Newsletter
"Thank you to every volunteer, donor, and community partner who packed a box, donated a backpack, or distributed supplies.
Together, we are ensuring that every child in the San Luis Valley starts their school year ready to succeed
2025 School Supply Distribution:
A Snapshot of Community Impact
Thanks to the incredible support of our neighbors and partners, SLV Community Solutions successfully brought relief to thousands of families across the region ahead of the 2025-2026 school year!
By equipping students with the essential tools they need to thrive, we are working together to foster equitable education and support our local schools.
The Reach of Your Impact
Our regional distribution network connected directly with the households that needed it most:
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Broad Regional Support: We proudly served 6 counties and 14 distinct school districts across the San Luis Valley.
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3,469 Students Equipped: From our littlest learners to those preparing for graduation, thousands of students headed to class with confidence.
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Alleviating Household Costs: School supplies are a significant financial investment, often ranging from $50 to over $200 per child.
With 66% of the households we served managing two or more students, these costs accumulate rapidly.
Meeting the Greatest Needs
Every year, certain items are harder for families to secure or place a heavier burden on classroom teachers.
Our top 4 highest-requested wish list items this year were:
1. Clorox Wipes / Kleenex
2. Backpacks
3. Headphones
4. Calculators
Real Results for Families
We don't just measure our success in numbers; we measure it in the relief felt by our community. When asked about the difference these supplies made, 70% of surveyed families reported that the distribution helped "quite a bit," while another 22% stated it helped "somewhat".
SLV Food Access Response
The San Luis Valley is home to small, rural communities spread across large distances, and the data collected from 1,008 households across 27 communities shows a clear and urgent need for additional food access support.
While most households rely on personal vehicles for grocery shopping, many still travel long distances—35% travel more than 20 miles just to access food, and another 39% travel between 5 and 20 miles. For families with limited transportation, rising fuel costs, or unreliable vehicles, this distance poses a significant barrier.
35% travel more than 20 miles
just to access food, and another
39% travel between 5 and 20 miles.
Although 75% of households report that they do not always experience challenges accessing groceries, the remaining 25%—one in four households—do face ongoing struggles. Even more telling, the cost of food impacts the majority of respondents, with many indicating that it affects them often or sometimes. In a region where wages remain low and costs continue to rise, this financial strain limits families’ ability to consistently purchase healthy and sufficient food.
Dietary needs are another critical concern. Only 57% of households say their dietary needs are consistently met. A concerning 34% report that their needs are met only sometimes,
and 9% say their needs are not met at all. This means nearly half of SLV households are
unable to reliably access the foods they need for a healthy diet.
The age data further highlights the importance of addressing food access. Adults make up
the majority of the population served, but children represent 46% and seniors 39%. These
two age groups are often the most vulnerable to food insecurity. Seniors frequently face
limited mobility and fixed incomes, while children depend entirely on the food stability of
their households.
In terms of food resource awareness, the data shows gaps that can be improved through
education and outreach. Only 7% of respondents are aware of community gardens, 16%
know about WIC, and 4% are aware of services offered by the SLV Area Agency on Aging.
Even staple programs like SNAP (26%) and the Community Food Bank (27%) have
awareness levels well below what is needed to ensure families are connecting with
available support.
Overall, the data paints a picture of a region where distance, cost, and limited awareness
of resources contribute to ongoing food insecurity. Families across the San Luis Valley—
especially seniors, children, and low-income households—continue to struggle tomaintain consistent access to healthy, affordable food. This snapshot underscores the
importance of expanding food resources, improving outreach, and strengthening support
systems to ensure all residents of the San Luis Valley can meet their basic nutritional
needs.