In 2020, the Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids program distributed $6.84 million in grants to fund feeding the city’s youth, an annual report released Wednesday found.

HFDK, in partnership with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, began in January 2019 after residents voted to allow a 0.08% tax increase to establish a fund for healthy food and education for Denver youth.

“Our overarching goal is to ensure that no Denver child goes hungry,” said Robert McDonald, DDPHE executive director.

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In 2020, HFDK awarded $5.96 million in grants to 25 organizations, including numerous nonprofits, eight Denver Public Schools and the Denver Public Library.

These organizations provided food or education to approximately 130,000 youth.

In response to the pandemic, HFDK gave an additional $880,903 to 52 organizations to provide meals and groceries to struggling Denver residents in April and May.

“COVID-19 quickly revealed the vulnerability of those who do not have adequate access to healthy food in Denver,” McDonald said. “DDPHE is committed to responding to this need.”

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Before the pandemic, around one in seven Denver children did not have enough to eat. Now, between one in four and one in three in Denver are food insecure, according to DDPHE.

At the same time, nearly one in three Denver children are overweight or obese, facing low consumption of fruits and vegetables.

HFDK aims to provide both food and education in gardening, cooking and nutrition.

HFDK has collected nearly $11 million from the tax revenue in 2020 and nearly $12 million in 2019. No more than 10% of funds collected may go toward administrative costs.