Since the year 2001 Arc Thrift Stores has been helping feed those in need through it’s Feed Colorado food drive benefitting the Volunteers of America. Over the past 9 years nearly 500 tons of food have been collected during this annual spring food drive. In 2009 over 50,000 households donated fourteen more tons of food than the 2008 drive. Arc Thrift Stores delivered 8 semi-trucks containing 150 pallets weighing 112 tons of non-perishable food to the Volunteers of America’s City Harvest Food Bank.

The food donated to City Harvest through Arc Thrift Stores Food Drive provides the basic - and the most plentiful- supply of shelf-stable foods they receive from any source. It is a godsend to the hundreds of people served by VOA: the homeless, battered women, troubled adolescents, homebound seniors and many, many low-income families throughout Colorado. Included in this number are over 200 homebound, frail older adults who receive a 50# monthly pantry-box of shelf-stable foods from the Arc inventory. This food helps them have enough to eat for every meal - not just for the noon meal delivered to them by VOA’s Meals on Wheels.

City Harvest is an inner-city food bank that distributes food to neighborhood food pantries, homeless shelters, many residential programs, etc. - but not directly to the public. Representatives from over 70 food pantries (and other programs) visit City Harvest on a pre-determined schedule and "go shopping." They can choose from shelf-stable foods, fresh produce, an assortment of breads and rolls, and often a good selection of dairy and meat products. These agencies must have a 501 (c)3 designation and meet certain minimum requirements to receive food from City Harvest.