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, WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

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

>>JILL: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US BACK, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT OUR WORK.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE HIDDEN INSTITUTIONS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT SERVES ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING NEEDS OUR SOCIETY HAS AND I AM SO PROUD OF YOU AND SO GRATEFUL BUT YOU HAVE MADE, WE WILL GET TO SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT YOU HAVE MADE WHICH ARE PRETTY MAGNIFICENT.

TELL US BASICALLY WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO AND WHO YOU SERVE.

>>JILL: THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

THE FOOD DEPOT IS ONE OF FIVE FOOD BANKS IN NEW MEXICO.

THERE ARE FOUR OTHERS DOING FANTASTIC WORK ACROSS THE STATE, WE ARE HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE, AND WE HAVE DIVIDED UP THE COUNTIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT DUPLICATING OUR EFFORTS.

THE FOOD DEPOT IS THE ONLY FOOD BANK SERVING THE NINE NORTHERN MOST COUNTIES IN NEW MEXICO.

WE ARE BASICALLY STARTING OFF IN SANTA FE GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE COLORADO BORDER, ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE TEXAS/OKLAHOMA BORDER TO THE EAST AND ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO FARMINGTON ON THE WEST SIDE.

AND IN THAT SPACE, WE ARE SERVING EVERY LITTLE TOWN, EVERY LITTLE COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO PROVIDE CENTRALIZED HUNGER RELIEF SERVICES EITHER THROUGH DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS OR OFFERING DIRECT SERVICE OURSELVES.

>>LORENE: AND ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR SERVICES?

>>JILL: A GREAT QUESTION.

WE ARE FINALLY STARTING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A REDUCTION FROM THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC WHERE WE SAW A MASSIVE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEEKING ASSISTANCE.

BUT IN 2021, THE FOOD DEPOT ALONE SERVED 35,000 PEOPLE.

>>LORENE: AND LET'S JUST EXPAND A LITTLE BIT STATEWIDE, THE WHOLE STATE HAS FOOD BANKS, I KNOW EASTERN NEW MEXICO HAS ITS OWN FOOD BANK BUT THERE IS A SYSTEM OF ROADRUNNER FOOD BANKS.

>>JILL: YES.

ROADRUNNER WOULD BE THE LARGEST AND THEY ARE COVERING ALBUQUERQUE AND BASICALLY EVERYTHING SOUTH.

AND THERE'S THE FOOD BANK OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO OUT THERE SERVING THE CLOVIS AREA AND THE COMMUNITY PANTRY IS SERVING THE GALLUP AREA AND ECHO IS UP SERVING THE FARMINGTON AREA.

>>LORENE: AH GREAT, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ONE OF THE THINGS, OUR LAST SHOW WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC OR THE PANDEMIC HAD JUST STARTED.

>>JILL: YEAH, WE WERE IN THE EARLY DAYS.

>>LORENE: AND NOW, WE ARE TWO YEARS IN AND EVERYTHING IS CATAWAMPUS AND WHAT IT DID TO FOOD INSECURITY, AND TO EMPLOYMENT, AND KIDS WHO USED TO GET MEALS AT SCHOOL, WHO WERE NOT IN SCHOOL.

SO LET'S LOOK WITH A HARSH EYE, WE HAVE TO EVALUATE THE CHANGES THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS WROUGHT ON THESE SAFETY NETS.

>>JILL: I THINK IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AND WHAT WE KNEW GOING INTO THE PANDEMIC WAS THAT 70 PERCENT OF AMERICANS WERE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

THAT MEANT THAT ONE UNEXPECTED EXPENSE, YOU KNOW, YOUR CAR TIRES GOING OUT, NEEDING A REPAIR, YOUR KID ENDING UP WITH ORAL SURGERY OR NEEDING SOME TYPE OF DENTAL WORK, COULD PUT YOU IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO FEED YOUR FAMILY, THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND FOR THE MONTH.

AND WHAT THE PANDEMIC REALLY DID IS FAR AS FOOD BANKS ARE CONCERNED, IS STRIP AWAY THAT VEIL THAT WE WERE HIDING BEHIND THAT HID THAT REALITY OF OUR ECONOMIC FRAGILITY.

AND HUNGER IS JUST A SYMPTOM OF POVERTY AND IF WE LEARN NOTHING ELSE, IT IS THAT YOU CAN'T CURE HUNGER UNLESS YOU ARE SYSTEMICALLY ADDRESSING POVERTY.

AND THAT IS REALLY THE BIGGEST MOST IMPORTANT LESSON WE LEARNED IS THAT TWO WEEKS INTO THE CLOSURES RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEEKING FOOD ASSISTANCE ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCREASED BY 30% >>LORENE: YEAH, I HAD NO IDEA.

>>JILL: AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, WE ALL SAW THAT IMAGERY OF MILES LONG LINES OF PEOPLE WHO CAME HOURS BEFORE FOOD DISTRIBUTION STARTED, TO SIT IN THEIR CARS AND WAIT.

>>LORENE: AND OFTEN AS YOU DROVE BY LOOKING IN THOSE CARS THERE WERE A LOT OF CHILDREN.

>>JILL: SO MANY CHILDREN.

>>LORENE: YOU KNOW.

>>JILL: AND I AM A PARENT TO AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND THE IDEA THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO FEED HER IS THE MOST GUT-WRENCHING THING.

AND I THINK EVERY PARENT AND EVERY PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OF A CHILD CAN SYMPATHIZE WITH WHAT IT WOULD FEEL LIKE TO NOT KNOW HOW YOU WERE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT MOST ESSENTIAL ITEM, FOOD.

>>LORENE: SO LET'S ADDRESS, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE IN A SITUATION OF NEEDING ASSISTANCE, WHO HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED FOOD INSECURITY AND YET THEY WERE RELUCTANT, THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S WHY YOU ARE THERE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IT, DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE DOOMED, IF FOR TWO WEEKS, YOU NEED FOOD, WE'VE GOT IT FOR YOU.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: HOW DO YOU REACH OUT AND GET PEOPLE OVER THAT HURDLE, YOU KNOW.

>>JILL: I THINK IT IS AN ONGOING BATTLE AND YOU KNOW AS HUMAN BEINGS, THINK ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS FOR YOU TO ASK FOR HELP, WHETHER IT IS PROFESSIONALLY OR IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE, HOW HARD IS IT TO ADMIT YOUR VULNERABILITY.

I HAD A WOMAN, I WORKED THE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS ALSO AND I HAD A WOMAN WHO WAS THERE WAITING AND WHEN I CAME TO REGISTER HER SHE SAID TO ME WITH HER EYES BIG AND FULL OF TEARS, "IS IT OKAY THAT I AM HERE?

I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO THIS BEFORE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO AND IS IT OKAY THAT I AM HERE OR ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE THAT NEED THIS MORE THAN ME AND SHOULD I GO?"

AND I SAID, "NO, NO, NO, WE HAVE ENOUGH," OF COURSE WE HAVE ENOUGH, AND THAT IS WHAT OUR DONORS AND OUR VOLUNTEERS AND OUR INCREDIBLE SUPPORTERS MAKE POSSIBLE IS THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO CAN STEP FORWARD AND SAY, "I NEED THIS HELP," CAN GET IT.

AND I WOULD SAY TO ANYONE WHO IS STRUGGLING, USE YOUR FOOD BANK RESOURCES, USE THE FOOD PANTRIES, USE THE HUNGER RELIEF NETWORK THAT EXISTS AND IS SO ROBUST HERE IN NEW MEXICO, SO THAT YOU CAN SAVE MONEY FOR THE THINGS THAT CAN'T BE OFFERED SO SIMILARLY.

AND HELP US HELP YOU THROUGH THIS MOMENT.

>>LORENE: I THINK ONE OF THE LESSONS WE LEARNED IN THE PANDEMIC IS THE VULNERABILITY OF THE HUNGER RELIEF NETWORK.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY STRESSED AND NOW WITH FOOD PRICES GOING UP SO MUCH, AND THE EFFECT OF THAT, I KNOW EVEN IN MY AGUA FRIA VILLAGE THERE IS A COMMUNITY REFRIGERATOR AND PEOPLE CAN COME AND THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

MILK, EGGS, MEAT, VEGETABLES, FRUIT, TAKE WHAT YOU NEED AND DON'T BE SHY.

SO YOU POINT OUT THAT ONE OF THE WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS IS TO ADDRESS POVERTY AND ONE OF THE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE NEEDS THAT POOR PEOPLE HAVE ARE FOOD AND THEN HEALTHCARE.

SO WE NEED A WHOLE, THE LEGISLATURE DOES, YEAR AFTER YEAR, SESSION AFTER SESSION, ADDRESS, I MEAN YOU CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THEY REALLY TRY TO CUT LITTLE, FIX LITTLE POCKETS AND THAT BRINGS ME TO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE THAT IS SO EXTRAORDINARY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE KIND OF MADE A STRATEGIC PLAN AND IT HAS TO DO WITH CHOICE AND THE DIGNITY OF CHOICE.

SO, WHEN I READ ABOUT THIS, THIS IS WHEN I CALLED YOU BECAUSE IT IS SO PROFOUND.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN THAT YOUR FOOD BANK IS DOING AND THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY BE A LEADER FOR OTHER FOOD BANKS TO FOLLOW.

>>JILL: I CERTAINLY HOPE SO, I THINK WHAT CHANGED FOR US ACROSS THE PANDEMIC WAS REALIZING THAT WE INCREASED OUR DISTRIBUTION FROM 6.5 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD, PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC IN A YEAR, WE WOULD DISTRIBUTE 6.5 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD AND THAT CAN HIT YOU IN THE HEART, RIGHT?

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>JILL: BY THE END OF 2021, WE HAD DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 12.5 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD IN A SINGLE YEAR AND IT WASN'T ENOUGH AND I THINK THAT GAVE US PAUSE WHEN WE ENTERED THE NEW STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS AND AS WE SAT THERE SAYING, "WELL ARE WE GOING TO INCREASE FOOD DISTRIBUTION BY 10 PERCENT OR 15 PERCENT?"

AND WE SAID, "WHOA, WHOA, IF OUR VISION IS TO HAVE HEALTHY, HUNGER FREE COMMUNITIES, THEN WHY IS GIVING MORE FOOD THE ONLY ANSWER THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT?"

AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION SO THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY START TO SEE THE POUNDS OF FOOD WE DISTRIBUTE DECLINE OVER TIME BECAUSE FEWER PEOPLE NEEDED US AND WHAT KIND OF WORK DO WE NEED TO BE DOING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

AND THAT IS WHERE WE STARTED FROM AND THE END RESULT OF THAT IS A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT FOCUSSES ON SHORT-, MID-, AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN BRING FORWARD AND INVEST IN THOSE EQUALLY SO THAT WE START MAKING MEANINGFUL CHANGE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO FEED PEOPLE TODAY, WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE POUNDS OF FOOD GOING OUT, WE WANT TO OFFER CHOICE, WHICH I WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT MORE AND DIGNITY AND PRESERVING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE MID-TERM TO CONNECTION PEOPLE TO OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER RESOURCES SO THEY CAN MOVE THROUGH AN EXPERIENCE OF POVERTY.

AND THEN WHAT ARE WE DOING FROM AN ADVOCACY LEGISLATIVE END TO BREAK SYSTEMS OF POVERTY AND INJUSTICE?

>>LORENE: WELL LET'S TALK ABOUT CHOICE BECAUSE THAT IS THE MODEL THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN, YOU SAY YOU WANT TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND WITH WHAT THEY NEED AND SO YOU HAVE SOME OTHER STRUCTURES.

>>JILL: I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, I WAS HELPING TO COORDINATE GETTING FOOD OUT TO SENIORS WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED FOOD IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS HERE IN SANTA FE, IT WAS A SYSTEM THAT WORKED REALLY WELL AND WHEN EVERYTHING WENT KAPUT, THERE WAS A LOT OF SCRAMBLING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE OLD SYSTEMS FRESH AND SAFE FOR PEOPLE.

AND WE HAD BEEN DISTRIBUTING THESE BOXES OF FOOD THAT HAD THIS GREAT FRESH PRODUCE AND SOME SHELF STABLE STAPLE FOODS AND WE WERE REAL PROUD OF OURSELVES AND I GOT A CALL FROM A LOVELY WOMAN SEVERAL WEEKS IN WHO WAS LIKE, "I DON'T WANT TO BE UNGRATEFUL, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM NOT ABLE TO CUT THOSE POTATOES BECAUSE OF MY ARTHRITIS, I AM NOT ABLE TO EAT THE APPLES BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MY TEETH."

WHOA, GUT CHECK, RIGHT?

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

>>JILL: SO THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND CHOICE IS, YOU KNOW, DURING THE A PANDEMIC WHEN WE HAD TO GO TO A DRIVE THRU MODEL, THERE WEREN'T MANY CHOICES.

WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO JUST OFFER A LOT OF FOOD, CONTACTLESS, GET IT DONE.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE.

SO LET'S MOVE TOWARD A MODEL WHERE IN EVERY SINGLE COUNTY, THIS IS OUR GOAL, IN EVERY COUNTY THERE WILL BE ONE CHOICE BASED OPTION WHERE PEOPLE CAN SHOW UP TO A BRICK AND MORTAR PLACE AND SELECT THE FOOD THAT THEY ARE GOING TO RECEIVE FROM A SUITE OF OPTIONS.

AND THE OPTIONS ARE GOING TO BE DETERMINED BY ASKING PEOPLE, IF YOU HAD 10 FOODS TO PUT IN YOUR FRIDGE, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

SO THAT WE PURCHASE INTELLIGENTLY, BASED AROUND WHAT CLIENTS WANT, WHAT CLIENTS NEED, WHAT MEETS NUTRITION STANDARDS AND THEN WE OFFER THAT AND SAY, "PLEASE COME AND TAKE WHAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY USE."

>>LORENE: WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT THE LIST?

>>JILL: WE ARE JUST STARTING THAT WORK AND IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME MOMENTS WHERE YOU GET SWINGS FROM ONE SIDE TO THE NEXT.

YOU KNOW, "I WANT BRUSSEL SPROUTS, NEVER GIVE US BRUSSEL SPROUTS."

BUT THERE IS CONSISTENCIES THAT START TO EMERGE, THERE ARE PATTERNS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REVEALED IN THERE IS OUR NEED TO COME BACK TO OUR ROOTS AND HONOR OUR CULTURES AND HONOR THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND BRING TRADITIONAL FOODS INTO HUNGER RELIEF NETWORKS.

RESPECT THE CULTURAL FOODS THAT HAVE SUSTAINED US FOR SO LONG AND THAT WE NEED TO BRING THOSE INTO OUR WORK, WE NEED TO SOURCE LOCAL PRODUCE, WE NEED TO WORK WITH LOCAL FARMERS AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE OF THE BOUNTY WITH THE LOCAL AND THE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND TRADITIONAL.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FOODS ARE THERE, SO YOU KNOW WE DID SEE PEOPLE SAYING, "WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE MORE LIKE PINTO BEANS AND RICE."

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

>>JILL: WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SQUASHES RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, JUST THE WHITE POTATOES BUT THESE HAVE MORE OF A PLACE IN OUR CULTURE AND OUR AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO LISTEN AND TO LEARN AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO HAVING A GOOD NUTRITIONAL AND CALORIC BALANCE TO GET THE PEOPLE THE BACKGROUND NUTRITION THAT THEY NEED AS WELL.

>>LORENE: THE FOUNDATIONAL THREE SISTERS IN NEW MEXICO, BEANS, CORN AND SQUASH.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: YOU KNOW, AND TO GET WHITE POTATOES AND WHITE RICE, YOU KNOW THAT IS NOT WHAT OUR ABUELITAS WOULD TELL US.

>>JILL: IT ISN'T AND WE NEED TO HONOR THAT, AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING INCREDIBLE WORK, I STAND BEHIND ALL THE WORK THAT FOOD BANKERS HAVE DONE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, ACROSS THE STATE AND OUR SERVICE AREA.

SHERRY IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND LEADER, WHO'S DONE INCREDIBLE WORK AND NOW WE KNOW BETTER, WE CAN DO BETTER, AND ITS TIME TO GET TO WORK.

>>LORENE: WELL WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH JILL DIXON, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD DEPOT.

SO I WAS INTERESTED IN THE FORMAT THAT THIS WAY OF GETTING THE FOOD TO THE PEOPLE, GETTING THEM THE DIGNITY OF CHOOSING, BECAUSE IT IS WONDERFUL NO ONE SAYS, "NO THANK YOU," WHEN YOU GIVE THEM A BOX OF FOOD.

>>JILL: SURE.

>>LORENE: BUT TO GO IN AND ACTUALLY CHOOSE WHICH CEREAL, YOU WOULD RATHER HAVE, THERE MAYBE TWO AND THEY MAY BE EQUALLY HEALTHY BUT YOU PREFER THE CHEERIOS OVER THE CORNFLAKES AND YOUR KIDS, TOO.

THAT IS REALLY, REALLY EMPOWERING AND SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO, YOU CAN'T DO THIS EVERYWHERE AND YOU ARE JUST BEGINNING.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: YOU ARE LEADING IN THIS MORE CHOICE FOR PEOPLE MOVEMENT, SO DO YOU HAVE A PILOT PLACE?

>>JILL: WE DO, AS JUST A BACKDROP, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH AD HUNGER RELIEF PARTNERS, THOSE ARE SHELTERS, FOOD PANTRIES, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SENIOR CENTERS ACROSS OUR NINE COUNTY SERVICE AREA, AND BETWEEN THOSE 80 PARTNERS AND OUR DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAM LOCATIONS, THERE ARE 140 SITES WHERE FOOD IS DISTRIBUTED AT SOME POINT IN THE MONTH ACROSS NINE COUNTIES AND THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

BUT NOT MANY OF THEM OFFER CHOICE, CURRENTLY, JUST A SMALL HANDFUL, MOSTLY AT OUR SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MOVING FORWARD AND WE HAVE TWO PILOTS THAT ARE GOING TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS THIS, ONE ALREADY HAS.

MANY OF YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN, IF YOU ARE AROUND SANTA FE, THE BIG BLUE BUS, THE FOODMOBILE STARTED ITS BETA TEST LAST JULY AND WHEN THE FOLKS ARRIVE AT THE FOODMOBILE, THEY WALK UP AND THEY ARE HANDED A MENU AND IT HAS A LIST OF THE INGREDIENTS THAT ARE ON THE BUS, A VOLUNTEER AND THEY WILL SAY, "HEY, THANKS FOR COMING TO THE FOODMOBILE TODAY.

HERE'S THE ITEMS THAT WE ARE OFFERING, PLEASE SELECT OUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE AND HAND YOUR MENU BACK TO ME."

AND THEN WE FILL THEIR ORDER AND HAND THEM A BOX OF FOOD AND THEY GO ON THEIR WAY.

AND SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE HAVE SOME SERVICES THAT ARE BEING OFFERED, YOU KNOW THE NAVIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES OF, HAVE YOU ALREADY ENROLLED IN SNAP, CAN WE HELP YOU DO THAT TODAY, IS THERE A NEED OF SOMETHING EXTRA?

AND WE TRY TO BE REALLY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT WHAT OTHER SERVICES WE OFFER AT THE SAME LOCATION.

SO WE HAVE TESTED THAT, IT HAS BEEN A SUCCESS AND STARTING IN JANUARY OF 23, WE ARE ROLLING OUT FOODMOBILE DOS, WHICH IS GOING TO SERVE OUTSIDE OF SANTA FE COUNTY AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A SEMI-TRAILER THAT HAS POPOUT SIDES, ITS VERY FANCY AND IT WILL CREATE A 900 SQUARE FOOT GROCERY STORE ON WHEELS.

>>LORENE: OH MY GOODNESS.

>>JILL: THAT WILL BE SMALL, BUT FULL SERVICE AND 10 PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SHOP ON THE BUS AT ONE TIME AND GO IN THERE AND SELECT THEIR ITEMS.

AND THE MODEL FOR THAT IS TO WORK WITH LOCAL GROWERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE HEADED TO, TO MEET US THERE WITH ANOTHER BATCH OF PRODUCE FROM A LOCAL FARM THAT WE WILL PURCHASE AND THEN IT WILL BE OFFERED FOR FREE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE SEEKING ASSISTANCE THAT DAY.

>>LORENE: AH.

>>JILL: SO THAT IS THE FIRST FOODMOBILE DOS, ITS VERY EXCITING.

AND THEN IN ESPANOLA COMING IN JULY, WE ARE LAUNCHING THE FIRST CASITA DE LA COMIDA, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A SMALL SCALE, ABOUT 1500 SQUARE FEET, FREE GROCERY STORE MODEL.

AND THAT IS GOING TO START OFF LOOKING A LOT LIKE A CHOICE BASE PANTRY WHERE WE WILL BE OPEN A FEW DAYS A WEEK FOR A FEW HOURS EACH OF THOSE DAYS AND PEOPLE WILL COME IN AND JUST PICK OUT THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT.

BUT EVENTUALLY OVER AN 18 MONTH PERIOD, WE ARE GOING TO ROLL THAT INTO BEING OPEN, KIND OF RETAIL HOURS.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>JILL: SO IT IS WAY MORE ACCESSIBLE AND LOW BARRIER.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

OH THAT'S GREAT, I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL TO YOU, GRATEFUL.

BUT PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHERE DOES THIS FOOD COME FROM, HOW CAN YOU AFFORD TO STOCK ALL THESE PLACES WITH ALL THESE CHOICES OF FOOD?

>>JILL: FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

>>LORENE: SOME PEOPLE LIKE NEW MEXICO PBS AUDIENCE, YES.

>>JILL: THERE ARE A LOT OF SOURCES OF FOOD AND I WOULD BE REMISS AND I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYONE OUT, FIRST OF ALL, WE HOLD THE CONTRACT TO DISTRIBUTE USDA COMMODITIES IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, EACH OF THE FIVE FOOD BANKS DOES AND WE ARE NO EXCEPTION.

SO SOME OF THE FOODS OFFERED IN THOSE LOCATIONS WILL BE USDA COMMODITY FOODS.

WE HAVE LESS AUTHORITY TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT THOSE FOODS ARE GOING TO BE, THERE IS A SUITE OF OPTIONS, WE CAN CHOOSE FROM THEM.

WE ALSO WORK WITH ALL OF OUR LOCAL GROCERY STORE PARTNERS, AND THEY ALL DONATE AT SOME CAPACITY WHETHER IT IS PERISHABLE PRODUCE OR NON-PERISHABLE GOODS.

WE PURCHASE, IN BULK, AT LIKE MASSIVE SEMI-TRUCK LOAD LEVELS, THE FOOD PRICES ARE HURTING US JUST LIKE THEY ARE HURTING THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.

THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION BASED ON FUEL COSTS IS HURTING US JUST LIKE IT IS HURTING OTHER FOLKS, ITS MADE THE COST OF OPERATION MORE EXPENSIVE.

WE HAVE SEEN OUR FOOD COSTS MORE THAN DOUBLE, BOTH ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEEKING ASSISTANCE AND THE COST OF ACQUIRING THAT FOOD.

BUT WE ALSO WORK WITH FOOD BANKS NATIONWIDE, REGIONALLY TO COORDINATE OUR ACCESSES, IF WE HAVE TOO MUCH OF SOMETHING WE MAY TRADE THAT WITH A FOOD BANK WHO HAS TOO MUCH OF SOMETHING ELSE.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>JILL: AND WE REALLY DO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO TRY TO GET A NICE BALANCE.

BUT THE WORK THAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING IS WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL SMALL FARMERS, AND AGRICULTURAL FOLKS TO SEE HOW WE CAN BRIDGE THAT GAP BETWEEN WHAT THEY NEED TO CHARGE FOR THE FOOD TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING AND WHAT WE AS A FOOD BANK, FUNDED BY DONATIONS, ARE ABLE TO PAY.

AND WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR DONORS WHO ARE WANTING TO INVEST IN CLOSING THAT GAP SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT OUR LOCAL AGRICULTURAL EFFORTS AS WELL.

>>LORENE: AND IT IS NOT ONLY DONORS YOU NEED BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SUCH A RICH EXPERIENCE TO VOLUNTEER AND SO YOU NEED PEOPLE THAT CAN LOAD BOXES INTO A CAR, EACH CAR GETS A BOX, ITS NOT GOING IN AND CHOOSING THEIR OWN AND CARRYING THEIR OWN BOX.

SO YOU NEED PEOPLE TO DONATE, YOU NEED VOLUNTEERS, YOU NEED PEOPLE TO ADVOCATE.

PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS AND I AM SURE YOU HAVE ACTUALLY A PROGRAM OF SUCCESS STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO THEIR FAMILY, MOM OR DAD LOST THEIR JOB AND THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO AND THEN NOW THEY ARE BACK AND ON THEIR FEET AND THEIR FAMILY IS HEALTHY BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU OFFERED THEM.

>>JILL: IT IS REALLY INCREDIBLE, AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO BE SCARED AWAY BY ADVOCACY, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE ROUNDHOUSE AND SHAKE THE WALLS.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>JILL: ADVOCACY STARTS IN YOUR INNER PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

IT STARTS BY ACCEPTING THAT WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH POVERTY IN OUR STATE, IT STARTS WITH EDUCATING YOURSELF ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THOSE FACTORS ARE THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEEP POVERTY THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING AND THEN FINDING THE SPACES WHERE YOU CAN AFFECT CHANGE.

ARE YOU A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, WHAT CAN YOU DO, WHAT BENEFITS CAN YOU OFFER, WHAT WAGES CAN YOU PAY?

IF YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO IS RUNNING A CHILDCARE CENTER, HOW ARE YOU MAKING CHILDCARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL FAMILIES?

EACH OF US HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS AND ADVOCACY CAN BE A SIMPLE AWARENESS RAISING WHEN YOUR FAMILY IS SAYING, "OH, YOU KNOW HUNGER IS A THING THAT HAPPENS IN INDIA, HUNGER IS A THING THAT HAPPENS IN AFRICA."

SAYING, "ACTUALLY HUNGER IS A THING THAT HAPPENS IN SANTA FE, HUNGER IS A THING THAT HAPPENS IN MORA."

IT IS ALL AROUND US, WE JUST DON'T SEE IT.

AND WE NEED EVERY LEVEL OF ADVOCATE.

>>LORENE: I WAS SO IMPRESSED DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE KIDS COULDN'T COME TO SCHOOL AND MANY OF THE KIDS HAD GOT LUNCH AT SCHOOL AND FOR MANY OF THEM IT WAS THEIR MAIN MEAL OF THE DAY.

BUT THEY ACTUALLY HAD A PROGRAM, I THINK THE STATE DID, WHERE ANYONE COULD DRIVE UP WITH ANY NUMBER OF KIDS IN THE CAR AND EVERY KID GOT LUNCH.

>>JILL: YUP.

>>LORENE: AND SO IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE YOUR KID, IT COULD YOUR NEIGHBOR'S, BUT THEY WERE JUST MAKING SURE THAT FOOD WAS GETTING OUT TO HUNGRY KIDS.

>>JILL: I THINK THE PANDEMIC DID A GREAT JOB OF UNIFYING US AROUND THE ISSUE OF HUNGER IN REALLY SPECTACULAR WAYS AND AS MUCH AS YOU COULD WEEP FOR THE DEPTH OF THE NEED, YOU COULD ALSO WEEP WITH THE GRATITUDE OF ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEINGS THAT ROSE TOGETHER.

AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF MOBILIZING AND GETTING SCHOOL MEALS PUT TOGETHER, THEY STAYED IN THEIR LANE AND GOT THAT DONE REALLY WELL.

AND THE FOOD BANKS WORKED WITH THE FOOD PANTRIES AND REALLY MOBILIZED TO MAKE SURE WE KEPT AS MANY OF THEM OPEN AS POSSIBLE AND DOUBLED DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF FOOD WE WERE PROVIDING AND THERE WAS JUST REALLY INCREDIBLE WORK THAT WAS DONE BY PEOPLE WHO WERE INCREDIBLY BRAVE.

>>LORENE: I WANT TO LEAVE THE WORLD OF HUNGER AND GO TO ANOTHER AREA THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY HUNGRY FOR BUT DON'T TALK ABOUT.

YOUR WHOLE INSTITUTION TOOK A WEEK OFF.

>>JILL: WE DID.

>>LORENE: A WEEK OFF, CAN YOU IMAGINE?

WE, WHO WORK ALL THE TIME HAVE A HARD TIME IMAGINING THAT, BUT IT WAS LEADERSHIP AND MENTAL HEALTH AND SELF-CARE, AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHECK ON YOU IN CASE YOU WERE CHECKING EMAILS.

>>JILL: IT'S TRUE.

>>LORENE: SO TELL ME WHAT, IT WAS JUST LAST WEEK FOR YOU.

>>JILL: IT WAS, WE JUST CAME BACK FROM A WEEK RESET.

>>LORENE: HOW ARE YOU?

>>JILL: IT WAS UNBELIEVABLY NICE AND I THINK YOU KNOW IF WE CAN OFFER THE SUGGESTION TO PEOPLE.

YOU GOT TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE, WE HAVE INCREDIBLY TALENTED FOLKS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE BRINGING NEW IDEAS AND FRESH PERSPECTIVES AND WE CAME OUT OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR BUSY HOLIDAY SEASON AND WE GOT SMACKED IN THE FACE WITH A PANDEMIC.

AND WE STOOD UP AND WE RODE THROUGH THAT FOR TWO YEARS AND THEN WE ARRIVED AT THIS STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ON THIS BRAVE NEW INITIATIVES, WE ARE GOING TO BE BOLD, WE ARE GOING MAKE BIG CHANGE, BUT I KIND OF NEED A NAP FIRST.

AND THE LEADERSHIP AT OUR ORGANIZATION STARTED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION OF WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE, IT IS HARD TO TAKE VACATION BECAUSE YOU COME BACK AFTER EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN WORKING THE WHOLE TIME YOU ARE GONE, AND YOU ARE BURIED AND THE WORK SEEMS NOT WORTH IT FOR THE TIME YOU TOOK OFF.

BUT WHAT IF WE ALL STOPPED AND TOOK A BREATH AND MAYBE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH WAS ABOUT SELF-CARE.

I KNOW I HAD BEEN PREACHING THAT TO MY TEAM, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE TAKING YOUR LUNCH, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE TAKING A WALK WHEN YOU FEEL STRESSED, HAVE YOU TRIED YOGA, PLEASE SEE YOUR DOCTOR.

AND FORWARDING ON ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH MESSAGES OF THE DAY, BUT WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO REALLY REFRESH YOUR STAFF AND IT TAKES SOMETHING EVERY DAY TO SUPPORT THEM.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE ARRIVED AT AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM WAS, WE NEED TO ALL STOP, SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND TAKE A BREAK.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>JILL: AND WE NEED TO BE WITH OUR FAMILIES AND BE ABLE TO BE PRESENT INSIDE OUR LIVES AND GET OUR LAUNDRY DONE AND TAKE A MOMENT.

AND OUR BOARD WAS EMPHATICALLY BEHIND THAT IDEA AND THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF FINGER SHAKING, DON'T LET ME CATCH YOU CHECKING YOUR EMAIL AND I DID IT TO MY TEAM CERTAINLY.

BUT IT WAS REALLY LOVELY TO SEE EVERYBODY RALLY BEHIND PLANNING TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE WENT WITHOUT WHILE WE WERE CLOSED, NOT A SINGLE PERSON WENT WITHOUT FOOD BECAUSE WE WERE CLOSED FOR A WEEK.

WE HANDLED THAT ALL BEFORE AND AFTER, AND WE LET EVERYBODY GO AND THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN SO POSITIVE.

PEOPLE CAME BACK REFRESHED, THEIR SENSES OF HUMOR HAD RETURNED, THEY WERE A LITTLE LESS TESTY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE JUST GENERALLY MORE READY FOR THE WORK AND I THINK RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THAT WE ALL HAVE LIMITS AND YOU CAN'T POUR FROM AN EMPTY CUP IS SO IMPORTANT.

>>LORENE: RIGHT.

WELL, AND YOUR WORK IS VERY SATISFYING BUT ALSO WHEN YOU SEE THOSE HUNGRY KIDS, IT'S HARD NOT TO HAVE YOUR HEART HURT TO KNOW THAT THE NEED IS SO MUCH.

WELL, WE HAVE GOT A MINUTE LEFT, IF YOU CAN GIVE US A SHOUT OUT TO PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.

>>JILL: IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF HELP, YOU ARE WHO WE ARE HERE FOR, SO PLEASE LET US DO OUR JOB, CONSIDER IT DOING US A FAVOR.

LET US HELP YOU AND WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, THIS IS THE WHOLE REASON WE EXIST.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO GET ENGAGED IN SOMETHING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO FILL YOUR CUP AND YOU WANT TO FEEL CONNECTED TO REAL CHANGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, THE FOOD DEPOT WOULD WELCOME YOU AS A VOLUNTEER.

PLEASE CHECK US OUT AT THE FOODDEPOT.ORG, YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING ABOUT VOLUNTEERISM, DONATING, ADVOCACY, OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, THE THINGS THAT WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO DO TO MANIFEST CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY ON A LONG-TERM BASIS.

>>LORENE: WELL OUR GUEST TODAY IS JILL DIXON, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE FOOD DEPOT.

ON BEHALF OF YOUR FOOD DEPOT AND THE STATEWIDE NETWORK OF FOOD DEPOTS, WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO IS IMPORTANT, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND TELLING US ABOUT IT.

>>JILL: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>LORENE: AND I AM LORENE MILLS AND 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