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 AM LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

OUR GUEST TODAY IS JILL DIXON, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE SANTA FE FOOD DEPOT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>JILL: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INVITATION, THIS IS ALWAYS A HIGHLIGHT.

>>LORENE: WELL YOU RECENTLY RECEIVED A HUGE HONOR, YOU RECEIVED ONE OF THE PINON AWARDS.

TALK ABOUT THE SANTA FE FOUNDATION.

>>JILL: OH MY GOSH, I AM GOING TO CRY BECAUSE I AM STILL NOT OVER IT.

WE RECEIVED THE TRIED-AND-TRUE AWARD FOR OUR LONG-STANDING SERVICE AND CONSISTENCY OF SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY AND IT WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE HONOR.

WOW, IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE OUR STAFF UPON STAGE AND TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE, ESPECIALLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>JILL: HAVING THAT PLATE IN OUR WAREHOUSE, IT IS JUST AMAZING TO SEE THE REWARD.

>>LORENE: AND ALSO IN THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE, THERE ARE A LOT OF NONPROFITS AND THERE PEOPLE WHO DO WONDERFUL THINGS.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: BUT IN A WAY TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY YOUR PEERS IS REALLY AN HONOR, THE PEOPLE OUT THERE AND THE PEOPLE YOU HELP ARE SO GRATEFUL.

SO TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND THEN TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE FOOD DEPOT, HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN AROUND AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

>>JILL: SURE, I HAD A LONG AND WINDING ROAD LEADING UP TO MY ARRIVAL AT THE FOOD DEPOT ABOUT A DECADE AGO.

I, AT THE BEGINNING OF MY CAREER, WAS AN EDUCATOR IN LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS ACROSS TEXAS AND PHILADELPHIA IN PENNSYLVANIA AND GOT TO SEE FIRST-HAND HOW MUCH FOOD INSECURITY AFFECTED THE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES OF CHILDREN.

AND IT REALLY DROVE HOME FOR ME THAT I MAY NOT STAY IN THE CLASSROOM FOREVER BUT I WANTED TO BE SOMEWHERE WHERE THAT WORK WAS BEING DONE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

AND AFTER SPENDING A COUPLE OF YEARS IN OUTSIDE SALES AND GAINING A WHOLE LOT OF LIFE EXPERIENCE, AN OPPORTUNITY CAME UP AT THE FOOD DEPOT IN 2012 AND I JOINED THE TEAM, WHICH WAS A GREAT TIME AND PIVOTING TO A MOMENT WHEN THE FOOD BANK REALLY EXPANDED.

WE WERE SHARING A BUILDING WITH KITCHEN ANGELS OVER ON SILER ROAD.

WE HAD A LOW, WIDE BUILDING THAT DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF SPACE FOR MORE FOOD.

AND AT THAT TIME WE WERE DISTRIBUTING ABOUT 3.6 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD ACROSS NINE COUNTIES IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO BUT WE COULDN'T GROW TO MEET THE NEEDS THAT WAS FAR EXCEEDING WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE.

SO WE BUILT THIS NEW BUILDING, THAT'S WHAT I GOT HIRED FOR AND IMMEDIATELY INCREASED OUR CAPACITY EXPONENTIALLY 4.6 MILLION POUNDS, 5.4 MILLION POUNDS, 6.2 MILLION POUNDS YEAR OVER YEAR.

AND THEN WE MET A PANDEMIC, AND WE DID 12.5 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD, DISTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE IN NEED, IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC AND IT ALL MADE SENSE - WHY I WAS HERE, WHY THE FOOD DEPOT WAS HERE AND WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN ONE OF ITS DARKEST MOMENTS.

>>LORENE: YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SHERRY HOOPER, USES THIS QUOTE THAT I JUST LOVE, SHE SAID, "WE FED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BUT WE ARE NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER."

AND THEN SHE USES THIS DESMOND TUTU QUOTE WHERE HE SAYS, "WE NEED TO STOP JUST PULLING PEOPLE FROM THE RIVER, WE NEED TO GO UPSTREAM AND SEE WHY THEY ARE FALLING IN."

AND, AS YOU SAY, THE FOOD DEPOT IS DEFINITELY GOING UPSTREAM, BUT WHAT YOU FIND ABOUT WHY THESE PEOPLE ARE FALLING IN IS THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN POVERTY AND HUNGER.

YOU ARE ATTACKING SOME OF THE HUGEST ISSUES IN THE WORLD.

>>JILL: IT IS A PROFOUND THING AND I THINK THAT FOOD BANKS HAVE BEEN STUCK FOR A LONG TIME IN TALKING ABOUT HUNGER AS IF IT IS A PRIMARY PROBLEM.

BUT HUNGER IS ONLY A SYMPTOM OF POVERTY AND WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FACT THAT POVERTY EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES EVEN IN THE MIDST OF AFFLUENCE AND THAT IT IS VERY REAL, IT IS COMPLICATED.

IT IS SO COMPLEX TO UNPACK POVERTY AND ITS ORIGINS AND HOW WE GET TO RESOLUTIONS, AND THAT IS REALLY COMPLICATED LONG TERM HARD WORK.

BUT IT IS REALLY INSPIRING, AND SHERRY HOOPER IS SUCH AN INSPIRATIONAL LEADER, SHE IS ABSOLUTELY PAVING THE WAY FOR ADVOCACY IN OUR COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS.

BUT FOOD BANKS ARE STANDING UP NOW AND SAYING, WE DON'T STAND A CHANCE OF SOLVING HUNGER, THE SOLUTION TO HUNGER LIES IN THE SOLUTION TO POVERTY AND WE HAVE TO START MAKING MEANINGFUL CHANGE THERE BEFORE WE WILL SEE RESULTS.

>>LORENE: MEANWHILE THE BABIES ARE HUNGRY, THERE ARE KIDS THAT ARE HUNGRY AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS TAUGHT US IS WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE FOOD RELIEF NETWORK THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE VERY HUNGRY CHILDREN - IT DIDN'T WORK.

>>JILL: IT WORKED BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO ADMIT IS THAT WE USED TO THINK THAT A FAMILY'S BUDGET, IF THEY JUST BUDGETED PROPERLY WOULD BE ENOUGH TO STRETCH FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH AND MAYBE FOLKS WOULD HAVE TO VISIT A FOOD PANTRY ONCE.

WHAT WE SEE NOW IS FOLKS THAT ARE RELYING ON THE HUNGER RELIEF NETWORK FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THEIR MONTHLY FOOD NEED AND THAT FOOD STAMPS AREN'T STRETCHING AS FAR AS THEY USED TO ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF THIS PROFOUND INFLATION.

>>LORENE: OH, MY GOODNESS, YES.

>>JILL: THAT WE ARE SEEING AND WHERE WE USED TO SEE A BUDGET WOULD LAST MAYBE HALF OF THE MONTH, FOOD STAMPS WOULD GET A THIRD WEEK OF THE MONTH AND MAYBE THE FOOD BANK SAT IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF THE MONTH.

IT IS SO MUCH DEEPER THAN THAT NOW AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>>LORENE: AND THE RISING COSTS OF FOOD AND FUEL AFFECT NOT ONLY YOUR CUSTOMERS, YOUR CLIENTS, YOUR PATIENCE, BUT THE VERY FOOD BANK OPERATIONS ITSELF.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY, I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY HURTS.

BECAUSE TO ME THE RISING DEMAND YOU CAN'T JUST MAGICALLY FIND MORE FOOD DONATIONS.

THEY ARE THERE AND PEOPLE ARE CONTRIBUTING FINANCIALLY, AND THAT MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE, AND IT IS MORE NECESSARY NOW THAN EVER BEFORE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO PAY MORE TO KEEP OUR TRUCKS ON THE ROAD.

WE HAVE A 26,000 SQUARE MILE SERVICE AREA.

DURING ONE MONTH OF OUR WILDFIRE RESPONSE, WE SPENT $20,000 IN FUEL, RUNNING TRUCKS OUT TO PLACES THAT ARE 200, 250 MILES AWAY WHERE THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE, NO GROCERY STORES, ABSOLUTELY NO HUNGER RELIEF OR WATER RESOURCES.

>>LORENE: AND THE PEOPLE'S HOUSES WERE BURNED DOWN, AND THEY HAD NOWHERE TO LIVE, NOTHING TO EAT.

>>JILL: IT IS DEVASTATING, AND IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO NOT RESPOND.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED FOLKS TO STEP FORWARD.

WE ARE BEING STRETCHED; THE FOOD DEPOT IS HAVING TO BUY MORE FOOD THAN AT ANY TIME PREVIOUS IN ITS HISTORY.

FUEL IS MORE EXPENSIVE, THAT FOOD IS MORE EXPENSIVE, THE COSTS CONTINUE TO GO UP AND WE ALSO CONTINUE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE IN NEED.

>>LORENE: RIGHT BECAUSE THE SAME THINGS THAT ARE AFFECTING YOU AS AN ORGANIZATION ARE AFFECTING THE PEOPLE, PERHAPS THEY COULDN'T GO TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND THINGS CHANGE AND WORKING FROM HOME BECAME NOT WORKING.

>>JILL: YUP.

>>LORENE: AND IT IS A MAELSTROM OF CHAOS AND CHANGE AND IT'S VERY HARD WAY TO KEEP TRUE TO THE COURSE, THAT'S WHY I AM SO PROUD OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

IT IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.

NOW WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW MANY ACRES OR MILES?

>>JILL: TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND SQUARE MILES ACROSS NINE COUNTIES.

WE SERVE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE COLORADO BORDER, ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE TEXAS/OKLAHOMA SIDE.

IT IS A LOT OF SPACE.

>>LORENE: YES IT IS.

IT REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIT, ONE OF MY HEROES IS CHEF JOSE ANDRES.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: OF THE WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN AND THEY WILL GO, IF THERE IS A WAR IN UKRAINE THEY ARE GOING TO BE THERE FEEDING THE PEOPLE, IF THERE IS A HURRICANE IN HAITI THEY ARE GOING TO BE THERE FEEDING PEOPLE.

AND IT IS JUST SO WONDERFUL BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IF PEOPLE HAVE A HOT MEAL THEY CAN DEAL WITH DISASTER AND CHAOS MUCH BETTER.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: AND SO YOU HAVE GOT FOOD DISTRIBUTION POINTS ALL OVER THAT HUGE AREA.

>>JILL: WE DO.

>>LORENE: AND SO I WAS READING THE LIST OF HOW MANY PLACES YOU GO TO AND YOU COME ONCE A WEEK OR EVEN TWICE A WEEK TO SOME OF THESE PLACES.

JUST GIVE A LITTLE EXAMPLE OF WHERE SOME OF YOUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION POINTS ARE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE LIST, BUT JUST SO PEOPLE KNOW HOW VARIED IT IS.

>>JILL: SURE.

SO WE HAVE 80 NONPROFIT PARTNERS, THAT'S SOUP KITCHENS, FOOD PANTRIES, CHURCHES, OTHER SHELTER INSTITUTIONS, THOSE TYPES OF PLACES THAT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH ACROSS ALL OF THOSE COUNTIES.

I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE SITTING AT 145 DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTION POINTS IN NINE COUNTIES AT THIS POINT, WHICH IS AN AWFUL LOT.

BUT JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE TODAY IS A SLOW DAY AND WE HAVE GOT TRUCKS ON THE ROAD WHO ARE TAKING FOOD OUT TO SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO SUPPORT THE CAMPUS CUPBOARD TO WORK ON ADDRESSING HUNGER ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

WE HAVE GOT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ALLOCATIONS OF FOOD GOING OUT TO SANTA FE HIGH AND CAPITOL HIGH TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR SCHOOL PANTRIES.

WE HAVE A MOBILE FOOD PANTRY GOING ON IN LAS VEGAS AND WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER ONE GOING ON IN ABIQUIU TODAY.

SO A HUGE SPREAD THERE IN WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF TRUCKS OUT ON THE ROAD COLLECTING DONATIONS FROM LOCAL FOOD RETAILERS WITHIN SANTA FE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE MAKING DOZENS OF STOPS AND BRINGING BACK ALL OF THAT NEAR DATE PERISHABLE FOOD SO THAT WE CAN ALLOCATE THAT TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE NEXT WEEK.

>>LORENE: YEAH, I KNOW, I LIVE VERY NEAR REUNITY RESOURCES, A COMMUNITY FARM IN AQUA FRIA.

>>JILL: YEAH.

>>LORENE: AND I KNOW THAT THEY NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FREE FOOD REFRIGERATORS AND EVERYTHING BUT THEY ARE HAPPY TO DONATE THEIR PRODUCE AS ARE MANY, MANY OTHER INSTITUTIONS, RESTAURANTS, BAKERIES, I MEAN IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

BUT I THINK AS IT GETS TO BE FALL AND WE ARE COMING UP TO THANKSGIVING, WE JUST CAN'T LOOK AWAY FROM WHAT AN ISSUE HUNGER IS AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE CAN VOLUNTEER TO HELP YOU.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: THEY CAN DONATE TO HELP YOU - RESTAURANTS, FARMERS, ALL THESE PEOPLE CAN DONATE TOO.

SO IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE, IT REALLY DOES.

YOU HAVE HAD A REAL LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND I AM VERY, VERY GRATEFUL.

>>JILL: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: A FEW YEARS AGO, I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE REPORT TO THE SANTA FE MAYOR, ALAN WEBBER.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: THE PROJECT WAS "ASSURING EVERY CHILD IN SANTA FE HAS ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD."

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: AND THE REPORT CAME OUT IN JUNE 2022 AND WHAT DID THEY FIND, WE BOTH HAVE A COPY OF IT.

>>JILL: WE DO.

IT IS QUITE A REPORT, YOU CAN FIND IT ON OUR WEBSITE AT FOODDEPORT.ORG, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME AND YOU ARE HANDLING THINGS ON THE FLY OR YOU CAN READ THE FULL 45-PAGE REPORT.

BASICALLY, ALAN WEBBER ISSUED A CHALLENGE TO OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SHERRY HOOPER AND THE MAYOR ASKED HER TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO FEED KIDS IN SANTA FE IN ONE YEAR, END CHILDHOOD HUNGER IN ONE YEAR.

AND SHERRY WAS LIKE, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME, I AM NOT SURE IF I CAN DO THAT.

BUT THE CHALLENGE WAS RECEIVED AND WHAT SHE DID WAS CONVENE A PANEL OF EXPERTS WHO WORK ON OUR ADVOCACY COMMITTEE WHO HAVE LONG HISTORIES WORKING IN ADJACENT BACKGROUNDS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES.

THEY DID A HUGE INVESTIGATION OF WHAT BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENTAL AND SOCIAL POLICIES WORKED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES SIMILAR TO SANTA FE ACROSS THE NATION AND ACROSS THE GLOBE TO MINIMIZE OR ERADICATE CHILDHOOD HUNGER IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

AND THE REPORT IS PACKED FULL OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOME OF THOSE ARE MAKING PEOPLES' HAIR STAND ON END, BUT IT IS A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO START ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE MEANINGFUL POLICY CHANGES THAT ADDRESS HUNGER IN SUBSTANTIVE WAYS.

>>LORENE: WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH JILL DIXON OF THE SANTA FE FOOD DEPOT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>JILL: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: I THINK IT IS JUST SUCH A BASIC INSTINCT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PARENT YOURSELF TO SEE WHEN A CHILD IS HUNGRY, BUT WE NEED TO STEP UP SOMEHOW.

BUT AGAIN, THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POVERTY AND HUNGER I MEAN GREAT LEADERS OF THE WORLD SINCE HUMANITY HAS BEEN HERE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

AND ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THE INEQUALITY OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES.

>>JILL: YEAH.

>>LORENE: AND IT'S PARTICULARLY PAINFUL IN A NATION THAT HAS GREAT RICHES, BUT IT IS BRUTAL IN THE POOR NATIONS AND THEN WHEN THEY GET A DISASTER OR SOMETHING, NO HOUSING, NO FOOD, NO WATER, IT IS HEARTBREAKING.

WE HAVE EVEN SEEN THAT RECENTLY WITH THE HURRICANE IN FLORIDA.

>>JILL: YOU CAN FIND IT IN OUR OWN BACKYARD IN MORA.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>JILL: YOU KNOW THERE ARE FOLKS THERE WHOSE WELLS HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED BY THE RAINWATER AND THE FLOODING THAT HAS COME DOWN AND DESTROYED WELLS WHEN THE ENTIRE TOPSOIL AND TREE STRUCTURE AROUND THEIR HOMES HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED.

>>LORENE: RIGHT.

>>JILL: THEY HAVE LOST THEIR FREEZER STORAGE DUE TO POWER OUTAGES AND STAYED BEHIND TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY AND THEIR HEAD OF CATTLE AND THEIR LAND THAT THEY HAVE LIVED ON FOR GENERATIONS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT SAME DEVASTATION RIGHT HERE ALL AROUND US.

>>LORENE: I AM PARTICULARLY GRATIFIED THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A CONTROLLED BURN THAT GOT OUT OF CONTROL AND THAT THE FEDS ARE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE WHOLE, HOW CAN YOU REPLACE SOMEBODY'S HOME AND THE MEMORABILIA AND BUT THERE IS AND THE GOVERNOR STANDS VERY STRONGLY BEHIND THIS, THAT PEOPLE WHO FILED FOR THE FIRE DAMAGE AND THEN THE RUN OFF FROM THE BURN SCARS LIKE YOU SAID, LAS VEGAS.

>>JILL: DEVASTATED.

>>LORENE: HAD NO...THEY WERE RUNNING OUT OF WATER.

THERE WAS NO CLEAN WATER, THE ASH AND THE CINDERS HAD COMPLETELY PERMEATED THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

BUT THEY ARE VERY RESILIENT THERE, THEY ARE COMING ALONG.

SO I REALLY APPLAUD THIS REPORT, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW FROM IT?

>>JILL: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE AND THEY ALL POINT TO THINGS THAT CAN MAKE US REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE AND THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO LOOK AT THOSE AS SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE A HISTORY OF SUPPORT AND A HISTORY OF PRODUCING RESULTS AND PUSH THROUGH THAT DISCOMFORT TO START A CONVERSATION.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT THE COMMITTEE THAT ISSUED THIS REPORT HAS ISSUED THE CHALLENGE THAT IT IS OKAY IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE PARTICULAR IDEAS OR YOU THINK THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT TOO BIG OR TOO AUDACIOUS, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE ALL NEED TO COME TO THE TABLE AND WORK OUT SOLUTIONS AND INCREMENTAL CHANGES THAT WE ARE WILLING TO MAKE THAT CAN START TO AFFECT THIS DISPARITY BETWEEN THOSE WHO HAVE AND THOSE WHO DON'T AND TO START CLOSING THAT GAP IN MEANINGFUL WAYS, SO WE HAVE FEWER PEOPLE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET OR USING THE HUNGER RELIEF NETWORK AS THE WAY TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

AND I THINK THAT IT IS SO VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE EDUCATE OURSELVES ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE SITTING ON THAT FINANCIAL PRECIPICE AND LET'S JUST BE REAL AND HONEST ABOUT THE DEPTH OF THE NEED, HOW VULNERABLE WE ARE AND WE SAW THAT WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THE CLOSURE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>JILL: WE SAW THOSE LINES OF PEOPLE AND IF ANYTHING EVER ILLUSTRATED ECONOMIC FRAGILITY IN A PROFOUND WAY, IT WAS THAT MOMENT.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>JILL: AND THAT HAS NOT CHANGED.

WE ARE SEEING THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN LINE FOR OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS TODAY AS WE WERE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE OF INFLATION THIS TIME.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>JILL: SO IT IS TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE.

IF WE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH CHILDREN GOING TO BED HUNGRY, NOT ACHIEVING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, NEVER GETTING A CHANCE TO DREAM BIG AND BE WHO THEY ARE CAPABLE OF BEING BECAUSE THEIR BASIC NEEDS ARE NOT BEING MET, IF WE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT, WE ALL HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE IN HOW THE SOLUTIONS MAKE US STRETCH OUR WAY OF THINKING.

>>LORENE: YES, EXCELLENT.

ANOTHER THING WHEN THEY HAD TO CLOSE THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC THAT WAS A SOURCE OF FOOD FOR A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE.

I KNOW YOU HAD GRAB AND GO LUNCHES WHERE PEOPLE COULD PUT EIGHT KIDS IN A CAR, DRIVE THRU AND EVERY KID GOT A LUNCH AND THAT IS ONE MEAL, BUT IT IS SOMETHING.

>>JILL: SOMETHING.

>>LORENE: SOMETHING THAT THEY NEEDED NOW.

ANOTHER THING THAT YOU HAVE DONE BECAUSE I LOVE YOUR WEBSITE AND WHAT IS THE WEBSITE.

>>JILL: THE FOODDEPOT.ORG >>LORENE: OKAY.

>>JILL: PLEASE VISIT US.

>>LORENE: YES, IT HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION, BUT YOU HAVE SOME THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE PET FOOD, DIAPERS, YOU HAVE A WAY TO GET, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO REALLY, YOU KNOW FOOD COMES FIRST OF COURSE, BUT ALSO YOU HAVE GOT TO FEED FIDO AND FLUFFY AND THE BABY NEEDS DIAPERS.

>>JILL: YUP.

>>LORENE: YOU HAVE A WAY TO HELP PEOPLE WITH ALL OF THAT, TOO.

ANOTHER THING THAT YOU DO IS YOU REALLY DO CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE, YOU DO NEW MEXICO FOOD FOR NEW MEXICANS.

>>JILL: WE ARE TRYING, WE ARE TRYING.

THAT IS ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

IT IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST GOALS FOR THE COMING YEAR IS TO WORK WITH LOCAL GROWERS AND LOCAL PRODUCERS AND SEE HOW MANY OF THOSE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND TRADITIONAL FOODS WE CAN ACCESS FROM PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WE'RE SERVING.

HELP SUPPORT THOSE GROWERS, BUILD THEIR CAPACITY, MAKE THEM MORE ROBUST AND SUCCESSFUL AND USE THAT FOOD TO HELP SERVE THE COMMUNITY AT THE SAME TIME.

SO WE WANT THERE TO BE LIKE A FINANCIAL REINVESTMENT WITH OUR WORK AS A FOOD BANK TO HELP SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.

AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE STATE ARE REALLY BEHIND THAT MOVEMENT AND HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT INITIATIVES WITH A LOT OF FUNDING THAT ARE GOING TO SUPPORT LOCAL GROWERS AND SUPPORTING FOOD BANKS AND BUILDING THEIR CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY LOCALLY.

>>LORENE: WELL THAT WAS ONE OF MY NEXT QUESTIONS, WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NOW YOU SAY THAT THE STATE IS ACTUALLY STEPPING UP AND HELPING.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: AND THE FEDS, WHAT ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

>>JILL: WE HAVE LONG BEEN AN OUTPOST FOR THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, TEFAP, FOLKS AROUND HERE JUST CALL IT THE COMMODITY PROGRAM, YOU KNOW THE COMMODITY CHEESE.

IT'S NOT COMMODITY CHEESE ANYMORE IT IS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, BUT WE HAVE HELD A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO ADMINISTER THE USDA COMMODITIES FOR THIS NINE-COUNTY AREA FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

SO THAT'S OUR RELATIONSHIP AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THERE IS ALSO COVID FUNDING, ARPA FUNDS, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS THAT HAVE COME FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT ARE BEING CHANNELED INTO FOOD BANKS TO HELP BUILD PIECES OF INFRASTRUCTURES, SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FOOD PURCHASING, AND SOME PIECES THAT ARE RELATED TO THAT.

THE RELATIONSHIP AT THE STATE LEVEL IS NEW AND THE RESULT OF HARD-FOUGHT, HARD-WON RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPENED ALL THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND IT IS JUST SUCH AN INCREDIBLE THING TO SEE THE NEEDLE MOVE.

I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW FANTASTIC THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN, THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF HUNGER RELIEF WORK.

HER FOOD AND HUNGER COORDINATOR, KENDAL CHAVEZ, HAS BEEN A FIERCE ALLY AND A BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

SHE WORKS AT OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION, SHE REALLY KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON AND SHE ADVOCATES FOR WHERE THE MONEY CAN BEST BE SPENT TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, BUILD CAPACITY AND MAKE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CHANGE INSIDE COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL TO WITNESS.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO SKIP OVER THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WHO HAVE DONE INCREDIBLE WORK AROUND SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS OF WHICH WE ARE JUST ONE.

THROUGH THEIR CONNECT NETWORK THAT IS OFFERING NAVIGATION SERVICES TO FOLKS WHO ARE DOING SOCIAL DETERMINATES OF HEALTH SCREENING AND HELPING TO CONNECT THEM TO ROBUST RESOURCES THAT ADDRESS THEIR FULL RANGE OF COMPLEX NEEDS.

>>LORENE: WELL, I AM REALLY... >>JILL: IT'S A LOT.

>>LORENE: YEAH, I AM SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE COVER THE NEWS AND THERE IS A LOT OF REALLY SAD THINGS HAPPENING AND TO KNOW THAT THERE IS THAT COMPLEX AND THAT WORK TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS AND ONE WAY PEOPLE CAN FIND ABOUT THEM IS BY GOING TO YOUR WEBSITE.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: BUT ALSO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED TO DO THIS SHOW.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WATCHING AND LISTENING GOING, YOU KNOW I HAVE GOT TWO MORE WEEKS OF THE MONTH TO GO AND WHAT AM I GOING TO DO.

SO YOUR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE ON YOUR WEBSITE.

BUT IN SANTA FE, SILER AND AQUA FRIA, ROUGHLY, YOU DO DISTRIBUTIONS THURSDAY MORNINGS.

>>JILL: EVERY OTHER THURSDAY, WE JUST HAD ONE YESTERDAY.

SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE PATTERN THAT IS A DRIVE THRU NO QUESTIONS ASKED PANTRY.

SO IT IS VERY LOW BARRIER THAT IS INTENDED TO SERVE ANYBODY WHO IS IN NEED OF HELP.

YOU CAN PICK UP FOR ONE HOUSEHOLD BESIDES YOUR OWN.

SO IF YOU HAVE A NEIGHBOR IN NEED OR SOMEONE WHO HAS A TRANSPORTATION BARRIER, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE YOU COME THROUGH THERE.

THAT'S A VERY EASY ACCESS PANTRY.

IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY FOOD PANTRIES SERVING SANTA FE PRETTY MUCH FIVE DAYS A WEEK, YOU CAN FIND A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP AND ROUTINELY ACCESS FOOD FROM A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION LIKE BIENVENIDOS OR BAG 'N HAND.

SO THERE IS A REALLY ROBUST AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.

>>LORENE: AND YOU HAVE HAD SOME MOBILE THINGS.

>>JILL: THE FOODMOBILE.

>>LORENE: TALK ABOUT THE FOODMOBILE.

>>JILL: OH MY GOSH, WHO DOESN'T LOVE THE FOODMOBILE, THAT WEIRD BLUE BUS THAT YOU ALL HAVE SEEN DRIVING AROUND TOWN.

IT IS OVER AT STAGECOACH APARTMENT COMPLEX TODAY, ACTUALLY.

AND THE FOODMOBILE IS A MOBILE GROCERY STORE SOLUTION INTENDED TO ARRIVE INSIDE COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES.

SO SENIOR LIVING AREAS, MOBILE HOME PARKS, LOW-INCOME APARTMENT COMPLEXES WHERE THERE IS A HIGH DENSITY OF PEOPLE IN NEED.

SO INSTEAD OF FOLKS HAVING TO COME TO US ON THURSDAY, WE CAN SHOW UP AND SERVE 80 TO 100 FAMILIES WITH THE FOODMOBILE INSIDE A GIVEN NEIGHBORHOOD.

RIGHT NOW THAT PROGRAM IS ONLY IN SANTA FE BUT COMING JANUARY OF 2023, JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS AWAY, WE ARE GOING TO GET OUR NEW FOODMOBILE DOS AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A 900 SQUARE FOOT GROCERY STORE ON WHEELS THAT IS GOING TO SERVICE COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE SANTA FE EXCLUSIVELY.

>>LORENE: ONE OF THE FEATURES AS I RECALL, IS THAT PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: THEY CAN CHOOSE CHEERIOS OR FROSTED FLAKES, IT IS NOT JUST WHATEVER CEREAL IS IN THE BOX.

THAT REALLY EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO HAVE A CHOICE.

>>JILL: IT DOES, WE BELIEVE IN HAVING A CHOICE OF HOW WE OFFER FOOD, SO FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, DRIVING THROUGH ON THURSDAYS MAY BE A REALLY GOOD FIT.

I JUST WANT TO DRIVE THROUGH, I WANT FOOD IN MY CAR, WHATEVER KIND OF FOOD IS FINE, I JUST WANT TO GET IT AND GO HOME.

WE HAVE A WAY TO SERVE FOLKS WHO FEEL THAT WAY.

BUT THE FOODMOBILE CREATES MORE OF A COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE, PEOPLE WALK UP, THEY ARE OFFERED A MENU OF WHAT IS ON THE BUS THAT DAY, THEY GET TO CHECK OFF WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE, SOMEONE ON THE BUS IS FILLING THE BAGS FOR THEM AND WE ARE SHOUTING OUT THE NAMES.

OUR RESOURCE NAVIGATORS ARE THERE SAYING, HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING ON YOUR RENT, HOW ARE YOU DOING WITH COVERING YOUR UTILITY BILL THIS MONTH, DO YOU NEED OTHER ASSISTANCE, I KNOW PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP YOU.

AND SOMETIMES THERE IS PET FOOD, SOMETIMES THERE ARE DIAPERS, THERE IS DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, GLOBAL GIVE A BOOK IS OFTEN THERE GIVING AWAY BOOKS.

>>LORENE: OH BOOKS, TOO, OH YEAH.

>>JILL: SO THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIPS THAT GO INTO THE FOODMOBILE THAT CREATE A MORE HOLISTIC EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING.

>>LORENE: SO WE JUST HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, BUT PLEASE TELL PEOPLE HOW THEY CAN CONTACT YOU AND HOW PEOPLE CAN HELP YOU.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DONATE, ADVOCATE AND VOLUNTEER.

AND MOST OF US CAN DO AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

IF YOU HAVE ONE HOUR A MONTH TO DONATE, THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

LAST YEAR'S DONATIONS OF TIME SAVED THE ORGANIZATION A HALF OF A MILLION DOLLARS, EVERY HOUR MATTERS.

GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT THEFOODDEPOT.ORG, THERE IS A LITTLE FORM ON THE SIDE, YOU CAN FILL IT OUT, YOU CAN INFO US, EMAIL US AT INFO@THEFOODDEPOT.ORG I ACTUALLY ANSWER THOSE EMAILS.

SO YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US AND FIND OUT WHAT IS THE BEST FIT.

YOU CAN JOIN OUR ADVOCACY COMMITTEE, YOU CAN MAKE A CONTRIBUTION, HOLD A FOOD DRIVE OR COME IN AND BE PART OF OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM.

THERE IS A MILLION WAYS TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR WORK.

>>LORENE: WELL, I HAVE ADMIRED WHAT YOU DO FOR SO LONG AND I KNOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES AND BECAUSE I LIVE RIGHT BY WHERE YOUR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS ARE, I SEE AND I SEE PEOPLE IN THOSE CARS.

I SEE ALL THESE LITTLE KIDS HEADS IN THE BACKSEATS AND I AM THINKING THANK GOODNESS FOR WHAT YOU DO.

AND IT IS VERY EASY THEY JUST DRIVE UP, PEOPLE OPEN UP THEIR TRUNK AND THEY PUT A BOX OR TWO FOR ANOTHER FAMILY IN IT, AND THEN THEIR NEEDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF AT LEAST FOR NOW.

SO I AM VERY GRATEFUL.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS JILL DIXON, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE SANTA FE FOOD DEPOT.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND THANKS FOR COMING.

>>JILL: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: IT'S MY PLEASURE.

AND I AM LORENE MILLS, I WOULD 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