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Watching #nmleg special session and struck by how many NM legislators lack an understanding of NM's food bank network. There are 5 food banks in NM which each serve specific counties in the state. Collectively they form the NM Association of Food Banks. http://nmfoodbanks.org
These food banks are: Roadrunner Food Bank in ABQ, The Food Depot in Santa Fe, ECHO Food Bank in Farmington, Food Bank of Eastern NM in Clovis, and The Community Pantry in Gallup. These food banks then partner with community orgs and agencies (food pantries, soup kitchens,etc.)
The $5M ask for food banks in the special session will reach every corner of the state and is just a drop in the bucket to meet the food needs of our neighbors. Food banks and their partner agencies have been working TIRELESSLY since COVID hit to feed more New Mexicans in crisis.
Every single state legislator should take the time to tour the food bank and the agencies that help put food on the tables of their constituents. And take the time to ask thoughtful questions of those constituents and food bank and food pantry leadership. And act accordingly.
But food banks can't do what SNAP does. For every meal provided by a food bank or food pantry, SNAP provides NINE. The real heavy lift would be for New Mexico to supplement federal SNAP benefits, bringing more dollars to local economies. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2020/05/22/859853877/food-banks-get-the-love-but-snap-does-more-to-fight-hunger
Back to food banks, let's look at some of what they have been doing for New Mexicans. By Oct. 2020, due to increased need, ECHO food bank in Farmington (serving all of San Juan county) increased their distribution by 50% from the same time period in 2019. https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/farmington-food-bank-preps-for-busy-holiday-season-/5927622/
“We’re not even remotely out of the woods. We’re in the middle of the forest.” - Jill Dixon w/ @TheFoodDepot
The Food Depot in Santa Fe serves nine New Mexico counties, and eight months into the pandemic, the demand is not letting up. https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/coronavirus/demand-increasing-dramatically-for-food-aid-in-new-mexico/article_977de4e2-243f-11eb-bf98-c3cec5fbbd9d.html
The Food Depot in Santa Fe serves nine New Mexico counties, and eight months into the pandemic, the demand is not letting up. https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/coronavirus/demand-increasing-dramatically-for-food-aid-in-new-mexico/article_977de4e2-243f-11eb-bf98-c3cec5fbbd9d.html
As essential businesses, NM food banks were proactive & implemented COVID safe protocols immediately. But what happens when staff test positive for COVID? How do they limit disruption to food distribution? How to support staff doing already stressful work? https://ladailypost.com/food-depot-closes-due-to-staff-positive-covid-19-test/
The largest food bank in NM, Roadrunner distributes food through mobile food pantries & partner agencies, and through innovations to meet the healthy food needs of New Mexicans with nutrition-related chronic disease experiencing hunger & food insecurity. https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/roadrunner-food-bank-partners-with-local-clinic-to-distribute-healthy-food/
The Community Pantry in Gallup serves McKinley & Cibola counties, including the Navajo Nation. In addition to their many distribution channels, they administer the Food for Kids program, providing food for kids outside of child nutrition programs. https://thecommunitypantry.org/our-programs-2/
"People who haven't traditionally shown up to the food bank are now showing up to the food bank."
Within the first few weeks of COVID, the Food Bank of Eastern NM, serving Curry, DeBaca, Guadalupe, Quay, & Roosevelt counties, saw a 40% increase in need. https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/story/2020/04/08/news/food-bank-keeping-busy/165312.html
Within the first few weeks of COVID, the Food Bank of Eastern NM, serving Curry, DeBaca, Guadalupe, Quay, & Roosevelt counties, saw a 40% increase in need. https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/story/2020/04/08/news/food-bank-keeping-busy/165312.html
From 11% in Harding to 35% in Santa Fe, every single New Mexico county is expected to see double digit % increases in food insecurity due to COVID. That means hungrier adults in every single county, many experiencing food insecurity for the first time. https://www.feedingamericaaction.org/the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-food-insecurity/
