Roadrunner Food Bank helps people learn job skills through training program
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – You probably know Roadrunner Food Bank as a place that gives food to community members in need. But it's also a place giving people a second chance, setting them up for careers.
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Angelo Jimenez hasn't had it easy. 'My grandfather had it, my dad has it, I have it, my sister has it. It's called dilated cardiomyopathy,' he said. The genetic condition led him to have a heart transplant in 2017, which was followed by a long recovery. 'It was hard to get back to normal me after my transplant,' said Jimenez.
In an effort to gain independence, he applied for the Job Training Program at Roadrunner Food Bank. 'Its goal is to assist people who would ordinarily have difficulty finding employment or keeping employment,' said Teresa Trujillo, Job Training Program Manager at Roadrunner Food Bank.
From veterans to people with disabilities, to others reentering society from the justice system, the program teaches people job skills, like managing a warehouse or earning their commercial driver's license. The participants also get paid for their hours of training. 'It's the perfect environment for someone who hasn't worked before,' said Trujillo.
Through the program, Jimenez was hired on full-time and earned his CDL. 'I had never had a job before, actually, so this is technically my first job still,' said Jimenez.
He said it's helped him with his social skills and then some. 'My coworkers. I can't say it enough, really. Those guys, they make the day go by,' he said. 'It's like a family here, pretty much.'
So far, about ten people have made it through the program. While Jimenez went on to work full time at the food bank, others have gone on to use their training to land reliable jobs across the state. You can learn more about the program by clicking this link.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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