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. ​