A new pilot program launching across seven local food pantries will include essential hygiene products into food distribution, as nonprofit Justice Necessary is partnering with Food Bank of the Rockies look to cover some of the gaps not filled by assistance from SNAP and WIC programs.

The program will provide pantries with one-month hygiene kits tailored to the needs of each community that’ll eventually see 150,000 kits containing 3 million period products distributed throughout 2026.

Diane Cushman Neal, founder and president of Justice Necessary, said that the program will give folks experiencing hard times the opportunity to also procure vital products while getting food assistance.

“When I founded Justice Necessary four years ago, I knew that food insecurity and hygiene poverty were interwoven,” Neal said. “Every study since has reinforced the truth. Partnering with the Food Bank of the Rockies gives hygiene a seat at the table, allowing us to support our Colorado communities.

“Together, we can ensure that no student misses class, no job-seeker is held back from employment, and no parent lacks basic hygiene essentials,” Neal continued.

Food Bank of the Rockies Chief Impact Officer Monica Buhlig said the program allows Food Bank of the Rockies to provide more “holistic” care to its clients.

“Every day, we see families who not only need nourishing food, but the other essentials required to live with dignity,” Buhlig said. “By teaming up with Justice Necessary, we’re ensuring that we and our network of Hunger Relief Partners can provide more holistic support — one that recognizes the full scope of what families need to thrive and removes difficult choices related to necessities they otherwise face.”

A 2024 study by Justice Necessary found that “52% of Coloradans have sacrificed food to buy hygiene products, while 65% have skipped buying hygiene products to purchase food.”

Volunteers came out to help pack the kits on Nov. 13 and 14, getting the organizations ready to launch the pilot program.