Major Milestones with our Blue Spruce Neighbors Program

Meeting the Growing Need: Blue Spruce Neighbors Program Update

Hi, I’m Aaron, Offsite Programs Manager at Community Food Share. Our Blue Spruce Neighbors Program has seen major growth lately, and I wanted to share an update.

This program has evolved significantly since its launch in 1988 (originally called Elder Share) to serve seniors (60+) in Boulder and Broomfield counties. One thing has remained constant: our commitment to delivering food directly to homebound seniors.

When I joined in January 2022, we were a two-person team serving a few hundred seniors monthly. Today, our team of four delivers over 1,000 food boxes each month. We’re proud to move **more food than ever—over a million pounds each month—**but the increasing need is a sobering reality.

Meeting the Need with Innovation

Thanks to our partnership with Feeding America and Danone, we’ve been able to make two major program improvements:

Ready-Made Meals for Seniors
Many participants told us they love the fresh produce, dairy, and pantry staples we provide but struggle to cook meals from scratch. In response, we introduced locally sourced, health-focused, ready-made meals—just heat and enjoy.

A Dedicated Delivery Van
We’ve also invested in a program-specific sprinter van to strengthen our delivery operations. With the help of volunteers, we now make over 1,000 home deliveries each month.