Guest opinion by Teva Sienicki, published in Food Bank News.

Grant applications often ask us: “What’s your sustainability plan?”

It’s a realistic question, but the way it’s asked is far too narrow in scope. Funders want to know how the work will continue after the funding runs out. But the question is based on a false assumption: that food banks and pantries should sustain themselves (or could somehow do so without charitable contributions).

The food bank model isn’t sustainable. In my state, 1 in 3 Coloradans lack reliable access to nutritious food. It’s not possible for the charitable food sector to keep meeting that steep need.