Denver Public Schools Foundation has launched an emergency fund to help students and families facing growing food insecurity in the community.

CBS

Sara Hazel, president and CEO of the foundation, says the organization decided to revive its pandemic-era food fund amid uncertainty over federal SNAP benefits .

"What we're seeing is the need is growing super rapidly," Hazel said.

More than 600,000 Coloradans rely on SNAP benefits to buy food. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture stopped funding the program on Nov. 1 because of the federal government shutdown.

The state is working to deliver partial benefits -- about 65% -- unless the shutdown ends or a court orders the Trump administration to release full funding.

Hazel says the foundation began hearing from families before the b

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