Depot Dispatch Spring 2024 Edition

How a film crew captured the daily movement – and forward momentum –of The Food Depot's programs and partnerships. For details, visit pages 10-13.

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From the Executive Director's Desk

As spring unfolds, I feel a renewed sense of hope in our mission.

Despite the occasional winter gloom, the dedication of our volunteers, partners, and staff at The Food Depot serves as a beacon, urging us to remain positive and focused on the brighter days ahead.

Want to Get Involved?

Donate

You can make a monetary donation:

Online: thefooddepot.org

The Food Depot Board and Staff

BOARD

Len Rand, President

Thomas Jensen, Vice President

We started the year with a dynamic day of delicious soup and community support, resulting in a record-breaking amount of funds for our hunger-relief programming. Seeing friends, families, and local businesses come together always fills me with hope.

The premiere of “Movement” in February provided another moment of reflection. As I watched so many of our supporters and staff members on the big screen, I was filled with gratitude for their hard work but also a sense of continued resolve. We must persist in our collaborative efforts to end poverty in our state.

Over the phone: 505-510-5890

Advocate

You can make a difference by sharing information about food insecurity in our communities.

Janet Clow, Treasurer

Caitlin Smith, Secretary

Bill Sveum, Ph.D., Member at Large

David Barton • Noah Berke • Scott Bunton

Rubina Cohen • V. Brian D'Andrea

Bridget Dixson • Sandra Mitiko Higaskino-Greene

Barbara Houser • Jeremy Miller • David Risser

Rachel Rogers • Dr. Bret Smoker

Deborah Trouw • Andrea Vigil

STAFF

During the 2024 New Mexico Legislative session, we worked together to raise awareness for our state's food banks. Your efforts in sending letters, making calls to representatives, and speaking up made an impact. I applaud this progress and eagerly anticipate future conversations with our elected officials.

Follow us on social media @thefooddepot or join the Advocacy Committee. Visit thefooddepot.org/advocate.

Volunteer

The Food Depot is in need of volunteers! Repack food at the Santa Fe warehouse or volunteer at a food distribution.

Jeanette Alt Romero

Scott Alexander

Robyn Archuleta

Steven Bolin

Kayla Bostic

Amanda Bregel

Elier Chacon

Zamir Crispin

Jill Dixon

Albert Flores

Jonathan Griego

Dave Halerz

Sherry Hooper

Russell Johnson

Benjamin Keyse

Ashlynn Montoya

Pauline Montoya

Louie Montano

Mary Ocampo

Joyce Pohl

Paul Rodriguez

Alma Salas

David Sanchez

James Sanchez

Jerome Sanchez

Maria Sanchez

Sal Sandoval

Fred Santistevan

Ralanda Shroulote

Michael Silva

Manuel Lovato

Cathy Sisneros

This year marks The Food Depot’s 30th anniversary – a milestone worth celebrating.

I invite you to join us in the coming months to learn, advocate, and volunteer. Together, we can create a food-secure future. Thank you for continuing on this journey with us.

Sherry Hooper, Executive Director

Learn about our many opportunities and join our team at thefooddepot.org/volunteer.

Thank you to our Contract Staff:

Meredith Lorencz

Bonnie Murphy

Erica Villegas

Sammy Madrid

Wayne Martin

Vilma Martinez

Brooke Minnich

Ever Solis

Olivia Villalpando

Jerry Wagner

New Volunteer Opportunity! Second Saturday Shifts

The Food Depot has an exciting new volunteer opportunity in 2024, perfect for working professionals, teens, or families with young children!

Every second Saturday of the month, the volunteer team will open the warehouse from 10:00 am to12:00 pm for a repacking shift.

During the new Saturday shift, volunteers will repack bulk produce or dry goods into family-sized portions. Examples of dry goods may include pasta, cereal, rice, or pinto beans. At the first Second Saturday shift in February, volunteers repacked bulk oranges and rice.

Registering as an official volunteer is not required for a Second Saturday shift, making this opportunity perfect for anyone curious about volunteering at The Food Depot. Repacking

Mark your calendars!

Making Ends Meet

How much do basic needs cost in your area of the country? Do working-class individuals make enough to truly make ends meet?

These are the questions participants try to answer during The Food Depot’s Making Ends Meet workshop.

Second SaturdaY Upcoming Dates

is also a great activity for children. Children under 18 can volunteer at The Food Depot as long as a parent or guardian volunteers during the shift with their child.

To sign up for an upcoming Second Saturday shift, just fill out the simple Google form on the volunteer page of The Food Depot’s website or scan the QR Code here.

Once you sign up, the volunteer team will reach out with more details.

Have questions? Email Volunteer Coordinator Pauline Montoya at volunteer@thefooddepot.org.

Offered each month to individuals at The Food Depot warehouse and to community groups/businesses on request, the 90-minute class asks participants to consider assumptions we hold about minimum wage workers in Santa Fe before diving into an exploration of average costs. Groups must use a full-time employee’s budget to cover a family’s basic needs, including food, childcare, medical expenses, housing, etc.

In mid-February, a group of more than 100 leaders from Guadalupe Credit Union took the class. “I had assumptions about minimum wage and programs like SNAP,” said one participant. “But I learned a lot today. Now I have the tools to educate others and be more compassionate when I work with our credit union members.”

You are invited to sign up for a future Making Ends Meet class at The Food Depot or encourage your employer to participate. Knowledge gained during Making Ends Meet helps individuals become better advocates for programs and policies that lift people out of poverty and truly create food-secure futures.

Future classes will be announced through our e-newsletter and website. Email events@thefooddepot.org for more information.

Classes challenge participants to cover basic needs on a limited budget.

Participants consider the cost of living in Santa Fe.

Souper Bowl 2024: A Delicious Success

Souper Bowl 2024, presented by Enterprise Bank and Trust, was the largest event in The Food Depot’s history. The competition on January 27th brought almost 1,700 people to the Santa Fe Convention Center.

Thank you to all volunteers who gave their time and efforts to prepare for the fundraiser.

Thanks to the community, The Food Depot's staff and our wonderful volunteers who make this event such a success!

Sherry Hooper was not surprised at the crowds. “Souper Bowl is about the community coming together to enjoy amazing food and support The Food Depot,” she says. “How can you not get excited about such a great cause and fun environment?”

Twenty-four restaurants competed this year, including six first-time contenders. Attendees enjoyed a variety of soups and voted on the best overall soup and their favorite from each category: cream, savory, seafood, and vegetarian.

This year also featured a special soup competition in the lobby. President of The Food Depot’s Board of Directors, Len Rand, competed against Russell Johnson, The Food Depot’s Executive Chef. Attendees voted with their dollars, crowning Russell’s Chicken Posole the victor over Len’s Tomato Lentil.

Souper Bowl exceeded all goals this year, providing 450,000 meals for Northern New Mexicans!

Every restaurant who competed at Souper Bowl 2024 prepared over 15 gallons of soup for the big day, giving their precious time, energy, and talent to support The Food Depot. Please continue to visit these local restaurants:

Aruna Cafe, Bon Appetít @ IAIA, Bourbon Grill, Boxcar Santa Fe, Brochachos, Cafecito, Capital Coal Neighborhood Eatery, Catch Santa Fe Poke, Cowgirl BBQ, Dr. Fieldgoods, Escondido, Flying Tortilla, High Mountain Cuisine, Izanami, Jambo Cafe, Juicyfoods Santa Fe, New Mexico Hard Cider, Rowley

Farmhouse Ales, Santa Fe Capitol Grill, Social Kitchen + Bar, Sweet Santa Fe, Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen, The Pink Adobe Restaurant, Tibet Kitchen

Our 2024 Souper Sponsors provided the resources and supplies required to make this the most exciting Souper Bowl yet! Please support these businesses throughout the year:

Headline: Enterprise Bank & Trust

Platinum: Altamira Financial, Financial Partners, Hutton Broadcasting, Santa Fe New Mexican, What the Truck

Gold: AllPrint Graphics, City of Santa Fe Councilor Jamie Cassutt, Fast Signs, Flow Science, Raymond James, Santa Fe Reporter, Tech Source

Silver: Century Bank, Elevation Wealth Partners, Great Ideas!, Guadalupe Credit Union, HUB International, Hal Burns Truck & Equipment, Starbucks

Bronze: Arroyo Studio Laser Engraving, Dashing Delivery, Jemez Agency Insurance Inc., RGC Access Interpreting Services, R.L. Leeder Co., Santa Fe Preparatory School, Santa Fe Audio Visual, Thomas Cannon Anonymous Fund, Santa Fe Recovery Center, The Water Man

Lobby soup competitors: Russell and Len

THE FOOD DEPOT

Photos by: Jane Phillips Photography

Congratulations to our Souper Bowl 2024 Winners!

BEST SOUP IN SANTA FE AND VEGETARIAN SOUP WINNER

JAMBO CAFE

Roast Beet and Ginger Coconut Bisque by Chef Amed Obo

BEST CREAM SOUP WINNER

TIBET KITCHEN Corn Chowder by Chef Rodolfo Flores

BEST SAVORY SOUP WINNER

FLYING TORTILLA

Savory Green Chile Clam Chowder by Chef Carlos Ruvalcaba

BEST Soup

BEST SEAFOOD SOUP WINNER

BOXCAR SANTA FE

New England Shrimp Chowder with Green Chile Hush Puppies by Chef Francisco Delgado

Behind the Lens of

"Movement"

"Everything about a food bank is perpetual movement. From farms. In trucks. Down long open roads…”

These words open The Food Depot’s new short film "Movement," an exploration into the current scope of our programs and partner agencies and a call to help advance the policies that would truly end hunger in Northern New Mexico.

The film was generously produced and donated by DocuFilms, an award-winning video production and strategic marketing firm.

“My partner Paul McKittrick and I started Docufilms to celebrate the stories of those who make a difference,” Michael shares. “The Food Depot does that every day.”

“We knew we wanted to feature different aspects of our movement: our donors, partners, and programs. Featuring volunteers and staff members from across the organization were a must,” explains Communications Manager Amanda Bregel, who led the project. “We had to carefully choose a variety of people and places that represented the communities we serve.”

The 20-minute film premiered at Violet Crown Cinemas on February 7th, but the work to bring “Movement” to life began almost a year before when DocuFilms founder Michael Campbell heard about The Food Depot from his friend who had recently taken a tour. Once Michael and his co-founder Paul McKittrick visited The Food Depot themselves, the project quickly became a go.

Knowing what to capture was the first challenge of “Movement”. With a service area of 26,000 square miles and hundreds of partners and distribution sites, where to begin?

While executive producers Michael and Paul began to assemble their film crew, The Food Depot’s staff started to plan interviews and locations for the four days the crew would be in Santa Fe.

To capture the fleet, the crew spent several hours on desert roads.

The "Docufellas" film crew, including Docufilms founder Michael Campbell, gather on their final day of filming.

Once the film crew arrived in August, The Food Depot was ready for her close-up. The week began with a trip to Bernal Community Center, a rural partner agency working with The Food Depot for several decades. Cameras continued to roll at Market Street grocery store, a donation and business partner; and Reunity Resources, a composting and distribution partner.

To capture the breadth of programming, the crew filmed a Food Mobile distribution, a drivethrough pantry in Santa Fe serving over 600 families, and Casita de Comida

For producer Michael Campbell, the film personally took an unexpected turn:

“We originally thought the film might be a story about an incredibly efficient warehouse, but it became apparent—quickly—this is a story about poverty.”

The Food Depot’s commitment to ending poverty, the root cause of hunger, can be heard in the voices of the staff and partners interviewed in the film. “Poverty is absolutely at the center of food security work,” explains Jill Dixon, Deputy Director. “Food is a human right,” echoes Brooke Minnich, Agency Partnerships Coordinator.

Moving toward a food-secure future was not just the focus of the film but also the focus of the premiere on February 7th. After the film showing, panelists from food security partners around Santa Fe and Rio Arriba gathered to discuss their vision of a healthy community and what steps we can take now to continue their

work. For Zac Cornfield, director of “Movement,” the film was a learning experience in many ways.

“I would just like to say I am extremely proud of the film we've made,” he shared. “We really tried to capture all of the amazing work The Food Depot is doing and the people behind the scenes. I hope the film is as educational and inspiring to those who watch it as it was for me during the production.”

The Food Depot is forever grateful to Michael Campbell, Paul McKittrick, and the film crew for their dedication “Movement” and the gift of this film.

Market Street manager and TFD board member Jeremy Miller greets staff at his store.

The crew visited several partners, including Reunity Farms.

The crew learning how Chef Russell Johnson prepares meals for clients.

Bernal Community Center volunteers attend the "Movement" premiere.

Volunteers featured in "Movement" wait to enter the theater on Feb. 7th.

A panel of food security partners speaks with attendees during the premiere.

The Connection Between Stable Housing and Food Insecurity

In a 2023 survey conducted by Feeding America, 55% of respondents identified housing as a critical factor contributing to food insecurity.

This connection is a stark reality for many of The Food Depot’s clients in Northern New Mexico.

Vilma Martinez, one of The Food Depot’s two full-time Resource Navigators, sheds light on the issue: “Many of our families struggle to afford groceries because their utility bill or rent must come first, and many working clients struggle with the cost of those basic needs as well.”

While The Food Depot provides emergency food assistance at more than one hundred sites across nine counties, it recognizes that emergency food is a temporary solution if families consistently fall behind on other basic needs, particularly rent.

To address the challenges posed by high rental costs and utility payments, The Food Depot’s Navigators have collaborated with NM Coalition to End Homelessness (NMCEH) to ensure that clients seeking emergency food assistance

also have access to permanent supportive housing. Whether a client is referred to The Food Depot by NMCEH or vice versa, navigators work closely with the family to apply for rental payments, deposits, or first/ last month’s rent.

The support process is comprehensive, with Navigators collecting all relevant documents, determining eligibility, and completing the application on behalf of their clients. Submitted documents are reviewed by NMCEH, who issues a check if the application is approved. Navigators go the extra mile, picking up and delivering any checks to clients.

Sonia Salazar, Office Administrator at NMCEH, works closely with The Food Depot Navigators and sees the impact of the partnership: “When more people have stable housing, communities become stronger. People are happier, healthier, and more connected to their neighbors. Kids do better in school, and there's less crime. Overall, everyone feels safer and more supported!”

As we work to end poverty in Northern New Mexico, it is crucial to understand why people seek food assistance, provide support as people move toward food security, but also identify long-term, systemic solutions.

Thank you for Giving on

Thank you to everyone who donated on Giving Tuesday!

From August 2023 to February 2024, Resource Navigators Vilma Martinez and Ever Solis have assisted dozens of clients, resulting in a total of $23,152.10 in housing assistance.

The City of Santa Fe’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund administers the funds to the NMCEH.

More than 300 individuals joined The Food Depot on this special day to spread kindness, share why they give, and support our programs.

On November 28th, more than $100,000 dollars was gifted to The Food Depot — enough to provide over 400,000 meals!

You helped us raise almost double the 2022 totals.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

Pickleball Club Volunteers Staff Members

Mary Ocampo and Paul Rodriguez

Board Member Bill Sveum

Agency Partnership Coordinator Brooke Minnich

Visit the Youth Shelter and Family Services Street Outreach Program

Building Relationships

In January, two of The Food Depot staff members had the pleasure of visiting one of our longtime partner agencies, Youth Shelter and Family Services (YSFS).

YSFS has been providing lifechanging solutions to homeless, runaway, and in-crisis youth in Northern New Mexico since the 1980s. Their partnership with The Food Depot provides diapers to the Pregnant and Parenting Youth Initiative and helps to stock food pantries at their Emergency Youth Shelter, Street Outreach Program (SOP), and Transitional Living Program.

“Everything we do is about creating safety, building relationships, connecting people to folks in the community. Our programs are about having an adult who loves and supports and cares for you unconditionally so you can thrive,” explains Paige Kitson, SOP Program Director.

snack or decide they are ready for a higher degree of case management and enter programs like STAR Rapid Rehousing. Individuals in STAR receive up to 24 months of rental assistance and case management with the goal of achieving independence and maintaining permanent housing at discharge.

The organization is part of the Built for Zero Campaign, which works with partners to end youth homelessness in Santa Fe County. “We can do it,” says Paige. “We have made a lot of progress in the last five years. We really just need more housing in Santa Fe. More places for people to live.”

YSFS offers six different programs with varying levels of case management. Homeless Youth can either come to the Street Outreach Drop-In to take a shower and eat a

Scarlett Cortez, Street Outreach Service Coordinator, models the backpack the team wears when providing resources to clients.

Want to learn more about YSFS?

Visit https:// youthshelters. org/

Donate to the Street Outreach Program! They can always use gift cards (gas, fast food, etc.) for youth on the go who need a place to rest and internet access.

Happy Birthday, Casita de Comida!

When Casita de Comida first opened its doors off Riverside Drive in Española, only a few curious people were bold enough to wander into this brand new pantry experience. Fast forward from December 2022 to December 2023, and the no-cost market had expanded to include more distribution days and available items for clients. The now popular market, originally serving 50 clients each distribution, can now serve 100 clients each distribution. Shelves are filled with canned goods, baking supplies, produce, dairy, frozen foods, and personal care products.

Friends and supporters of Casita de Comida gathered on December 13th to celebrate the growth and achievements of the market’s first year.

“A year ago, Casita de Comida was a brand new vision,” said Deputy Director Jill Dixon. “We imagined a place where choice and dignity were front and center. Thank you to our staff and the Rio Arriba community who collaborated to turn this empty storefront into the vibrant, welcoming market we see today.”

Attendees at the celebration included LANL, El Parasol, and R & M Construction, all business supporters of Casita de Comida. Friends, volunteers, and community supporters such as Presbyterian Healthcare Services and Bridge to Health also came to toast to the market’s continued success.

Casita de Comida currently has a waitlist for new clients. To help us open the market for even more distribution days, donate at thefooddepot.org/donate.

Vilma Martinez and Presbyterian's Alice Guerra

Steven Bolin and LANL's Joanna Gillespie

Billie Secular and volunteer Mary Ferguson

Upcoming Events

Night at the Warehouse is Back!

Every third Thursday of the month, The Food Depot will be hosting an exclusive cocktail hour at our Santa Fe warehouse. Each event will feature a tour, appetizers, and exciting conversation. This is a great opportunity to see what has been happening across The Food Depot’s programs and partnerships. We hope to see you there!

For more information about Night at the Warehouse, please reach out to our development team at development@thefooddepot.org.

Stamp Out Hunger Returns this Spring

The biggest food drive of the year is just a few months away!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 11th. On this day, your postal carrier will be collecting canned goods for the food bank in your area. If you live in Santa Fe, just place dry goods in a bag next to your mailbox. Your items will be delivered to The Food Depot and then distributed across our programs.

In 2023, The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive collected 24,000 pounds of food for Northern New Mexico families!

Thank You, Sherry Hooper, for 22 Years of Service!

Following a long career of dedicated service to Northern New Mexico families, Sherry Hooper has announced her retirement as Executive Director of The Food Depot. Sherry is the longest-serving executive director in the food bank’s history. Prior to her arrival at The Food Depot in 2001, she spent ten years at Harvesters Food Bank in Kansas City, MO, her hometown. Sherry’s vision for The Food Depot has been transformational. She has built The Food Depot into a trusted,

award-winning nonprofit, leading staff and volunteers through numerous natural disasters, a pandemic, and the crisis of rising inflation. Her advocacy work around SNAP, free school meals, and food access will forever benefit New Mexican families.

Before her final day on June 30th, we encourage you to write Sherry a handwritten note of thanks. Cards can be mailed to

The Food Depot at 1222 A Siler Road, Santa Fe, NM 87507.

Electronic messages can be left at http://tinyurl. com/ note4sherry.

The Food Depot is planning several community events this summer to give people the opportunity to say “farewell” to Sherry. Please follow The Food Depot on social media or read our latest email blasts for updates.

The summer Depot Dispatch will feature more on Sherry’s incredible career and impact on Northern New Mexico.

Spend time at an exclusive event with The Food Depot's staff and board.

Mark your calendars for May 11th for the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive!

Advocacy Updates

To end hunger in Northern New Mexico, The Food Depot advocates for policies and programs that lift people out of poverty. Stay informed and act now to end poverty in our state.

We believe access to food is a human right.

2024 NM Legislative Session

The Food Depot joined the NM Association of Food Banks to advocate for recurring food bank funding and the expansion of nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP.

We want to thank everyone who reached out to their elected officials to share their support of the food banks. Your voice made a difference!

The Farm Bill

Successes:

• Increase in SNAP benefit from $25 to $100 for New Mexico’s struggling senior citizens

• New Mexico’s five food banks will receive a collective $5 million of support

• Double Up Food Bucks funding awarded

Thank you to our food bank champions this session: Senators

Liz Stefanics, Nancy Rodriguez, Bill Tallman, Harold Pope who sponsored Senate Bill 46 and Representatives

Andrea Romero, Charlotte Little, and Cristina Parajon who sponsored House Bill 131.

Congress has extended the 2018 Farm Bill, which will now expire in September 2024. The farm bill contains expansive legislation that governs many nutrition and agriculture programs. These nutrition programs–and more–work in tandem with food banks across the country to assist families and individuals facing hunger. Critical programs include SNAP, TEFAP, and CSFP.

Tell your lawmakers to pass a farm bill that supports food banks and people across the United States.

We urge you to contact your NM congressional delegation:

Senator Martin Heinrich

Senator Ben Ray Luján

Representative Teresa Leger Fernández

Representative Melanie Ann Stansbury

Representative Gabriel Vasquez

The NM Association of Food Banks

Did you know there are five food banks in New Mexico? Each food bank is responsible for counties in a specific region of the state, but food banks collaborate to improve services and advocate for a better food system for New Mexico. You can learn more about the NM Association of Food Banks at nmfoodbanks.org.

Snapshot – 2023 Food Bank Impact

Overall Poundage9 million pounds 624,000 meals per month

20% of overall distribution was protein

62% of over distribution was fruits and vegetables

Programs include The Food Depot drive-through pantries, Mobile Food Pantries, Food 4 Kids School-Based Pantries, Casita de Comida, Food Mobile, and Food 4 Pets.

Volunteers gave 22,000 hours of service in 2023.

The Food Depot’s 80 Partner agencies distributed 50% of overall poundage, while The Food Depot’s programs provided the other 50% to individuals.

The Food Depot Staff Scrapbook

Programs Coordinator distributes produce at a drive-through distribution.

Operations staff James Sanchez, Ashlynn Montoya, and Jonathan Griego with Laura Perea, NM TEFAP administator, during a successful inspection.

More than 3,000 children benefited from the Diaper Depot program.

Executive Director Sherry Hooper and board member David Risser

prepare to speak on the Richard Eeds radio show.

Staff Zamir Crispin, Fred Santistevan, and Alma Salas enjoy a bite of soup at Souper Bowl.

We hope to see you at our warehouse!

Sign up for a tour, attend Making Ends Meet , or spend a Saturday volunteering! There are so many ways to get involved at The Food Depot. Visit thefooddepot.org.