Migrant meals to cost Denver another $1.3 million through March

Photo byFrederick MedinaonUnsplash

The Denver City Council likely will approve Monday spending another $1.3 million on meals for migrants through March 31, 2024.

Contracts to be awarded include:

· Combi-Taco, $300,000

· Michael’s of Denver, $500,000

· Snap Colorado LLC, $500,000

The vendors were chosen after the city solicited bids for feeding the migrants.

The number of migrants from the Southern Border arriving in Denver has created a crisis situation. City officials have explained that some migrants, including families, have maxed out on migrant shelter stays and are now staying in encampments.

Some migrant families have newborn children

Director of Public Safety Armando Saldate said during the Safety, Housing, Education and Homelessness Committee Wednesday that some migrants have children only weeks old. He said the city works to put them into hotels.

The city is not releasing where the migrant hotels are located in order to keep the immigrants safe.

On Thursday, 76 migrants arrived in Denver, according to the city’s online migrant dashboard. Wednesday saw the arrival of 137 immigrants. Overall, more migrants are arriving now than at any time since they started coming to Denver last December. However, the past few days the migrant population in Denver has slightly declined, from 3,172 on Oct. 13 to 2,406 on Oct. 26.

More than 2,300 migrants are being sheltered in non-city facilities such as hotels. The city also is buying bus and airline tickets for migrants looking to move on to another city.

Helping with the migrant response

The city has called for donations and volunteers to help meet the migrant response. “Our donation location has changed to the Richard T. Castro Human Services Center,” according to the city’s migrant website. “Before donating, individuals should carefully review the donation instructions, wayfinding tips and maps which are available at Denvergov.org/MigrantSupport. To schedule a donation drop off, call (303) 514-0643. Important donation instructions can be found at Denvergov.org/MigrantSupport. Donations will continue to support the migrant community with essential items. The Newcomers Fund also continues to accept monetary donations from the public. Donations will go directly to the city’s nonprofit partners.”

Individuals and organizations interested in volunteering can visit Denvergov.org/MigrantSupport for more information.