Latest news with #KatyAnderson
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Study: New Mexico ranks 4th in the nation for childhood hunger
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A recent study shows children in New Mexico are more at risk of hunger than almost anywhere else in the country. Roadrunner Food Bank said they are doing all they can, but are worried about potential federal funding cuts that help put food on tables. According to Feeding America's 2025 Map the Meal Gap national study, New Mexico places 4th in the nation for childhood hunger. Roadrunner Food Bank said the data is similar to years past. According to the study, 1 in 6 people in the state, and 1 in 4 children, are food insecure. 'There is plenty of food in this country. There is plenty of food in this state. There is plenty of food to feed everyone who needs it. It is access that is the problem,' said Communications Manager for Roadrunner Food Bank Jimmy Himes-Ryann. Story continues below Trending: Rio Rancho High baseball player accused of urinating in water jug no longer faces charges News: VIDEO: Albuquerque man accused of killing 14 dogs denies accusations Environment: Researcher explains why earthquakes are rattling parts of New Mexico Access is what Roadrunner is working to improve. The food bank worries about potential cuts to SNAP benefits. That's why they were in D.C. on Wednesday, testifying at a hearing to discuss SNAP benefits, raising concerns about potentially shifting the burden of paying for SNAP onto the states. The food bank worries about the potential need for more food bank services if fewer families have access to SNAP. 'Drastic cuts and changes to SNAP will cause hunger to grow at a exponential rate,' said Vice President of Strategy, Partnerships, and Advocacy at Roadrunner Food Bank Katy Anderson at the hearing. 'It would mean more than tripling our current food distribution output simply to ensure comparable access to what is available today.' Roadrunner Food Bank said their services are especially important right now as children are on summer break and may be missing out on the only meal they depend on during the school day. 'The state of New Mexico provides around 300,000 meals to students who go to public schools in the state. The need in the summer is exceptionally high because a lot of students are getting that third meal at school exclusively,' said Himes-Ryann. According to the study, the counties with the highest rates of childhood food insecurity include Catron, McKinley, and Luna. To learn more about volunteering or donating, click this link. The KRQE Cares Food for Kids program also has donation bins at Smith's stores in the metro, where community members can drop off non-perishables, diapers, and more throughout the summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Mexico food banks concerned Congress will cut food assistance dollars
Mar. 24—New Mexico food bank leaders warn that Congress could make substantial cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding at a time when they expect the need for food assistance to rise. On Friday morning, cars were lined up across the street from Roadrunner Food Bank's Albuquerque office and warehouse to pick up food. But far more food is provided to New Mexicans through SNAP benefits than through food banks. For every one meal that food banks and food pantries provide, SNAP provides nine, said Katy Anderson, Roadrunner Food Bank's vice president of strategy. There are 487,113 people in New Mexico receiving SNAP benefits. New Mexico had the highest rate of SNAP participation nationally in 2022, with 24% of residents enrolled, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report. "The groups that are going to suffer the most will be seniors and children," Anderson said during a press conference hosted by Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., at Roadrunner Food Bank Friday. Representatives from The Food Depot, Meals on Wheels New Mexico and Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network also shared their concerns about the potential cuts. The House and Senate have adopted conflicting budget resolutions. Trump threw his support behind the House version, which will likely require significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts. Republican House leaders released a statement Monday pushing the Senate to take up the House's budget resolution. "The House is determined to send the president one big, beautiful bill that secures our border, keeps taxes low for our families and job creators, grows our economy, restores American energy dominance, brings back peace through strength, and makes government more efficient and more accountable to the American people," said the statement from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich. The House budget resolution orders the House Agriculture Committee to cut $230 billion in spending from fiscal years 2025 through 2034. SNAP makes up $1 trillion of the $1.3 trillion in spending that the committee oversees, making it a likely target for cuts. The House bill would cut more than 20% of the SNAP program, according to nonprofit research organization, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The cuts could come from cutting SNAP benefits, restricting eligibility or both. The Senate budget resolution directs a narrower cut to the Senate Agriculture Committee of $1 billion over the same time frame. Meals on Wheels is keeping a close eye on the potential cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, said Renee Ruybal, chief advancement officer for Meals on Wheels New Mexico. Funding cuts could force the nonprofit to make some tough decisions, like reinstating a waitlist. "Many of our seniors rely on SNAP for groceries and for essential services, including meal delivery. Medicaid is also an important part of how we plan to grow and serve more people in the future. So if these programs face more cuts, more New Mexicans will turn to us for help, but at a time when we have fewer resources to meet that growing need," Ruybal said. Democratic politicians have been rallying opposition to the budget resolution. In New Mexico, Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Stansbury both drew attention to potential SNAP cuts last week. "They're going to cut Medicaid for millions of Americans, they're going to cut food assistance for millions of Americans, they're going to cut tax breaks for single parents, and they're going to cut life-saving programs that help millions of Americans survive so that they can give tax breaks to millionaires," Stansbury said. "Now what I want to emphasize is that even though this is their evil plan, we can stop them." Stansbury said Republicans want to get the budget package to the president's desk in May or June.
