all of us.

Quest is remarkable in that it’s entirely designed and led by the Youth Council for the Episcopal Church in Colorado (YOCO). These young leaders dedicate months to carefully craft an experience where every person feels seen, valued, and supported. Their speeches, available on the Episcopal Church in Colorado’s Facebook page, were truly moving and a testament to their passion and skill.

For me, this weekend was also a joyful chance to reconnect with other youth leaders from around the state. It was such a gift to be together as a larger group, worshiping, eating, and simply being in each other’s company. The youth shared with us what makes being Episcopal unique to them, each offering their perspectives with thoughtfulness and grace. Throughout the retreat, I witnessed such incredible inclusivity, especially in how older high schoolers welcomed middle schoolers and made intentional space for neurodivergent youth to feel fully a part of the community.

One memorable moment was after a large game of capture the flag. A neurodivergent youth from our group had been given the job of sounding the alarm when the opposing team approached, and, afterward, other kids came up to thank him, saying, “We couldn’t have won without your help.” This genuine expression of gratitude was beautiful to witness. It spoke to how today’s youth are showing up for each other, building a community where everyone is not just accepted but celebrated for who they are.

This weekend was more than just a retreat; it was a vision of the church as a vibrant, loving community. I hope you feel as inspired by these young people as we do—they have so much to offer us all.

Some photos from our weekend below!

Nicole Hickory, Children's Ministry Coordinator