In July, the Forum covered a Nucla Town Board of Trustees meeting at which Jody Gardner, executive director of the West End Family Link, asked the Town of Nucla for financial support for the Family Link’s operations. Gardner revealed that the region is considered Colorado’s largest food desert and stressed the importance of the Family Link’s food bank services.
On Aug. 14, the Family Link announced its indefinite closure. The Forum contacted the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to learn about potential health impacts of food insecurity.
In a statement to the Forum, Paul Bishop of the CDPHE reviewed the impacts of food insecurity on health and health outcomes.
Bishop said a CDPHE report found that food insecurity is higher in Colorado’s rural communities. He also referenced data from Feeding America. In 2024, Feeding America found that 12% of households in San Miguel County experienced food insecurity, with a food insecure population of 960 people. In Montrose County, 14.2% of households experienced food insecurity, with a food insecure population of 6,200 people.
Bishop detailed health issues food insecurity can cause for various age groups. He said in children, food insecurity can cause developmental delays.
“For school-aged children, research has shown that food insecurity is associated with poorer educational outcomes and lower school attendance,” said Bishop.
Bishop said pregnant women facing food insecurity can find it difficult to meet increased nutritional needs.
“In Colorado, these challenges may be compounded in rural areas, where maternity care, prenatal care and nutritional guidance can be limited,” said Bishop.
He added that a lack of proper care can lead to an increase in low birthweight and other negative outcomes in infants.
Bishop said food insecurity is linked to a higher risk for other long-term health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. He added that a healthy diet is important to prevent these conditions as well as manage them in individuals already experiencing them.
Mental health is also impacted by food insecurity. Bishop said food insecurity can cause higher rates of depression, chronic stress and anxiety. He stressed that a “double burden” is created when people can’t access care and food, adding that the majority of rural Colorado counties are designated mental health professional shortage areas by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.
With kids returning to school and flu season coming up, the Forum inquired about how food insecurity might impact immunity.
Bishop recommended an overview from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health that explores the link between nutrition and immunity.
The overview listed a poor diet and malnutrition as factors that can depress the immune system. Other conditions linked to food insecurity such as obesity, chronic mental stress and chronic disease were also listed as immune depressing factors.
Thrive Community Health Network (formerly Tri-County Health Network) conducted a quality of life survey this year. The survey encompassed Telluride and Mountain Village and the west ends of San Miguel and Montrose counties. It found that 24.2% of participants reported having faced food insecurity. The survey noted that this number was an increase from 18.4% reported in 2024, and West End residents experienced food insecurity at a higher rate.
The Family Link is working to reopen. For those in need, resources are available throughout the community. Food Bank of the Rockies is doing occasional pop-up food pantries in the West End; the next pop-up will be on Sep. 18, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the West End Family Link Center.
The Fresh Food Hub in Norwood has a food pantry and is open on Sundays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Annex Building in Norwood. The Fresh Food Hub also provides bags of food to students in need at Norwood School.
Nucla School announced that during the 2026-27 school year, it is participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows all K-12 students to be served free breakfast and lunch at school.
