Only 56 percent of Coloradans eligible for federal food stamps took part in the federal program in 2004, the most recent year available, an anti-hunger advocacy group said Monday.

In its annual State of the States report, the Washington D.C.- based Food Research and Action Center said participation in summer school lunch programs dropped 30 percent in the past decade.

Several factors contribute to the relatively low rates, including red tape, lengthy forms and shame, experts say.

"I think there is a stigma attached," said Tina Podolak, executive director of the Colorado Anti-Hunger Network, which released the report locally. "How do people feel when they go into the food stamp office? Are they treated with respect? Those are issues that impact the reasons why people don't apply."

Colorado ranked 37th out of 50 states in food stamp participation. Missouri was first, with 84 percent of those eligible requesting aid.

The group also is trying to get support for the 2007 Farm Bill Reauthorization, which it hopes will streamline the food stamp application process and provide more funding for the program. The bill is expected to be discussed by Congress in July.

This year, 249,593 Coloradans will get food stamps. Last year they spent $323 million using food stamps, according to the USDA.

The department acknowledges that applying for food stamps takes time. Applicants must fill out a 21-page form, which takes at least eight hours, according to USDA research.

Once accepted into the program, they receive the benefit within seven to 30 days, but in some cases it may amount to only $10 a month.

Liz McDonough, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Human Services, said people are reluctant to apply for three reasons:

• They don't think they are eligible so don't bother to apply.

• They worry they don't have the right kind of identification.

• Senior citizens are reluctant to go through all the paperwork.

Counties are a safer bet when it comes to looking for food. They have more flexibility, McDonough said, and can direct people to food banks or provide vouchers for meals.

In contrast to the federal program, the city and county of Denver continues to draw more people each year to its hunger programs, said Roxane White, manager of Denver Human Services.

In 2002, 38,000 people received food stamp benefits; in 2004 that number increased to 50,000, and now 57,000 people participate.

To reach those numbers, White said her department extended office hours to evenings and weekends and stationed food stamp enrollment experts at 11 additional community outreach agencies.

FRAC says enrollment in free summer lunch programs also has dropped - 30 percent in the past decade.

In Denver's public schools, 5,000 children ages 1 to 18 are participating this summer.

Competition between agencies could be one reason, said Leo Lesh, executive director of enterprise management at Denver Public Schools. When children and their parents come to a school for a federally funded lunch, they are allowed only to eat, then must leave so staff can clean up.

But if they go to a church, a club or a recreation center, they get the same food, but they also can participate in programs, play basketball or go swimming.

2007 Food Stamp Challenge

• When: Today - National Hunger Awareness Day

• The challenge: Surviving a week on $25 in food ($3.57 a day), the average food budget of a stamp recipient.

• Participants: Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Denver Human Services manager Roxane White, KWGN Channel 2 anchor Ernie Bjorkman and others.

• How it works: Participants eat on only $25 for a week. They keep a food diary and contribute to a blog.

• Web site: colochallenge.blogspot.com

• Recent high-profile participants: Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski; and four members of Congress

• Hickenlooper's first day: The mayor learned he was participating at the last minute Sunday and didn't have time to shop for food Monday. When the Rocky caught up with him late Monday afternoon, he said he missed breakfast and had little to eat at noon.

• Quote: "I had lunch today with a couple Level III executives at the Ship's Tavern and there's nothing on the menu under $3. All I could eat was the free bread, although the Brown Palace did bring a little shot glass of peanut butter."

• The mayor's dinner Monday night: Ramen soup

• Roxane White's first day: "I bought a jar of peanut butter, a bag of potatoes, seven bananas on sale and pre-packaged soup mixes for lunch, because they were on sale for under $1 each."