HCS Week 51

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Established in 1929

Health City Sun

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The

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New Mexico’s Legal & Financial Weekly

December 17, 2021

Vol. 10.101 No. 51

FORECLOSURE SALES: 1 PROBATE: 27 AUCTIONS: 7 NOTICE OF SUITS: 6 OTHER: 27 SPANISH NOTICES: 0

Local Food Banks Face Higher Prices This Holiday Season By Liz Otero

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s Christmas approaches, many families are gearing up for a celebratory dinner, while others are struggling just to feed those in their household each day. Many are, or will be, turning to food banks for assistance. However, with the rising cost of food, local food banks are having to work harder than ever to help feed New Mexicans in need this holiday season. The Consumer Price Index reported in October that inflation jumped more than 6 percent. This was the most significant annual increase in more than 30 years, making it more difficult for families and nonprofits reliant on donor support. Sonya Warwick is director of communications at Roadrunner Food Bank, the largest food bank in the state. She says the organization is busy yearround but that there is a greater need this year. “Both food and distribution prices are higher,” Warwick said. “It all impacts serving seniors who are on a fixed income - from the food we purchase, to the distribution.”

Blvd. NE, north of Indian School Road. Seniors can shop by appointment twice a week, choosing their own items, such as fresh eggs, tortillas, meats, and produce.

“In addition, we distribute groceries to homebound seniors. They provide us with their food likes and dislikes or if they h a v e dietary concerns,” Hidalgo said. “We also partner with Meals o n Roadrunner provides more than 3.4 million pounds of food annually, Wheels and provide Weekend Survival Kits, so the seniors don’t g o serving communities across the state. Food from its warehouse gets without food on the weekends.” delivered to New Mexico communities through a fleet of semi-trucks, traveling 600,000 miles a year to provide nutritious food to hundreds of To donate or volunteer with Silver Horizons, visit silverhorizons.org, or partner food distribution sites. Roadrunner operators regularly take calls to call (505) 884-3881. connect residents with those distribution centers regardless of where they live in the state. Warwick said donor and volunteer support make it all possible. Monetary donations, food donations, and time volunteered to prepare food are all greatly appreciated, she said. People who want to help can take donations to the Roadrunner Food Assistance Warehouse directly. Located at 5840 Office Blvd. NE (no food pick-up), it is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. MondayFriday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (505) 349-5340 or go to rrfb.org. Food can also be dropped off at one of the nonprofit’s partners, or donations can be made online at rrfb.org. Two mobile food pantries have been operating throughout the year and serving hundreds of households weekly: The location at Expo New Mexico hosts a drive-through mobile pantry starting at 9 a.m. Tuesdays. A pantry at AMC Theatre, 3810 Las Estancias Way, near Coors and Rio Bravo, opens at 9 a.m. Fridays.

Other food pantries serving Albuquerque: • Rio Grande Food Project, 600 Coors Blvd. NW, (505) 831-3778, www. rgfp.org. Open for drive-through food distributions from 9 to 11 a.m., or until food runs out, Wednesdays and Fridays. Saturday indoor hours are 9-11 a.m. Closed December 24-January 1. Development director Kathi Cunningham said Rio Grande Food Project partners with PNM’s Good Neighbor Fund and Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority to help people in need with their electric and water bills. The organization also assists with direct service applications for Medicaid, Medicare, federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and Rent Help NM, and connects people with partners that address mental health.

Ron Hidalgo, executive director of the grassroots nonprofit Silver Horizons, says local food banks work in overdrive to help those in need. Established in Albuquerque in 1980, Silver Horizons is the only local organization whose • The Storehouse New Mexico Food Pantry, 106 Broadway Blvd. SE mission is to provide critical help to low-income and in-crisis residents (Broadway and Central), (505) 842-6491, www.storehousenm.org. age 50 and older. However, today, helping a senior household often means supporting younger generations as well. Open 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. “We’re seeing more seniors request assistance because their households are increasing with their children out of work, and they are taking in their grandchildren as well. Almost 40 percent of the households Silver Horizons assists involve seniors raising their grandchildren. So, now you have two generations struggling together,” Hidalgo said.

The Storehouse offers free food to families in need, including a box of nonperishable items, plus bags of meats and fruits and vegetables. Food is being prepacked in boxes until further notice. The organization also provides diapers; assists families with low income to get credit for water bills; distributes pet food; and works with the “Libros for Kids” program where children up to 5 years old receive free books in Silver Horizons provides household bill assistance, minor home repairs, the mail. The Storehouse also has a referral program to help people find and free groceries that are available at its Senior Market, 1913 Eubank additional programs that they don’t cover.


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