For the past 15 years, The GrowHaus, a local community-led non-profit organization, has been cultivating food justice through fresh food access, health and wellness programs, and leadership development. Originally working in the Latino immigrant communities of Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea, The GrowHaus has scaled its reach across Metro Denver to meet the growing need for food access. The organization now provides fresh food via 24 food access sites across Denver via partnerships with Denver Public Library, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, and community health care clinics. With a team made up primarily of Latina women from the communities served, The GrowHaus connects nearly 6,000 neighbors each month with fresh, culturally meaningful food and programs that nurture the whole person.
The GrowHaus reflects the critical need for community-driven solutions to food insecurity as parents carry the burden of cutting the size of their children’s meals. The challenge of access to nutritious food leads to poor physical and mental health outcomes and hinders a child’s ability to learn in school. Most consequentially, children in The GrowHaus’ home community of Globeville has a life expectancy of 11 years less than more affluent children only a few miles away.
A Community-Led Approach
To address the root causes of food insecurity and provide wealth-building opportunities, The GrowHaus hires community members to develop and lead its programs. When members from the communities served lead, compassion, partnership, and ingenuity are woven into every interaction. When community leads, programs are responsive to neighbors’ needs. Food Access: A Bridge to Wellness
– Neighbor-to-Neighbor Home Visits
The GrowHaus has seen firsthand the effectiveness of a neighbor-to-neighbor model in
promoting health and wellness. The GrowHaus’ Promotoras (Community Health Specialists) lead year-round home visits for neighbors to build healthy habits and community connections. During these visits, neighbors are also connected to other programs and long-term food access solutions like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment support.
– Multigenerational Cooking Classes
The GrowHaus recognizes that health and wellness are a lifelong journey. During
multigenerational cooking classes, children and adults come together to create recipes
with ingredients found in The GrowHaus’ no-cost food box and build connections around
food. A simple cooking class is transformed into a journey of discovery, where nutrition
becomes a shared language.
– Youth and Teen Programming
Cooking and gardening workshops are just the beginning of a child’s leadership journey
in The GrowHaus’ youth programs. Children and teens learn lifelong skills, like following
recipes and working as a team, and explore their power as emerging community leaders
during field trips and independent passion projects. Abejitas, a summer program for
children and their caregivers, delves into broader aspects of wellness, including physical
activity and connection to the natural world. Local high school students can participate in
The GrowHaus’ paid teen program, Seed2Seed, to gain valuable experience in
leadership, community advocacy, and food justice work.
Getting Involved
Here are some ways you can get involved with The GrowHaus’ mission:
– Join También, a Community of Engaged Supporters
Members of The GrowHaus’ monthly giving program, También, provide reliable support
that allows its team to plan for the future and remain nimble in addressing changing
community needs. This special community of supporters also has access to special
events and exclusive volunteer opportunities. Learn more at thegrowhaus.org.
$10/month helps cover the cost of a weekly food box for a household in our community.
– Make a Donation
Donations help The GrowHaus continue confronting Denver’s food insecurity challenge
head-on by offering no-cost and low-cost food access programs and disrupting the root
causes of food insecurity through holistic education, leadership, and wellness
Programming. $50 helps cover the cost of snacks during the Abejitas youth program.
– Purchase a Produce Subscription
The GrowHaus’ produce subscription service brings fresh, organic produce to your
doorstep. Your purchase will play a critical role in funding The Growhaus’ fresh food
access, health and wellness education, and leadership development programs. Visit
foodboxes.thegrowhaus.org to begin.
– Stay Connected Online
For information about events and real-time updates about The GrowHaus’ work, sign up
to receive their newsletter by visiting thegrowhaus.org/newsletter-signup, or follow The
GrowHaus on social media @TheGrowHaus.
The GrowHaus is excited to welcome you into its community of supporters to advance fresh food access through proven community-led solutions! Learn more at thegrowhaus.org
