♪ MUSIC 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 THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS, AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA F. WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC, AND WE HAVE THE BEST PERSON IN THE STATE TO TALK ABOUT IT, OUR GUEST TODAY IS JILL DIXON.

WHAT IS YOUR TITLE?

>>JILL: I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD DEPOT.

>>LORENE: AND WHAT DOES THE FOOD DEPOT DO?

>>JILL: THE FOOD DEPOT IS NORTHERN NEW MEXICO'S ONLY FOOD BANK.

WE WORK TOGETHER WITH FOUR OTHER FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE STATE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS FOOD SECURITY OR NUTRITIOUS FOOD ACCESS IN EVERY SINGLE COUNTY IN NEW MEXICO.

THE FOOD DEPOT SERVES NINE COUNTIES IN THE NORTH, PARTICULARLY.

>>LORENE: THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE TERRITORY.

>>JILL: 26,000 SQUARE MILES, IT'S A LITTLE BREATHTAKING.

>>LORENE: HUNGRY SQUARE MILES.

>>JILL: ALL THE WAY FROM A CITY LIKE SANTA FE TO A TINY LITTLE VILLAGE OUT IN MAXWELL.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YES, WELL, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE HITTING A PERFECT STORM FOR HUNGER IN AMERICA AND HUNGER IN NEW MEXICO.

SO ONE OF THE HEADLINES THAT I GOT FROM, I THINK, CBS, FOOD BANKS SCRAMBLING AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CANCELS DELIVERIES AND SO THAT AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE FARMERS WHO GREW THAT FOOD, THINKING THEY HAD A MARKET FOR IT, AND THEN THE FOOD BANKS THEMSELVES, AND THEN ALL THE HUNGRY PEOPLE.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW, YOU HAD A GREAT TERM, A SCAFFOLD OF THE SAFETY NET, BECAUSE WE FIGURE THE FOOD DEPOT IS KIND OF THE LAST STOP FOR THE SAFETY NET FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE.

BUT IT'S BEEN, I DON'T KNOW, SABOTAGE, IT'S BEEN, YOU'VE BEEN HAVING YOUR LEGS SAWED OFF.

TELL ME WHERE WE STAND AND WHY THIS TIME IS SO CRITICAL.

>>JILL: SURE.

IT'S A GREAT MOMENT TO UNDERSTAND HOW FOOD SECURITY COMES ABOUT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE TRUTH IS THAT AS THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS HAS GROWN DEEPER AND DEEPER OVER THE PANDEMIC YEARS AND THE TIME SINCE, FOLKS HAVE GOTTEN CLOSER TO THE EDGE OF POVERTY, WHERE A VERY SMALL, UNEXPECTED EXPENSE, EVEN $500, CAN MOVE A FAMILY INTO A SPACE WHERE THEY NEED TO TURN TO THE CHARITABLE FOOD NETWORK FOR SUPPORT AND HELP FEEDING THEIR FAMILY.

I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT FOOD BANKS AREN'T IN THAT WORK ALONE, THERE'S THIS VERY INTERCONNECTED WEB, A SCAFFOLD.

>>LORENE: YES, I LOVE THAT.

>>JILL: THAT REALLY MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS FOOD WHEN THE COST OF LIVING IS SO ABSOLUTELY OUT OF REACH, WHEN THEY'RE WORKING TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE SO THEY DON'T BECOME UNHOUSED.

AND THAT MAY SHOW UP IN DIFFERENT WAYS, LIKE SNAP BENEFITS.

A FAMILY MAY QUALIFY FOR SNAP BENEFITS AND THOSE BENEFITS PROVIDE ENOUGH FOOD FOR MAYBE TWO WEEKS OUT OF THE MONTH.

>>LORENE: SO THE SNAP STANDS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS.

>>JILL: WE'VE JUST NEVER GOTTEN OVER THE NAME CHANGE.

SO SNAP MIGHT HELP PROVIDE FOR AN ELIGIBLE FAMILY A COUPLE WEEKS WORTH OF FOOD.

CHILDREN, IF THERE'S CHILDREN IN THAT HOME IN NEW MEXICO, WILL QUALIFY FOR UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, SO BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MIGHT GET TAKEN CARE OF.

AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THERE'S SOME WIC FUNDING IN THERE AND THEN FOOD BANKS DO SWOOP IN, I GUESS, AS THAT LAST LAYER OF DEFENSE, WHICH IS OUR ROLE.

BUT THAT HOLE USED TO BE VERY SMALL, WE WERE JUST LOOKING TO PROVIDE MAYBE A WEEK'S WORTH OF FOOD TO A FAMILY AND THAT GAP HAS BEEN GROWING AND GROWING OVER THE PANDEMIC YEARS AND THE YEARS SINCE, WHERE WE'RE BEING CALLED ON TO PROVIDE A LOT MORE FOOD THAN WE EVER WERE BEFORE.

AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THIS MOMENT IS THREATS TO MULTIPLE LAYERS OF THAT SCAFFOLD, WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL CUTS TO SNAP BENEFITS, WHICH WILL CAUSE FAILURES OR CUTS TO UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, BOTH OF WHICH WILL INCREASE DEMAND ON FOOD BANKS.

WE'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP, QUITE FRANKLY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ALSO NOW LOOKING AT FEDERAL FUNDING CHANGES, REVERSALS OF DECISIONS AT THE USDA TO REALLOCATE MONEY TO DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND DIFFERENT PLACES THAT TAKES FOOD AWAY FROM FOOD BANKS IN THE SHORT TERM AND POTENTIALLY IN THE LONG TERM, WHICH MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO OUR JOB.

>>LORENE: WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BECAUSE I'M JUST SO MOVED SOMETIMES BY HOW ARTICULATE SOME OF OUR LAWMAKERS ARE PROTECTING THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT, PARTICULARLY HUNGRY CHILDREN.

>>JILL: I THINK OVERWHELMED IS A GREAT WORD IN A GOOD WAY, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE, YOU KNOW WE SAY AT THE FOOD DEPOT THAT HUNGER IS A POLICY CHOICE, AND THAT CAN BE A CHOICE TOWARDS CREATING SITUATIONS WHERE HUNGER EXISTS OR POLICY CHOICES WHERE WE DECIDE THAT NO ONE IN OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD GO HUNGRY, THAT THERE'S ENOUGH ABUNDANCE FOR ALL.

AND WE'RE SO INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OF THE IDEA OF HUNGER AS A POLICY CHOICE WHERE WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT WE CAN IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE FED.

THIS MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION LED BY SENATOR MUNOZ, WHO WAS A TERRIFIC LEADER IN THE FOOD SECURITY SPACE AND DEFINITELY THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, REALLY MOBILIZED, IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, SUPPORT AROUND FUNDING FOR FOOD BANKS.

AND I CAN JUST, WHEW, IT ALMOST BRINGS ME TO TEARS WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S JUST SO AMAZING TO SEE THE KIND OF SUPPORT WHICH HAS BEEN BUILT ON A HISTORY OF SUPPORT BY SO MANY OTHER IMPORTANT LAWMAKERS IN OUR STATE.

BUT IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE RECEIVED HERE, WHEN WE WANDER AROUND DURING THE SESSION, BY FOLKS WHO ARE ALL UNIVERSALLY SAYING, "WE CAN'T HAVE HUNGRY KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE CAN'T HAVE SENIORS WHO ARE ON A FIXED INCOME NOT ACCESSING FOOD."

I THINK THAT WE ALL AGREE THAT HAVING FOOD SECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES MATTER.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

>>JILL: AND THAT UPLIFTS ME AND THAT UPLIFTS THOSE OF US WHO DO THE WORK AT THE FOOD DEPOT.

>>LORENE: SO WHEN DID UNIVERSAL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH IN SCHOOLS START, BECAUSE IT USED TO BE ONLY A CERTAIN FEW PEOPLE AND THEN THERE WAS LUNCH SHAMING IF YOU HAD TO GET THE FREE FOOD AND ALL OF THAT.

NOW EVERY CHILD IS AVAILABLE, IT'S AVAILABLE TO EVERY KID, RIGHT?

>>JILL: YES, THE LEGISLATURE MADE THAT DECISION IN THE 2024 SESSION.

THEY UPHELD THAT WITH FUNDING THIS YEAR ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CONTINUES.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO DRAW THE CONNECTION THAT ELIGIBILITY FOR THAT IS CONNECTED IN A VERY COMPLEX WAY TO ELIGIBILITY FOR SNAP BENEFITS.

SO, WHAT HAPPENS TO SNAP BENEFITS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL MATTERS IN TERMS OF WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE FOR ALL CHILDREN BEING ABLE TO ACCESS SCHOOL MEALS IN NEW MEXICO.

SO IT'S TENUOUS, BUT IT HAS MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE.

AND AS THE FOOD BANK, WE CERTAINLY SEE THE CONNECTION THAT WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION, OUR LINES ARE SHORTER.

THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE COMING FOR ASSISTANCE, THERE'S OTHER FACTORS THAT CAN IMPACT THAT AS WELL, BUT CERTAINLY AS SOON AS CHILDREN GO HOME FOR THE SUMMER, THAT ECONOMIC PRESSURE INCREASES FOR FAMILIES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MEALS, TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS, AND WE START TO SEE THE NUMBERS NEEDING OUR SERVICES CLIMB.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU HAVE AN OFFICE ON SILER ROAD, I THINK.

>>JILL: WE DO.

>>LORENE: AND I LIVE ON, I LIVE ON AGUA FRIA, DOWN FROM SILER ROAD.

>>JILL: OH, SO WE BLOCK YOUR HOUSE.

>>LORENE: YEAH, STILL I DON'T MIND THAT.

IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO ME, THE DEMAND.

SO AS THE DEMAND SKYROCKETED, WHAT DO YOU HAVE, THURSDAY MORNING YOU GIVE OUT FOOD FOR PEOPLE WHO, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT IS NOW, IT USED TO BE THURSDAY.

>>JILL: IT IS THURSDAY MORNINGS, THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH.

THE FOOD DEPOT TOOK OVER A FOOD DISTRIBUTION FROM A LONGTIME ORGANIZATION DURING THE PANDEMIC, BECAUSE THAT ORGANIZATION, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, FOLDED.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF THAT ORGANIZATION'S VOLUNTEERS IS 85, THE VULNERABILITY WAS REALLY PROFOUND, SO WE TOOK UP THAT MANTLE.

IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE THURSDAY DISTRIBUTION AT SILER IS ONE OF 150 DISTRIBUTIONS THAT HAPPENS ON A MONTHLY BASIS BY THE FOOD DEPOT OR ITS PARTNERS.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S A WIDER NETWORK ACROSS THE STATE OF OTHER FOOD BANKS DOING THE SAME THING.

THERE'S WELL OVER 500 DISTRIBUTIONS EVERY SINGLE MONTH ACROSS THE STATE, SO THIS IS A REALLY IMPRESSIVE NETWORK DISTRIBUTING FOOD AT SCALE, HUNDREDS OF TRUCKLOADS OF FOOD TO EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS OUR STATE.

BUT ON THURSDAY MORNINGS, IT'S A NO-QUESTIONS-ASKED PANTRY AND THAT LINE DOES WRAP TYPICALLY OVER A MILE, A MILE AND A HALF, DOWN SILER, AROUND THE CORNER, ONTO AGUA FRIA, BLOCKING TOO MANY DRIVEWAYS ALWAYS.

AND IT'S A REAL FRONTLINE MOMENT WHERE YOU CAN SEE HOW HUNGER, AS A POLICY CHOICE SHOWS UP, IN MOMENTS WHEN SNAP BENEFITS GET CUT, WE SEE THE DEMAND INCREASE, WHEN SCHOOL IS DISMISSED AND UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS AREN'T PRESENT, WE SEE THE DEMAND INCREASE.

AND I THINK WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER IS THAT WHILE WE MAY HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE COVID ERA, EVEN THOUGH COVID WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF OUR LIVES, WE MOVED STRAIGHT FROM COVID INTO RAMPANT INFLATION, WHICH REALLY EXACERBATED THIS COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS THAT WAS ALREADY AMONGST US AND MADE IT SO HARD FOR WORKING PEOPLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN FOLKS, I WORK AT THIS DISTRIBUTION, THE LAST ONE, I DID POTATOES, AND I WAS SORE FOR THREE DAYS.

I WAS MOVING, I MOVED 600 BAGS OF 10-POUND BAGS OF POTATOES OVER THE COURSE OF TWO HOURS INTO THE BACK OF CARS.

AND WHEN WE OPEN TRUNKS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE SEE, CLEANING SUPPLIES IN MOP BUCKETS, HARD HATS, TOOL BELTS, BAGS OF MATERIALS FOR TEACHERS, WE SEE THE EVIDENCE OF WORKING FAMILIES, WORKING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.

AND WE VISIT WITH SENIORS WHO GET THERE SO EARLY AND TALK TO US ABOUT THEIR SPOUSES WHO PASSED AND THE LOSS OF THEIR PENSIONS AND THEIR FIXED INCOMES AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO GROCERY SHOP AND GET THE KIND OF FOOD THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO.

WE SEE THAT EVIDENCE AND THE GRATITUDE ALSO OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SO KIND TO US AND ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU AND ARE JUST HAVING A TOUGH TIME, BUT OUT THERE, THERE'S 20 VOLUNTEERS AND 15 STAFF MEMBERS LOADING UP CHICKEN AND MILK AND PRODUCE AND CHOOSING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

>>LORENE: YEAH, AND THERE'S A CERTAIN BREAKDOWN, WAS IT, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN OLD STATISTIC, BUT MAYBE 60%, SOME PERCENTAGE WAS FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

>>JILL: THE FOOD DEPOT HAS PRIORITIZED FOR THE LAST DECADE MAKING SURE THAT MORE THAN 50% OF THE FOOD WE DISTRIBUTE IS FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AND MAKING SURE THAT 15% OR MORE IS PROTEIN.

WE HAVE EXCEEDED THAT, EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST DECADE.

BUT CHANGES LIKE THE ONES WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TO THIS ONE PARTICULAR COMPONENT OF THE EFAP PROGRAM, THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, IT'S PART OF THE COMMODITY FOODS, WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES COMING IN AND WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PROTEIN COMING IN, SO WE AS A FOOD BANK ARE WORKING WITH OUR FELLOW FOOD BANKS AND ALL OF OUR SOURCING OPTIONS TO FIND A WAY TO REPLACE THAT FOOD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS OUR SUPPORT, BUT ALSO THAT THAT FOOD REMAINS NUTRITIOUS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO COMPROMISE OUR VALUES OF MAKING NUTRITIOUS FOOD AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

>>LORENE: RIGHT, RIGHT, I ALWAYS REMEMBER THE FRENCH NAME FOR CARBOHYDRATES, WHICH ARE NECESSARY, BUT NOT MORE THAN OTHER THINGS, IS "TROMPER LA FAIM," TO CHEAT HUNGER.

SO YOU EAT THESE TORTILLAS OR BREAD OR WHATEVER AND YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT STILL YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE VITAMINS AND MINERALS AND PROTEIN THAT YOU NEED, IT'S A VERY FINE LINE.

I WONDER, HOW HAS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING ON THURSDAY MORNING, HAVE YOU SEEN THAT INCREASE TREMENDOUSLY?

>>JILL: NOT TREMENDOUSLY, I THINK THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS BEING DISCUSSED, BUT THERE'S INCREMENTAL THINGS HAPPENING.

IN A LOT OF WAYS, FOOD BANKS AS DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS ARE SO INCREDIBLY GOOD AT LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE AND UNDERSTANDING THREATS AND VULNERABILITIES IN THE LANDSCAPE AND PREPARING FOR THAT RAINY DAY.

IT'S PART OF WHAT MADE US EXCELLENT AT RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC AND STANDING UP SOONER AND LONGER THAN ANYONE ELSE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GOT FED.

SO SOME OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, POTENTIAL CUTS TO SNAP BENEFITS, WHAT THE IMPLICATION OF THESE CUTS TO THE COMMODITY FOOD PROGRAM, IS US ANTICIPATING THE LANDSCAPE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR NEXT MOVE WILL BE.

RIGHT NOW, WE STEADILY SEE AT OUR THURSDAY DISTRIBUTION, FOR EXAMPLE, OVER 600 FAMILIES, WHICH IS MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE, IN A TWO-HOUR PERIOD, EVERY OTHER THURSDAY, ESSENTIALLY.

THAT IS A PHENOMENAL NUMBER, THERE WERE POINTS DURING THE PANDEMIC WHERE THAT NUMBER WAS AS LOW AS 350 OR 400 FAMILIES, SO THAT GIVES YOU AN INDICATION OF HOW MUCH DEMAND THERE IS JUST DUE TO THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS, INFLATION, THE COST OF FOOD.

WE ALL KNOW THAT FOOD IS MORE EXPENSIVE TODAY THAN IT WAS IT WAS IN 2019.

>>LORENE: AND THERE ARE NOW KIND OF HOLES, LIKE EGGS ARE VERY HARD TO GET NOW BECAUSE OF AVIAN FLU AND A LOT OF ELEMENTS, BUT NOW A BASIC PROTEIN BUILDING BLOCK, THEY'RE MUCH HARDER TO GET.

SO YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SHIFTING SANDS OF AGRICULTURE AND WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S AVAILABLE.

>>JILL: IT'S COMPLICATED, THE FOOD DEPOT WAS DISTRIBUTING THROUGH OUR FOODMOBILE ONE PROGRAM, THE BLUE BUS, IF YOU'RE IN SANTA FE, IT'S ONE OF OUR MANY PROGRAMS.

AND WE HAD EGGS ON THAT ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DISTRIBUTION, WE HAVEN'T SEEN EGGS IN MONTHS.

SO WE'RE PIVOTING, CAN WE FIND MORE PINTO BEANS, ARE THERE SOME OTHER ALTERNATIVES?

CAN WE AFFORD THEM, WHAT IS THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK AND WE ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF FOLKS DONATIONS.

WE WANT TO STRETCH EVERY DOLLAR AS FAR AS POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE FOUR MEALS OR MORE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MEET THIS GROWING NEED, BUT WHEN WE START TO LOSE SOURCES OF FOOD, LIKE THE NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN THE COMMODITY PROGRAM GETS DIMINISHED BY 36%.

>>LORENE: IS THAT BECAUSE OF FEDERAL CUTS?

>>JILL: THAT IS THE MOST RECENT USDA DECISION.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE MORE FUNDING COMING BACK INTO A DIFFERENT PART OF THAT PROGRAM, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE YET.

BUT THE TRUCKS THAT GOT CANCELED WILL START BEING FELT, THEIR ABSENCE WILL START BEING FELT IN TWO WEEKS.

>>LORENE: BECAUSE THE DISTRIBUTIONS WERE ALREADY SCHEDULED AND NOW THROUGH FEDERAL INTERVENTION OR MANY OTHER THINGS, THE DELIVERIES END UP NOT BEING MADE TO THE FOOD BANKS.

>>JILL: THE FIRST TRUCK WILL BE MISSED ON APRIL 16TH AND WHILE WE'RE SCRAMBLING, SINCE WE GOT THE NEWS, TO FIND OTHER SOURCES AND FOOD THAT CAN REPLACE WHAT WE NOW KNOW ISN'T COMING, WE ALSO ARE UNSURE WHEN WILL MORE FOOD COME.

IF NEW FUNDS HAVE BEEN REALLOCATED, A QUARTER OF WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING TOTAL, WHEN WILL THAT SHOW UP, WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE, WHAT TYPES OF FOODS WILL THAT INCLUDE AND THOSE ANSWERS AREN'T HERE YET.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO PREPARE, THERE'S A LITTLE LACK OF INFORMATION AT THIS POINT, BUT WE'RE DOING THE VERY BEST WE CAN TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE NUTRITIOUS FOOD AVAILABLE TO PLUG THE HOLES.

>>LORENE: YOU SAY THAT HUNGER IS A POLICY CHOICE.

>>JILL: YES, IT IS.

>>LORENE: THAT'S A VERY POWERFUL STATEMENT.

>>JILL: I LIKE TO THINK THAT IT STOPS FOLKS, IT MAKES THEM THINK FOR A SECOND.

>>LORENE: IT DOES, BECAUSE WHO, IN A PUBLIC CONVERSATION OR WHO IN GOVERNMENT, WOULD SAY, "I'M CHOOSING FOR THESE PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THE CHILDREN, TO BE HUNGRY."

NOBODY WANTS TO SAY THAT, NOBODY WANTS TO COP THAT CHOICE AND YET THAT CHOICE IS BEING MADE.

>>JILL: AND THAT'S AN INVITATION AND I WANT IT TO BE RECEIVED THAT WAY.

IF HEARING THAT HUNGER IS A POLICY CHOICE MAKES YOUR HEART STOP JUST A LITTLE, LIKE, OH, I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE THAT MAKES THE DECISION TO CREATE HUNGER AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO CHOOSE TO CREATE HUNGER.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

TOO MANY YEARS IN FOOD BANKING, I'VE BEEN HERE 13 YEARS, WE GET TO SEE PEOPLE CHOOSE GOOD AND CHOOSE TO FEED PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THAT.

THIS IS AN INVITATION FOR US ALL TO RETURN TO A SPACE WHERE WE BELIEVED THAT WE COULD WORK TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE IN OUR COMMUNITIES WENT HUNGRY, THAT CHILDREN GOT FED, THAT SENIORS DIDN'T CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR DIABETES MEDICATION AND FOOD, THAT PEOPLE'S RENT GETS PAID, AND THERE IS A MEAL ON THE TABLE.

SAYING HUNGER IS A POLICY CHOICE INVITES EVERY SINGLE HUMAN IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO SAY, "I CHOOSE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE FED."

AND WE USED TO ALL AGREE ON THAT AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT AGAIN.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE BECAME SO ACCUSTOMED FOR DECADES, FOR CENTURIES IN AMERICA TO HAVE THE ABUNDANCE TO FEED EVERYONE AND THE QUESTION IS, DON'T WE STILL HAVE THE ABUNDANCE TO FEED EVERYONE AND IS IT A POLICY CHOICE?

WHO'S MAKING THAT POLICY CHOICE THAT THIS GROUP AND THAT GROUP WON'T BE FED.

>>JILL: YES, MA'AM, THERE'S STILL ABUNDANCE.

FARMERS ARE STILL OUT THERE DOING THE WORK, PRODUCERS ARE STILL OUT THERE DOING THE WORK, WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL, RICH, BOUNTIFUL FARMLAND IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND THE USDA, WHICH HAS DONE AMAZING WORK BRINGING FOOD INTO COMMUNITIES AND INFUSING THAT FOOD INTO THE CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM, THESE SYSTEMS EXIST.

FOOD BANKS EXIST TO DO THE WORK, SCHOOLS WANT TO PROVIDE MEALS TO STUDENTS, WE'RE ALL HERE AND READY TO DO IT, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALLOCATE THE FUNDING IN THE RIGHT PLACES AND THAT WE SUPPORT FOLKS THROUGH HARD TIMES.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH AND I THINK WHAT SURPRISED THE MIDDLE CLASS IN THIS CURRENT HARD TIME, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS THOUGHT THEY'D BE PROTECTED A LITTLE BIT BY MAKING ENOUGH MONEY AT LEAST TO ALWAYS HAVE FOOD AND THEN SUDDENLY THE PRICES ELEVATED, CERTAIN ITEMS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND PEOPLE HAD TO REALLY STOP AND RECONSIDER.

ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU TELL US ABOUT, MOST PEOPLE WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS, THAT HUNGER IS A CHOICE, THEY SAY, WELL, HOW CAN I MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS THERE, SO HOW CAN PEOPLE HELP?

I KNOW THAT YOU LOVE TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS AND ALSO, I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT WHEN THEY'RE PUTTING THESE GROCERIES AND THE BACKSEAT IS FULL OF LITTLE KIDS, AND THEY'RE SO HAPPY AND THE LITTLE KIDS ARE SAYING THANK YOU, OF COURSE, THE PARENTS ARE TOO.

BUT JUST THAT, OH, YOU KNOW, THANK GOODNESS AND ORANGES, I REMEMBER ONE KID WAS ECSTATIC ABOUT ORANGES, MORE THAN OREOS.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: IT'S SO GOOD.

SO PEOPLE CAN HELP BY VOLUNTEERING, BY DONATING, AND THE REWARD THAT YOU GET FROM, ALTHOUGH IT WAS 10-POUND BAGS OF POTATOES THAT YOU DID ALL DAY, BUT JUST TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE ONE WHOSE HAND IS PLACING THAT LIFE-SAVING, SUSTENANCE FOR THAT FAMILY.

>>JILL: TWO THINGS.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A STORY TOO, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETIMES WHAT I DO BEST.

THIS WORLD CAN FEEL REAL INTENSE RIGHT NOW AND I WANT TO JUST PUT OUT THE INVITATION THAT IF THE WORLD FEELS INTENSE AND IT FEELS LIKE NO ONE CAN GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER, AND YOU WANT TO SEE THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND CAN LOVE EACH OTHER AND BE CONCERNED ABOUT EACH OTHER'S WELFARE, THE PLACE TO DO THAT IS AT THE FOOD BANK.

IF YOU NEED TO REFILL YOUR CUP AND BELIEVE IN THE WAY THAT COMMUNITIES TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, YOU NEED TO VISIT THEFOODDEPOT.ORG AND COME CHECK OUT OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION, OR LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK ITSELF.

AT THAT THURSDAY DISTRIBUTION, AS MY ARMS WERE FALLING OFF, I'M THE MOM TO AN 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL, I'M AT LEAST FAMILIAR WITH THIS THING, RIGHT, SO LOVE YOU (HAND SIGN) THERE WAS THIS LITTLE BOY LOOKING OUTSIDE THE WINDOW OF THE HATCHBACK I HAD JUST CLOSED WHEN I PUT THE POTATOES IN, AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND SMILED THIS HUGE SMILE, AND I DID THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M A 40-SOMETHING-YEAR-OLD MOM, AND HE DID THIS OTHER COOLER THING WITH HIS FINGERS, IT MAKES LIKE A DOUBLE HEART >>LORENE: THAT'S COOL.

>>JILL: THAT'S COOL RIGHT?

AND HE DID THAT BACK AT ME WITH HIS SMILING, SWEET, LITTLE FOUR-YEAR-OLD FACE.

HE PUT IT UP BY HIS FACE, AND HE SMILED AT ME, I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS THAT JOY IN THEIR LIFE AND EVERYONE NEEDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECONNECT OUTSIDE OF ALL THE CONVERSATION AND ALL THE DIVISION, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT CHILDREN LIKE THAT LITTLE BOY GET FED AND THAT HE CAN GO TO PRESCHOOL AND GET ALONG WITH HIS FRIENDS AND LEARN HOW TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND MAYBE START LEARNING THE FOUNDATIONS OF READING AND COOPERATIVE PLAY.

>>LORENE: AND A HUNGRY KID CAN'T LEARN, I MEAN, THERE'S JUST NO QUESTION.

ALL THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT IS WHEN IT'S BREAK TIME, ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE US GRAHAM CRACKERS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST DRIVEN BY THEIR STOMACH.

>>JILL: THEY ARE.

MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS TALK ABOUT FOOD DISPROPORTIONATELY.

WHEN IS SNACK TIME, WHO HAS THE BEST SNACK, WHO HAS WHAT SNACK, CAN WE TRADE EACH OTHER SNACKS?

AND MY DAUGHTER ALSO COMES HOME AND SAYS, CAN WE PACK AN EXTRA LUNCH FOR SO AND SO, I'M WORRIED SHE'S NOT GETTING ENOUGH TO EAT.

CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THIS AND WE UNDERSTAND IT TOO.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT UPLIFTING PLACE TO BE, YOU WANT TO GO TO THEFOODDEPOT.ORG AND YOU WANT TO BECOME PART OF OUR MOVEMENT TO CREATE FOOD SECURITY IN EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY ACROSS NEW MEXICO.

IF YOU NEED TO BE UPLIFTED, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU.

AND PART OF WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN THIS MOMENT IS BOILING IT DOWN TO FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE RIGHT, THE HUMAN RIGHT, TO ACCESS NUTRITIOUS FOOD?

IF THE ANSWER IS YES, COME BE PART OF THE FOOD BANK NETWORK.

>>LORENE: AND THE OTHER, BY EXTENSION ALSO, FARMERS.

SO THE FARMERS, WHEN A LOT OF THESE DISTRIBUTIONS WERE CANCELED COMPLETELY, THEY HAD PLANNED, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LONG-TERM PLANNING THING.

THEY HAD PLANNED THEIR CROPS, THEY HAD PLANNED TO HAVE ENOUGH FOR ALL THESE FOOD BANKS AND STUFF AND SUDDENLY THAT WAS GONE.

>>JILL: WE WORKED WITH THOSE FARMERS.

THE FOOD DEPOT ADMINISTERED THE LFPA PROGRAM, OR ALPHABET SOUP, THAT CAME FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM THAT INFUSED FEDERAL DOLLARS INTO BUYING FOOD, BEAUTIFUL FOOD, FARMERS MARKET FOOD, FROM SMALL AND MID-SCALE GROWERS RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND GIVING THAT FOOD TO FOLKS WHO WERE AT FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS.

HOW BEAUTIFUL.

FARMERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME INTO MARKETS THAT HAD NEVER EXISTED, THEY SCALED UP THEIR OPERATIONS, THE PROGRAM WAS WORKING.

PRODUCERS WERE PRODUCING, PEOPLE IN OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS OR AT OUR FREE GROCERY STORE IN ESPAÑOLA CALLED CASITA WERE LIKE, WHOA, WHAT IS THIS, RADISHES AND SPINACH AND NEW MEXICO BEEF, JUST BEAUTIFUL FOOD.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS GONE AND THAT PROGRAM WILL BE COMING TO A CONCLUSION THIS SUMMER.

AND AT THIS POINT, NEW MEXICO FOOD BANKS REPRESENT 34% OF THOSE PRODUCERS' MARKET SHARE AND IT'S DONE.

THAT'S REALLY HARD TO RECONCILE, BECAUSE THOSE FARMERS, THOSE PRODUCERS ARE OUR FRIENDS.

JULIANA CIANO FROM REUNITY RESOURCES, ELGA FROM AGRICULTURA DOWN IN ALBUQUERQUE, MANNY ENCINIAS FROM SANTA FE FARMERS' MARKET INSTITUTE.

THEY'RE OUR FRIENDS, THEY'RE PART OF THIS FOOD SYSTEM AND THAT SYSTEM IS WORKING.

SO IT'S ALL PART OF THE PICTURE OF INVITING BACK IN THE UNDERSTANDING THAT A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS, A LOT OF THESE SYSTEMS WERE HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL AND WORKING TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SOLUTION, FOOD SYSTEM AND FOOD SOLUTIONS IN NEW MEXICO.

WE ARE SO DEEPLY PROUD OF NEW MEXICANS TAKING CARE OF NEW MEXICANS.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS A VERY COMMUNITY-ORIENTED STATE AND FAMILY-ORIENTED, TOO.

AND ALSO VERY DEDICATED TO CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING.

JUST GIVE US A MINUTE SUMMARY OF WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO.

>>JILL: NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT, NOW IS THE TIME TO BE PART OF THE FOOD SECURITY NETWORK.

IT IS TIME TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR LOCAL FOOD BANK.

IF YOU'RE HEARING THIS SOMEWHERE ELSE, GO FIND THE FOOD BANK OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO, THE COMMUNITY PANTRY, ECHO, ROADRUNNER, OR THE FOOD DEPOT, AND CHOOSE TO VOLUNTEER OR TO DONATE SO WE CAN BUY FOOD TO FILL THESE GAPS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED BY NUTRITIOUS, BEAUTIFUL FOOD.

OR JUST RAISE YOUR VOICE BECAUSE FEEDING PEOPLE MATTERS, EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO FOOD, AND LET'S BE THOSE PEOPLE.

>>LORENE: THANK YOU.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS JILL DIXON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD DEPOT.

I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK YOU DO, AND THEN COMING AND SHARING IT WITH US, BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THIS, THEY'LL WANT TO GET INVOLVED, BECAUSE EVERYONE SAYS, WELL, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP, AND YOU'VE OFFERED A BEAUTIFUL WAY, A GLORIOUS WAY FOR PEOPLE TO HELP.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JILL.

>>JILL: IT'S ALWAYS A BLESSING TO SEE YOU.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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 THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM ♪ MUSIC