Latest news with #RoadrunnerFoodBank
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
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
USPS helps ‘Stamp Out' hunger with food drive
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Not only are they delivering mail, they're fighting hunger too. Letter carriers across New Mexico did more than drop off mail Saturday, they also picked up thousands of pounds of food as part of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Residents spent the morning filling bags with non-perishable food and left them by their mailboxes. Volunteers and staff then sorted out the donations at the post office. Roadrunner Food Bank affected by federal spending cuts With food costs rising and nutrition programs facing federal cuts, organizers say this year's turnout was more important than ever. 'I've done this for several years now; it's been many, many years that I've done this, and every year, I am excited to do it,' says USPS carrier Mo Molina. Last spring, residents filled over 150,000 lbs of food. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Roadrunner Food Bank affected by federal spending cuts
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Federal funding cuts are forcing shortfalls on New Mexico food banks, one of the largest non-profits in the state, said it has lost more than a million dollars it uses to feed the hungry. Story continues below News: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham authorizes National Guard deployment to Albuquerque Trending: NMSU: 6 international students' visas revoked by federal government News: Suspect in custody after fleeing from police in a U-Haul with people in the back Education: Curanderismo in the classroom: Albuquerque high school teacher introduces students to Mexican folk healing The Roadrunner Food Bank says it's out $1.9 million in funding from a special USDA fund they use to buy food, which is about a 30% cut. And there's no word on when or if that money will come back. 'Is this going to become a normal thing where truckloads are being canceled and there's suddenly a much smaller amount of food available?' said Vice President of Strategy, Katy Anderson. The Roadrunner Food Bank is among those dealing with federal funding cuts from the Trump administration. 'About 30 to 31 percent of the food that goes out through the food bank network in New Mexico is through the TEFAP program or those commodities. And so, there's no clarity as to whether those are canceled forever, if they're delayed,' continued Anderson. Nationally, the USDA cut $500 million specifically for food banks. For the Roadrunner Food Bank, their share of the cuts means canceling 20 truckloads of food, through the end of June. 'It can be a pretty dire circumstance for the food bank. How are we going to replace that food and ensure that people get what they need?' emphasized Anderson. Entering the summer, when they see increased demand, they're concerned about supply. 'It makes planning for the upcoming summer a challenge as well. How are we going to handle that and ensure that that food is available to families in our state?' said Anderson. The cuts have not impacted the city's summer lunch program for kids across 80 parks, schools, and rec centers across Albuquerque. 'I think it'll be a great kind of way for us to still be the lifeline for families and still help them,' said Public Information Officer from the Department of Youth and Family Services Brianna Gallegos. The city's summer lunch program begins the first week of June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
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. Story continues below Crime: Third grade Farmington teacher arrested in connection to husband's stabbing death Entertainment: Japanese retailer Daiso sets opening date for first Albuquerque store Traffic: Albuquerque speed cameras are slowing drivers but less than half of tickets are paid 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.
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.
