REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM >>LORENE: HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

OUR GUEST TODAY IS JILL DIXON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>JILL: THRILLED TO BE HERE AS USUAL.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU ARE THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE SANTA FE FOOD DEPOT, WHICH IS NORTHERN NEW MEXICO'S FOOD BANK AND I HAVE BROUGHT YOU HERE FOR ONE THING BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU DO, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE KIND OF IN A HUNGER CLIFF, A FOOD CRISIS FOR THE COUNTRY AND CERTAINLY FOR A POOR STATE LIKE NEW MEXICO.

SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>JILL: THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>>LORENE: GIVE US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, HOW YOU ENDED UP IN THIS LINE OF WORK, BUT ALSO THE HISTORY OF THE FOOD DEPOT HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN OPERATING AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

I STARTED MY CAREER AT THE FOOD DEPOT IN 2012 AS THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, I WAS BROUGHT IN TO HELP RAISE THE MONEY TO BUILD THE WAREHOUSE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING OFF OF, A SERIES OF WONDERFUL EVENTS LED TO ME BECOMING PART OF THE FOOD DEPOT TEAM AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE.

AS FAR AS THE FOOD DEPOT GOES, WE ARE NORTHERN NEW MEXICO'S ONLY FOOD BANK, WE SERVE NINE COUNTIES, A TOTAL AREA OF 26,000 SQUARE MILES.

LET IT SINK IN, RIGHT?

>>LORENE: AND THOSE ARE NOT RICH, LUXURIOUS AGRICULTURAL, FERTILE MILES.

>>JILL: NO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REMOTE LITTLE VILLAGES AND FRONTIER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SPRINKLED ALL THROUGHOUT NORTHERN NEW MEXICO, RICH WITH CULTURE AND HISTORY AND FAMILY, BUT NOT ALWAYS AFFLUENT AND NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

AND WE ARE CHARGED WITH THE SERVICE OF THOSE COMMUNITIES, MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH FOOD FOR EVERYONE.

AND ACROSS THOSE NINE COUNTIES, THE FOOD DEPOT HAS OVER 70 NONPROFIT PARTNERS IN HUNGER RELIEF, AND WE DISTRIBUTE FOOD AT A TOTAL OF 150 LOCATIONS ACROSS THAT SERVICE AREA.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THOSE ARE, BUT I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SHERRY HOOPER, BECAUSE SHE HAS MENTIONED ON THIS SHOW EVEN, WE HAVE FED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND YET WE ARE NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER.

AND THEN SHE QUOTES DESMOND TUTU WHO SAYS, WE NEED TO STOP JUST PULLING PEOPLE FROM THE RIVER, WE NEED TO GO UPSTREAM AND SEE WHY THEY'RE FALLING IN.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE DOING AT THE FOOD DEPOT, YOU ARE GOING UPSTREAM TO SEE HOW CAN WE KEEP THESE PEOPLE FROM FALLING IN.

SO HOW DO YOU KEEP THEM, I MEAN, IT'S A WHOLE COMPLICATED THING ABOUT POVERTY AND HUNGER AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT REALLY COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT.

>>JILL: IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE, AND I THINK IT'S ALWAYS UNCOMFORTABLE TO TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS THAT ARE COMPLEX AND REQUIRE A COMPLETE REIMAGINING OF THE WAY THAT WE DO THINGS.

THE FOOD DEPOT WAS OBVIOUSLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING IMMEDIATE HUNGER RELIEF IN THE TODAY, IN THE NOW, WE HAD A HUGE DISTRIBUTION OUT OF OUR WAREHOUSE THIS MORNING ON SILER ROAD THAT WOULD'VE SERVED OVER 500 HOUSEHOLDS.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE FEEDING PEOPLE WHILE WE WORK ON SYSTEMIC CHANGE BECAUSE CHANGE COMES SLOWLY.

SO WHILE WE ARE GOING UP RIVER, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PART OF OUR TEAM SCOOPING FOLKS OUT DOWNRIVER AND MAKING SURE FOOD IS GETTING TO FOLKS IN NEED AS OFTEN AS THEY NEED IT.

BUT WE ARE WORKING PRETTY FIERCELY ON ADVOCACY AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SYSTEMS CHANGE AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT WE HAVE A RESOURCE NAVIGATION PROGRAM THAT IS HELPING TO CONNECT FOLKS WHO REACH OUT TO US FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE, TO OTHER RESOURCES THEY MIGHT NEED, LIKE RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OR JOB DEVELOPMENT, JOB RE-TRAINING SERVICES.

>>LORENE: MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR KIDS.

>>JILL: OR MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR KIDS, OR WAYS TO OVERCOME TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS SO THEY CAN GET GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND EASE THOSE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY'RE IN IN THE MOMENT.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY, OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL GUIDE US THROUGH 2025 IS ADDRESSING ALL THREE OF THOSE LAYERS.

THE VERY IMMEDIATE, YOU NEED FOOD TODAY, THE SORT OF INTERMEDIATE TERM OF I NEED HELP WITH A FEW OTHER THINGS AND THEN SHERRY, AS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE FIERCEST ADVOCATE OF THEM ALL, IS OUT DOING EXEMPLARY WORK WITH OUR LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL OFFICIALS ADVOCATING FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE THAT WILL MEANINGFULLY IMPACT POVERTY SYSTEMS AND THEREBY IMPROVE HUNGER SITUATIONS.

>>LORENE: AND I THINK THAT MOST OF OUR LAW MAKERS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS AND SO EVERY NOW AND THEN I READ SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY HEARTENING.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR HAVE SIGNED A BILL THAT WILL GIVE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TO EVERY SCHOOL KID, I THOUGHT WELL THAT'S GREAT.

IT WON'T START UNTIL JULY AND SO IT'S BEEN LONG, COLD, HUNGRY WINTER AND I'M HAPPY THAT IT'S COMING.

I'D LIKE IT TO BE MORE IMMEDIATE, BUT IT IS A WONDERFUL THING.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SO MUCH ABUNDANCE IN OUR STATE AND WE HAVE A LARGE BUDGET SURPLUS, AND IF WE CAN'T USE IT TO FEED EVERY CHILD, EVERY MEXICAN CHILD, THEN OUR VALUES ARE A LITTLE MESSED UP.

SO THAT IS COMING, STARTING IN JULY, KIDS WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A FREE BREAKFAST AND FREE LUNCH.

>>JILL: UNIVERSAL FREE LUNCHES WAS A HUGE PRIORITY FOR THE FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE STATE AND EVERYONE WHO IS ADVOCATING FOR ANTI-HUNGER, YOU KNOW, HIGH FOOD SECURITY WORK, IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY EXEMPLARY STEP FORWARD.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WORK TO BE DONE AND YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT THAT, IT'S FANTASTIC THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS THAT ARE SITTING ON THAT HUNGER CLIFF THAT YOU MENTIONED AND OUR SENIOR POPULATIONS ARE AMONG THEM.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>JILL: SO IT IS PART OF A SOLUTION, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNOR'S WORK AND THE LEGISLATURE FOR TAKING THAT SERIOUSLY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT OTHER CHANGES ARE COMING ALONG IN THE COMING YEARS.

>>LORENE: SO THIS TERM "HUNGER CLIFF," IT'S BEEN IN THE GUARDIAN .

>>JILL: IT'S BEEN EVERYWHERE.

>>LORENE: IT'S EVERYWHERE AND THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS FACING IT.

AND SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT THEY MENTIONED ARE THE FACTS THAT THE COST OF FOOD HAS GONE UP.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT CALIFORNIA, WHICH SO MANY OF OUR VEGETABLES AND FRUITS COME FROM, THEY'VE HAD 11 ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS AND I WATCHED ON TELEVISION, MILES, HUNDREDS OF MILES OF STRAWBERRY FIELDS WASHED AWAY FOREVER, JUST GONE.

I THOUGHT, OH IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY BITTER SUMMER WITHOUT OUR STRAWBERRIES, BUT YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO PERSONALIZE IT, BUT A HUGE AMOUNT OF OUR AGRICULTURE LARGESSE COMES FROM CALIFORNIA AND THE WEATHER HAS NOT BEEN VERY GOOD TO THEM.

THE OTHER ELEMENT OF THIS HUNGER CLIFF THAT'S SO IMPORTANT IS THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC THERE WERE EXTRA SNAP BENEFITS OR FOOD STAMPS AND THEY'VE ENDED NOW AND SO THAT'S TWO THINGS.

AND FOOD COSTS SO MUCH AND THE QUALITY OF FOOD, IT'S HARD TO GET BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THEN THE END OF THE COVID BENEFITS.

AND I HAD READ, I THINK PERHAPS IN SOME OF THE MATERIAL YOU SENT ME, THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO LOSE SNAP BENEFITS MAY LOSE $85 OR SO PER MONTH, BUT A FAMILY WOULD LOSE UP TO $300 A MONTH.

THAT'S A LOT OF FOOD TO HAVE TO CUT BACK ON.

>>JILL: IT'S ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW WE HOST A WORKSHOP CALLED MAKING ENDS MEET, THAT IS A POVERTY SIMULATION.

AND WHAT WE KNOW IS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC 2019, 75% OF AMERICANS WERE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, THERE WAS NO SAVINGS, MONTH TO MONTH, THEY WERE PIECING IT TOGETHER TO MAKE THE RENT, TO GET ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILY, TO COVER BASIC MEDICAL COSTS, BUY THE PENCILS FOR THE KIDS' BACKPACK, DIFFICULT TO MAKE THOSE ENDS MEET.

WHAT WE SEE NOW IS THAT ECONOMIC DISPARITY HAS DEEPENED AND COVID ERA BENEFITS LIKE EXPANDED SNAP, WHICH HAS BEEN LASTING LONGER IN NEW MEXICO THAN SEVERAL OTHER STATES, ESPECIALLY A FEW OF OUR NEIGHBORS, WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT FOR AS LONG AS WE DID.

WITH THE LOSS OF EXPANDED SNAP BENEFITS, A FAMILY MIGHT LOSE AS MUCH AS $250 PER MONTH AND THEY WERE STILL STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT WITH THAT EXTRA $250 A MONTH, BUT WHAT WE ALSO KNOW IS THAT THE RATE OF INFLATION ON FOOD HAS INCREASED THE COST OF FOOD FOR THAT SAME FAMILY OF FOUR BY ABOUT $460.

SO DO THE SIMPLE MATH THERE, THERE'S A $200 GAP AND THAT IS NOT EASILY OVERCOME.

SO THERE IS A HUNGER CLIFF, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AS THE PERFECT STORM, THIS CLIFF, THAT BENEFITS ARE GOING AWAY, RIGHT WHEN FOOD PRICES ARE HITTING THIS ABSOLUTE APEX, ESPECIALLY HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS, IMPACTFUL FOODS.

>>LORENE: PROTEIN.

>>JILL: EGGS, ALL THE PROTEINS, CERTAINLY FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT ARE HIGH IMPACT AND THAT DISPARITY AND THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF INADEQUATE NUTRITION AND HAVING TO CUT CORNERS NUTRITIONALLY, WE'RE REALLY GOING TO SEE THE IMPACTS OF THAT.

>>LORENE: YOU HAD HAD A STATISTIC THAT IN 2022, YOUR FOOD DEPOT DISTRIBUTED HOW MANY MILLION MEALS, WAIT A MINUTE, LET ME LOOK AT THIS, 8.3 MILLION MEALS IN 2022, IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.

53% OF WHICH WERE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: AND NOW HOW MUCH HARDER IS IT GOING TO GET.

>>JILL: IT'S ALREADY HARDER.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU, DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH GREAT SOURCES OF FUNDING, PARTICULARLY SOME THAT WERE COMING IN FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO BUY THESE WONDERFUL PRODUCE BOXES THAT HAD REALLY FRESH GRADE A PRODUCE.

AND THOSE STARTED OUT AT $11 A BOX, AND THEN THEY WENT TO 16, AND THEN THEY WENT TO 19.

AND THOSE SOURCES OF FUNDING DRIED UP AND THE DEMAND INCREASED AND THE PRICE OF THE BOXES INCREASED AND WE EXHAUSTED OUR FISCAL YEAR BUDGET FOR 22, 23, WHICH SHOULD RUN UNTIL JUNE 30 OF THIS YEAR, WE EXHAUSTED THAT BUDGET IN NOVEMBER.

>>LORENE: I READ THAT AND I WAS SO SHOCKED BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 30 YEARS.

YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN THE STANDARD OF CARE THAT YOU PROVIDE, BUT TO BE HARDLY HALFWAY INTO THE FISCAL YEAR AND TO BE OUT, YOU SAID YOU MOVED MONEY AROUND, BUT ONE OTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT IS PEOPLE ARE NOT DONATING LIKE THEY USED TO OR SOMETIMES THEY THINK THAT IF THEY GO AND BUY SIX CANS OF TUNA AND DROP THEM OFF, WHICH IS A KIND LOVELY THING, AND YET IF THEY DONATE MONEY TO THE FOOD BANKS, YOU HAVE HUGE PURCHASING POWER.

>>JILL: WE DO.

>>LORENE: AND YOU CAN BUY 40,000 POUNDS.

SO YOU'RE NOT PAYING RETAIL, YOU'RE NOT EVEN PAYING WHOLESALE, YOU HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE LEVERAGE TO BUY FOOD.

AND SO AS WE ASK PEOPLE TO DONATE AND TO ADVOCATE AND TO VOLUNTEER, TO JUST REMEMBER THAT DONATIONS, SAY YOU HAVE THE BEST CROP OF TOMATOES EVER, BRING YOUR EXTRA TOMATOES IN.

>>JILL: EVERY DAY.

>>LORENE: AND EVEN PLANT A FEW EXTRA ROWS, JUST TO DONATE.

BUT FOR THE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE, IT'S MUCH BETTER TO KIND OF GIVE YOU THE MONEY AND LET YOU USE YOUR LEVERAGE TO BUY IT.

BUT WHATEVER PEOPLE DO, IS SO IMPORTANT.

>>JILL: ALL SUPPORT MATTERS.

>>LORENE: IF YOU SEE, IF YOU'VE GOT A NEIGHBOR KID WHO MIGHT BE HUNGRY, HAVE THEM COME IN FOR MILK AND COOKIES OR IF THERE'S AN ELDERLY PERSON IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORLY KINDNESS THAT WE ALSO, AND YOU DO THIS ON AN INSTITUTIONAL SCALE.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: THANK YOU.

NOW, YOU, YOURSELF HAVE BEEN HAVING TO BITE THE BULLET AND MOVE YOUR MONEY AROUND, THE FOOD INFLATION, THE PRICE OF FOOD HAS GONE UP SO MUCH, IT'S ACTUALLY SHOCKING.

>>JILL: WE'VE NEVER SEEN IT, LIKE YOU SAID, IN OUR 30 YEARS IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, PRETTY CATASTROPHIC TO SEE HOW QUICKLY THAT BUDGET GOT EATEN UP.

AND WE HAD INCREASED IT SUBSTANTIALLY BECAUSE WE KNEW WE WERE SERVING MORE PEOPLE, WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE A FEW FUNDING SOURCES AS COVID ERA MONEY WENT AWAY.

SO SOME OF THIS WE ANTICIPATED, BUT IT IS SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE, IT HAS HIT US SO MUCH HARDER AND WE'RE ALSO PAYING THAT INCREASED COST IN FREIGHT, WHICH CAN'T BE OVERLOOKED.

AND YOU KNOW, JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, WE'RE SPENDING $9,000 A MONTH JUST TO MOVE THE FOOD AROUND OUR 26,000 MILES SERVICE AREA, JUST IN FUEL.

SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLE OPERATION TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE 150 DISTRIBUTIONS PER MONTH, BUT IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO PUT FOOD IN THOSE TRUCKS AND TO PUT FUEL IN THOSE TRUCKS AND GET IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST.

>>LORENE: YEAH, IT IS REALLY A MULTI TENTACLE OCTOPUS.

BUT, WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH JILL DIXON FROM THE NEW MEXICO, NORTHERN NEW MEXICO FOOD BANK, THE FOOD DEPOT.

SO I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU DO, BUT I TOO HADN'T CONSIDERED THE TRANSPORTATION COST AND GAS IS EXPENSIVE.

>>JILL: IT IS.

>>LORENE: IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING'S CREEPING UP ON ALL SIDES.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION POINTS AND TELL ME HOW MANY MILES YOU COVER AGAIN.

>>JILL: 26,000 SQUARE MILES.

IT BOGGLES THE MIND.

>>LORENE: YEAH, IT DOES, IT DOES.

AND THEN 150 DISTRIBUTION POINTS.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT, OH ONE THING.

THERE SHOULD BE NO SHAME IN BEING HUNGRY.

AND IF THERE ARE KIDS HUNGRY, IT IS OUR DUTY TO STEP UP AND BE SURE THAT KIDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

IT'S THEIR BRAINS, IT'S OUR FUTURE.

SO, I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY, OH, IT'S JUST A TOUGH TIME RIGHT NOW, WE'LL GET THROUGH IT.

PLEASE TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT YOU OFFER, IT'S THERE FOR WHOEVER NEEDS IT.

THERE'S NO JUDGMENT.

>>JILL: NO JUDGMENT AT ALL.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR FOOD, DISTRIBUTIONS, THE THURSDAY MORNINGS IN PARTICULAR ARE NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

WE ASK HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS YOU'RE PICKING UP FOR.

WE DO THAT JUST SO WE KNOW WHAT TO PUT IN THE CAR.

THERE ARE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR INCOME, SELF-DECLARATION PIECES, PRETTY NON-INVASIVE, IF YOU GO TO SOME OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE.

BUT ANYONE SHOULD FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD FOR ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY NEED IT.

SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED A BREAK, WE JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS ARE REALLY ROBUST AND OFFER NUTRITIOUS FOOD.

OUT OF THE 10 AND A HALF MILLION POUNDS WE DISTRIBUTED LAST YEAR, ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THOSE 8.3 MILLION MEALS, 53% WAS FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, 22% WAS PROTEIN ITEMS.

SO IT ISN'T JUST CAKES AND CANNED FOOD.

>>LORENE: OR OREOS AND CEREAL.

>>JILL: THERE'S CABBAGE, THERE'S CHILE, THERE'S ONIONS AND POTATOES, AND WONDERFUL BROCCOLI ON OCCASION AND GREAT ORANGES THAT HAVE COME IN THROUGH THE USDA COMMODITY PROGRAMS.

SO THERE'S ROBUST, WONDERFUL FOOD AND IT IS THERE FOR THE TAKING FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

SO PLEASE DON'T EVER HESITATE, YOU CAN FIND OUT WHERE THOSE DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE AT THEFOODDEPOT.ORG, SPREAD OUT ALL THROUGHOUT NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.

OBVIOUSLY, A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF OPPORTUNITIES IN SANTA FE WHERE THERE'S THE MOST POPULATION DENSITY, BUT GREAT OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS RIO ARRIBA COUNTY UP IN TAOS, CERTAINLY IN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY AND COLFAX AS WELL.

>>LORENE: I WAS INTERESTED IN THE PAST YOU'VE HAD SOME DISTRIBUTION CENTERS AT HIGH SCHOOLS.

>>JILL: YEAH.

>>LORENE: REALLY FEEDING HUNGRY KIDS.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S OUR FOOD FOR KIDS PROGRAM AND THAT UNDERWENT A SHIFT IN 2019 AND IT'S AN INTERESTING THING CAUSE WE DID THIS WHOLE PROGRAM REDESIGN AND THEN WE GOT A PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING CHANGED.

BUT WE WENT FROM FILLING SIMPLE LITTLE SNACKS LIKE THE PEANUT BUTTER AND CRACKERS KIND OF THING, WHICH WE HAD BEEN DOING FOR YEARS.

AND WE LOOKED CRITICALLY AT THAT PROGRAM AND SAID, THIS IS GREAT THAT THERE ARE TEN SNACKS IN THIS BAG FOR THIS ONE CHILD, BUT THAT CHILD'S GOING HOME TO A FAMILY.

AND AS A PARENT, I CAN SAY THAT IF MY CHILD IS GOING HUNGRY, I'M VERY HUNGRY.

I'M GOING TO SACRIFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT MY CHILD DOESN'T GO WITHOUT.

SO WE WANTED TO REDESIGN THAT PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT FOOD WAS ACCESSIBLE IN SCHOOLS, IN WAYS THAT GROCERIES COULD BE TAKEN HOME TO ENTIRE FAMILIES TO FEED NON-SCHOOL AGED SIBLINGS, TO FEED OLDER SIBLINGS THAT MAYBE AREN'T IN SCHOOL ANY LONGER, BUT ARE STILL LIVING IN THE HOME AND TO FEED THOSE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS THAT ARE THERE.

SO WE NOW OFFER SCHOOL-BASED PANTRIES IN LIEU OF THE SNACK PACKS AND THOSE ARE IN, I BELIEVE, 19 SCHOOLS NOW.

A HUGE CHUNK OF THEM IN SANTA FE WHERE THE PROGRAM HAD ITS ORIGINS, BUT WE ARE NOW SPRINKLED ACROSS RIO ARRIBA COUNTY AND UP INTO TAOS.

AND THEY'RE TINY LITTLE SCHOOL-BASED PANTRIES WHERE THERE'S A GOOD OFFERING OF PRODUCE, FROZEN MEATS AND ALSO SHELF STABLE ITEMS THAT FAMILIES CAN CHOOSE AT AN INTERVAL DETERMINED BY THE SCHOOL COORDINATOR.

>>LORENE: AND DO THE CHILDREN OR THE FAMILIES GET TO GO IN AND CHOOSE?

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: SO PEANUT BUTTER KIDS WHO JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH PEANUT BUTTER.

>>JILL: THERE'S PEANUT BUTTER ON THE SHELF THERE.

>>LORENE: THAT IS SO WONDERFUL.

AND THEN THEY CAN BRING THAT HOME TO THE FAMILY, WHAT A SATISFYING FEELING FOR THEM.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE FOCUS ON ITEMS THAT FAMILIES CAN USE.

BEANS AND RICE, THOSE PASTAS AND PASTA SAUCES, DEFINITELY THOSE FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRUITS A CORNERSTONE OF THAT.

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A NUTRITIONAL PACKET THAT CAN GO HOME WITH A CHILD ON THE BUS OR FAMILIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE THROUGH AND PICK SOMETHING UP WHILE THEY'RE THERE PICKING UP THEIR CHILD.

>>LORENE: SO MY HERO IN THIS IS CHEF JOSE ANDRES, WHO DOES SOMETHING CALLED THE WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN.

AND EVERY DISASTER, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, IF THERE'S PROBLEMS IN HAITI, HE'S FEEDING PEOPLE IN HAITI, IN EITHER UKRAINE, HE'S FEEDING THEM EVERYWHERE.

HE'S BEING BOMBED IN UKRAINE.

WHAT A GREAT SPIRITED PERSON TO KNOW THAT WHATEVER IS HAPPENING, IF YOU HAVE A HOT MEAL, YOU'RE GOING TO BE BETTER.

SO, HATS OFF TO HIM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY HATS OFF TO YOU.

>>JILL: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: BECAUSE WE'RE AT THIS FOOD CLIFF AND THIS KIND OF CRITICAL POINT, I WANT TO KNOW HOW PEOPLE CAN HELP, HOW MY AUDIENCE CAN HELP, PBS PEOPLE ARE REALLY GREAT.

>>JILL: PBS PEOPLE ARE GREAT.

I LOVE PBS PEOPLE.

THERE'S SO MANY WAYS TO GET INVOLVED.

I MEAN, I THINK FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ABOUT ALL OF US RECOGNIZING THE ROLE THAT FOOD PLAYS IN OUR OWN LIVES.

YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES FOOD MEAN TO YOU, HOW DOES FOOD HELP YOU CREATE COMMUNITY OR A SENSE OF BELONGING OR A SENSE OF CONNECTION WITHIN YOUR FAMILY, WITHIN THE PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE.

I HAD DINNER WITH A GREAT FRIEND LAST NIGHT, AND WHEN WE DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO GET TOGETHER, OBVIOUSLY THAT MEANT WE WERE GOING TO SHARE A MEAL TOGETHER.

RIGHT.

SO IF FOOD IS THE GREAT UNIFIER OF US ALL, I THINK THAT WE CAN, FIRST OF ALL HOLD IN OUR HEARTS AND HOLD IN OUR MINDS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO GO WITHOUT AND WHEN WE HAVE TO GO WITHOUT FOOD, WHAT ELSE DOES THAT MEAN?

DO WE ALSO LOSE OUT ON COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION AND FEELING LIKE WE BELONG?

DO WE FEEL OTHERED, THAT WE DON'T HAVE FOOD WHEN OTHERS DO?

AND I THINK THE FIRST STEP IS JUST TO HOLD THAT IN YOUR HEART.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SOMEONE IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO GO HUNGRY, WHEN WE HAVE SO MUCH AND WE HAVE ENOUGH TO GO AROUND AND THEN TAKE ACTION FROM THAT SPACE.

WHAT FITS BEST FOR YOU, DO YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER AND BELONG TO OUR CORE VOLUNTEERS WHO STAND OUT WHEN IT'S NEGATIVE SIX DEGREES LOADING CABBAGE INTO THE BACK OF CARS, LOOKING LIKE PENGUINS AND ALL OF YOUR LIKE MULTIPLE LAYERS, DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THAT TEAM.

DO YOU WANT TO WRITE A CHECK BECAUSE YOU CAN.

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR SO YOU KNOW, EVERY SINGLE MONTH YOU'RE PROVIDING, YOU KNOW FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH, YOU CAN PROVIDE 400 MEALS.

>>LORENE: OH MY GOODNESS.

>>JILL: TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICANS IN NEED.

SO DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THAT, DO YOU WANT TO HOST A FOOD DRIVE, YOU KNOW, IN LIEU OF SOMEBODY'S GRADUATION PARTY OR YOUR 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, DO YOU WANT TO HOLD A FOOD DRIVE INSTEAD?

OR A FUND DRIVE, ASK YOUR RELATIVES TO GIVE TO THE FOOD DEPOT IN YOUR HONOR, THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO DO THAT, BUT YOU CAN ALSO JOIN OUR ADVOCACY COMMITTEE AND GET INVOLVED IN POLICY AND BECOME THAT SQUEAKY WHEEL THAT IS NUDGING OUR CITY COUNSELORS, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL, AND TELL THEM THE FARM BILL'S GOING TO GET DEBATED IN SEPTEMBER, AND I CARE ABOUT SNAP.

I WANT TO SEE SNAP, NOT JUST REDUCED, BUT I WANT TO SEE IT INCREASED.

I WANT TO SEE MORE FOOD STAMPS IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS.

>>LORENE: SINCE WE'VE MENTIONED IT A COUPLE TIMES.

IT'S SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL AID.

>>JILL: ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

>>LORENE: OKAY.

AND IT USED TO BE CALLED FOOD STAMPS AND IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION.

I LIVE IN A SMALL COMMUNITY OF AGUA FRIA AND THERE'S A COMMUNITY FARM THERE.

THERE'S SOME COMMUNITY REFRIGERATORS AND IT'S FULL OF EXTRA PRODUCE, SOMETIMES RESTAURANTS WILL MAKE WONDERFUL ENCHILADA MEALS AND PUT THEM IN THERE.

AND BEVERAGES AND FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AND IT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO JUST CROSS THE RIVER, THERE'S A PLACE TO PARK BY THE REFRIGERATORS, YOU CAN GO IN.

AND A FEW, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER WHEN WE ALL HAVE OUR HOME GARDENS, WHEN WE HAVE EXTRA, IT IS SO WONDERFUL.

FRESH PICKED LETTUCE, TOMATOES, IT'S GREAT.

SO, I JUST THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS SO IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO KNOW THAT THE SATISFACTION PEOPLE GET FROM HELPING PEOPLE AT THIS MOST BASIC, PRIMAL LEVEL.

AND TO SEE A KID WHO'S HUNGRY HAVE AN ORANGE, YOU KNOW, IT'S OR AN OREO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SO, IT'S A TRANSMISSION OF ENERGY THERE AND THAT YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SO THERE'S ADVOCACY, THERE'S DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERING IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT.

I LOVE YOUR DESCRIBING HAVING TO PEEL OFF THE LEAVES OF CABBAGES WITH YOUR SKI GLOVES BECAUSE IT WAS SO COLD OUT.

BUT THERE'S MANY LEVELS THAT PEOPLE CAN VOLUNTEER AT.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: SO WHERE IS YOUR WAREHOUSE?

>>JILL: WE'RE LOCATED ON SILER ROAD, AND WE HAVE VOLUNTEER SHIFTS TWICE A DAY, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, JUST THE MORNINGS ON FRIDAY.

BUT WE'RE ALSO OFFERING SPECIAL VOLUNTEER SHIFTS FOR CORPORATE AND BUSINESS GROUPS TO COME IN AND DO TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES ON SATURDAYS WITH A PREREGISTRATION AND A PLANNING PERIOD.

WE'RE ALSO OFFERING A THURSDAY EVENING SHIFT FOR FOLKS WHO ARE STILL IN THE WORKFORCE AND CAN'T, YOU KNOW, COME OVER ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON, BUT WE HAVE OUR EARLY THURSDAY MORNING DISTRIBUTION, WE START AT 7:00 AM, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE WORKING A SHIFT, STARTING AT NINE O'CLOCK.

>>LORENE: IT'S PRETTY MUCH CONTACTLESS.

>>JILL: YEAH.

>>LORENE: YOU KNOW, YOU ASK HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE THEY PICKING UP FOR, HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY AND THE TRUNK OPEN UP, THE BOXES ARE PUT IN AND THEY MOVE ON.

>>JILL: AND THEY MOVE ON.

I WORK THAT SHIFT QUITE FREQUENTLY BEFORE I START MY NINE TO FIVE.

I GET THERE AT 6:30 AND I WORK FROM SEVEN TO NINE LOADING CARS.

IT'S AN AMAZING THING TO OPEN UP THE HATCHBACK OF AN SUV AND PUT A BOX OF FROZEN MEAT IN THERE AND THEN HAND OFF A CABBAGE AND SEE THIS BOUNTY THAT'S IN THAT TRUNK AND SAY GOOD MORNING TO THE PERSON DRIVING THE CAR AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

AND THEY'RE SAYING, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH, BLESS YOU.

THERE'S NOTHING MORE REWARDING.

>>LORENE: BUT THE PANDEMIC WAS PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING FOR YOU ALL.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PANDEMIC SHOWED US WAS THAT THE FOOD RELIEF SYSTEM WASN'T THE SAFETY NET WE THOUGHT IT WAS.

>>JILL: WE'RE SIMPLY NOT BIG ENOUGH.

AND I THINK THAT TAKES US BACK TO THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT SNAP AND FOOD STAMPS AND WITH THE COMING FARM BILL, PAY ATTENTION, THERE'S 6,000 THINGS IN THE FARM BILL, BUT THE ONE WE CARE ABOUT THE MOST IS SNAP.

AND ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT.

SNAP, THE FOOD BANK SYSTEM, THE CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM, WE TRY REALLY HARD, WE WORK REALLY HARD, PEOPLE DONATE, THERE'S WONDERFUL SUPPORT, BUT IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO FILL THE HUNGER GAP THAT IS OUT THERE.

BUT SNAP CAN BE AND THE AMAZING PART ABOUT SNAP IS THAT IT'S AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE SOMEONE IN SNAP BENEFITS, THEY GO OUT AND SPEND THAT DOLLAR IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

THAT MAKES OUR GROCERY STORES HEALTHIER, THAT MAKES OUR ECONOMY HEALTHIER.

AND YOU SEE A $1.73 OR MORE RETURNED IN ECONOMIC STIMULUS FROM EVERY DOLLAR OF SNAP.

AND THAT'S WELL DOCUMENTED.

SO WOULDN'T WE RATHER SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF SNAP BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED, WHICH ALLOWS THEM DIGNITY AND THE AGENCY TO SHOP FOR THEIR OWN FOOD, ON THEIR OWN TERMS AND ON THEIR OWN SCHEDULE.

AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH AND LIKE SOCIAL BELONGING BENEFITS THAT GO WITH THAT AGENCY.

>>LORENE: WE'RE, WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, BUT I REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR THE EXPANSION OF SNAP BENEFITS SINCE THEY JUST TAPERED OFF FROM THE PANDEMIC.

>>JILL: THEY DID.

CALL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND TELL THEM THAT YOU SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF SNAP.

YOU CAN EMAIL US AT INFO@THEFOODDEPOT.ORG TO SIGN UP FOR OUR AGENCY NEWSLETTER.

YOU'LL GET MULTIPLE ALERTS PER WEEK ABOUT ACTION ITEMS THAT YOU CAN BECOME ENGAGED IN TO NOTIFY YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT.

>>LORENE: SO THAT'S THE ADVOCACY.

THERE ARE DONATIONS AND THERE'S VOLUNTEERING.

I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS JILL DIXON, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SANTA FE'S NORTHERN NEW MEXICO'S FOOD DEPOT.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

>>JILL: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: AND I'M LORENE MILLS, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM