♪ 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 A VERY IMPORTANT EDITION OF REPORT FROM SANTA FE, BECAUSE OUR GUEST TODAY IS JILL DIXON, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD DEPOT.

AND WE'RE IN A WORLD OF HURT THESE DAYS AND SO GRATEFUL YOU CAN COME BECAUSE YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE THE HISTORY OF HUNGER IN NEW MEXICO AND THE HISTORY OF WHAT THE FOOD DEPOT HAS PROVIDED, AND THEN WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN GET HELP AND HELP EACH OTHER, SO WELCOME.

>>JILL: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.

>>LORENE: WHY IS IT SO CRUCIAL RIGHT NOW, WHY AREN'T THINGS GETTING BETTER?

>>JILL: OH GOODNESS.

WE WERE REALLY CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT CRISIS OF FOOD INSECURITY, NEW MEXICO WAS MAKING EXCELLENT POLICY DECISIONS, WE WERE CHOOSING POLICY OF ABUNDANCE TO CREATE MORE FOOD SECURITY FOR PEOPLE, FOOD BANK SYSTEM HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD AND VERY EFFECTIVELY.

AND THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND POLICY CHANGES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, REALLY ARE TAKING THINGS IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A PAUSE IN SNAP BENEFIT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

NEW MEXICO HAS STEPPED IN TO OFFER SOME IMMEDIATE RELIEF, BUT THERE'S JUST A TIDAL WAVE OF UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW.

>>LORENE: WELL, ALSO, WE'RE TAPING ON TUESDAY, ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, BY THE TIME THIS AIRS ON THE WEEKEND, THE FEDS MAY HAVE CHANGED, THEY MAY HAVE DECIDED THEY'D COVER A SMALL AMOUNT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE TEN DAYS WORTH, WHICH IS WORTH $30 MILLION OR YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE WE'RE OPERATING ON SHIFTING SANDS.

THE THING IS THAT HUNGRY PEOPLE CANNOT OPERATE ON SHIFTING SANDS, THEY NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEY CAN GO AND THAT SOMEONE WILL HELP THEM, ESPECIALLY PARENTS OF CHILDREN.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE SHOULD BE IN THE HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS AND CONSCIENCE, THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING ABOUT HUNGRY KIDS, IT'S SUCH A RICH COUNTRY, THERE'S NO REASON FOR CHILDREN TO GO HUNGRY, LET ALONE ANYBODY.

>>JILL: I THINK WE CAN AND SHOULD ALL RETURN TO THE PLACE WHERE WE AGREE THAT NO ONE SHOULD GO HUNGRY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT WE ARE STRONGER WHEN EVERY PERSON IS FED, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AND THAT WE RISE AND WE ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER BEST WHEN EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM.

THAT KIND OF UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW IS DEEPLY INHUMANE AND UNFAIR, BECAUSE YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, FOLKS WHO LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, WHO STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET DESPITE WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD, ARE PATCHING TOGETHER A NETWORK OF SUPPORT SYSTEMS TO MAKE IT THROUGH EACH MONTH.

AND WHEN ONE OF THE HUGE SOURCES OF SUPPORT, THE SNAP PROGRAM, THE FIRST AND BEST INTERVENTION FOR FOOD INSECURITY IS UNCERTAIN OR OFF THE TABLE ENTIRELY, THAT WHOLE JENGA TOWER FALLS DOWN.

>>LORENE: I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO DEFINE SNAP, IT'S THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

>>JILL: CORRECT.

>>LORENE: AND IT IS SUPPLEMENTAL, YOU KNOW, AND SO, ONE WONDERFUL THING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IS THAT A LOT OF RESTAURANTS, GROCERY STORES AND OTHER PLACES ARE OPENING UP AND JUST SAYING, THERE'S FOOD BANKS THAT HAVE FOOD, AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT THE FOOD DEPOT DOES, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST STEPPING UP WHERE KIDS CAN EAT FOR FREE OR FAMILIES CAN EAT FOR FREE.

AND IT'S JUST LIKE, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, AND WE ALL HAVE A PROFIT MARGIN THAT WE COULD AFFORD TO HAVE CHARITY, TO BE KIND.

>>JILL: THERE IS SO MUCH KINDNESS HAPPENING AND I THINK YOU BRING THAT FORWARD AND WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN, BECAUSE TIMES LIKE THIS CAN MAKE US FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF DESPAIR.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE CERTAINLY FELT IT AS WE WATCHED THIS HAPPENING AND UNFOLDING, BUT PEOPLE STEPPING FORWARD TO VOLUNTEER, TO DONATE, TO OFFER CROPS OUT OF THEIR FIELDS TO OTHERS, HAS BEEN SO INSPIRING.

>>LORENE: YEAH, ALSO THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS THAT FOR YEARS HAVE JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S PART OF THE JESUS IMPERATIVE TO FEED THE POOR, CLOTHE THE NAKED AND WELCOME THE STRANGER.

THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES FOR THOSE IMPERATIVES, BUT TO JUST PROVIDE EVEN STREETSIDE A FOOD DEPOT OR OUTLETS WHERE YOU CAN JUST TAKE WHAT YOU NEED.

IF YOU HAVE EXTRA, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A ZILLION EARS OF CORN YOU GREW, YOU BRING THEM AND IF YOU HAVE NOTHING, COME AND TAKE WHAT YOU NEED.

>>JILL: I THINK YOU TOUCH ON AN IMPORTANT POINT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE FOOD SECURITY SYSTEM, THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A PART OF THAT ALWAYS AND WE MEAN EVERY DENOMINATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT, EVERY FAITH.

I'VE HEARD COMMENTS LATELY AS I, YOU KNOW, READ ARTICLES ABOUT THIS GAP AND SNAP, THE SHUTDOWN AND HOW IT'S AFFECTED SNAP BENEFITS AND I'VE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE SAY, WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THE CHURCHES WILL HAVE TO STEP FORWARD.

I WANT TO HONOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT CHURCHES HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING, MORE THAN 50% OF THE FOOD DEPOTS, 85 NONPROFIT PARTNERS ARE FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS.

THEY ARE ALREADY STRETCHED TO CAPACITY AND CERTAINLY EAGER TO DO MORE, BUT THERE'S LIMITATIONS ON WHAT THE SYSTEM CAN BEAR IN TERMS OF FILLING A GAP THAT USED TO BE FILLED BY THE SNAP PROGRAM.

AND FOR EVERY MEAL THAT OUR SYSTEM, THE FOOD SECURITY SYSTEM, PROVIDES THROUGH FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIES, THE SNAP PROGRAM PROVIDES NINE.

>>LORENE: OH MY GOODNESS.

>>JILL: SO I DON'T THINK IT'S A REASONABLE EXPECTATION TO THINK THAT FAITH INSTITUTIONS CAN FULLY FILL THAT GAP ANY MORE THAN IT'S A FAIR ASSUMPTION THAT FOOD BANKS CAN FULLY FILL THAT GAP.

WE REALLY NEED THE NETWORK OF SUPPORT, WIC, SNAP, FOOD BANKS, FAITH INSTITUTIONS AND JUST GENERAL CHARITY AND CONCERN FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

>>LORENE: SO NEW MEXICO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A POOR STATE, AND I FEEL THAT IF WE HAD MORE RAIN, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD MORE WATER WE'D HAVE MORE AGRICULTURE AND BE ABLE TO GROW MORE FOOD.

BUT THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE'RE NOT MISSISSIPPI AND VIRGINIA GROWING EVERYTHING IN VAST ABUNDANCE.

YOU KNOW, WATER LIMITS OUR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND SO WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS, HAVING BEEN A POOR STATE FOR SO LONG, ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT BEING A NEW MEXICAN AND LIVING HERE IS THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY, INDIVIDUALS TO COMMUNITY, AND THE STATE TO COMMUNITIES AND THE FEDS, YOU KNOW, THEY HELP, BUT THE NEED IS SO GREAT AND TO HAVE A WHOLE NETWORK OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY ADDRESSING IT IS REALLY A BLESSING.

HOW DID THINGS GET SO BAD SO FAST, I THINK I'VE ASKED YOU THAT BEFORE, BUT NOW THAT I'M LOOKING AT IT, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BLESSED, WE DO HAVE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP, BUT, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE REAL WORLD TO PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER US?

>>JILL: WELL, CERTAINLY, I THINK IT'S WORTH ACKNOWLEDGING THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS HAS BEEN SNEAKING UP ON US FOR YEARS, IF NOT DECADES.

>>LORENE: ELECTRICITY, GASOLINE.

>>JILL: CHILDCARE COSTS AND THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE WHERE NEW MEXICO'S REALLY STEPPING FORWARD TO LEAD, WHICH I THINK WE NEED.

>>LORENE: WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT.

>>JILL: WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT.

SO, AS WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE ALICE DATA THAT'S BEEN COMING OUT, WHICH IS STATEWIDE GENERATED DATA ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING ON A COMMUNITY LEVEL, RELATIVE TO FOLKS WAGES, IT REALLY OUTLINES HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE SPENDING IN THOSE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES BETWEEN HEALTH CARE AND RENT OR A MORTGAGE, IF THEY'RE INCREDIBLY LUCKY.

AND THAT GAP BETWEEN WAGES AND HOW EXPENSIVE THINGS ARE IS OPENING THIS CHASM AND WE'VE SEEN THAT FOR YEARS, SO WHEN YOU HEAD INTO A MORE ACUTE SITUATION OF INFLATION OR COST OR EVEN A LOSS OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS, AS WE JUST EXPERIENCED ON SATURDAY WITH THE SNAP PROGRAM WHICH IS FEDERALLY FUNDED, THAT REALLY THROWS FAMILIES INTO CRISIS AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.

>>LORENE: I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE AND GO BACK TO THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM WE TALKED ABOUT, BECAUSE NEW MEXICO IS THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO GUARANTEE FREE CHILDCARE FROM PRENATAL TO PRE-K.

WE ARE THE FIRST AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE.

THESE ARE GOING TO BE KIDS THAT HAVE GOOD NUTRITION AND ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF, WHOSE MINDS ARE SPARKED AND STIMULATED AND THEN THAT LEVEL STARTING WITH THIS FIRST GENERATION RIGHT NOW, THIS LAYER OF KIDS, AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE SYSTEM, THEY'RE GOING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EVERYTHING WE OFFER AND EVERYTHING THEY OFFER TO US.

>>JILL: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT FROM THE FOOD BANK PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE WE ALL SEE IT FROM OUR OWN ANGLE, IT'S SO TRUE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT MINDS AND BEING NOURISHED, BUT FOLKS BODIES ARE NOURISHED TOO, THOSE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO GET MEALS IN THAT SETTING, PROVIDED TO THEM, WHICH IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE, BUT ALSO FOOD LINES WILL GET SHORTER BECAUSE THAT EXPENSE CATEGORY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THE FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE REPORT AS BEING A BARRIER TO THEM BEING ABLE TO BUY THEIR OWN GROCERIES.

>>LORENE: IT'S ESTIMATED THAT COST A FAMILY 12 GRAND A YEAR FOR CHILDCARE PER CHILD.

>>JILL: PER CHILD.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT $12,000 BEING BACK INSIDE A FAMILY'S BUDGET.

>>LORENE: PER CHILD.

>>JILL: PER CHILD, THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE SPENDING THAT MONEY AT THE GROCERY STORE, THEY'RE FINALLY ABLE TO SAVE AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A RAINY-DAY FUND.

THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE THAT EXTRA CLASS TO ADVANCE THEIR EDUCATION AND GET ANOTHER CERTIFICATION.

IT'S TRANSFORMATIVE, AND WE SUPPORT POLICIES LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY DO HELP PEOPLE MOVE OUT OF A FOOD LINE AND INTO A PLACE WHERE THEY'RE THRIVING.

>>LORENE: SO THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE SNAP GAP, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN, AND YOU KNOW WHEN THE FEDS ARE SAYING THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DISTRIBUTE SNAP BENEFITS DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, WHO IS THAT HURTING, THAT'S HURTING HUNGRY CHILDREN.

SO, FORTUNATELY, OUR STATE SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, THE STATE WILL DO IT, DON'T WORRY, THERE WILL BE FOOD.

I THINK NOW THEY'RE GETTING SOME PUSHBACK, I THINK THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO IT MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF NOVEMBER, SOME GESTURE AT COMPROMISE, BUT, IT'S A BIG POLITICAL ISSUE NOW.

>>JILL: IT ABSOLUTELY IS AND I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THAT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE SEE IS FOLKS WHO ARE ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED ABOUT WHAT'S COMING AND GOING, EVEN OUR OWN STAFF IS ASKING DAY TO DAY, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD, WHAT'S THE STORY, WHAT'S HAPPENING, CLIENTS ARE ASKING ME, MY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ASKING ME.

SO WHAT WE KNOW TODAY IS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HAS CONTINUED AS LONG AS IT HAS, 35 DAYS TODAY, I BELIEVE, THE SNAP BENEFITS, WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE REFILLED, STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST ON SOME OF A STAGGERED TIMELINE, WE WERE TOLD THOSE WERE NOT GOING TO BE REFILLED, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S EVER OCCURRED IN THE HISTORY OF THAT PROGRAM.

SO, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE FACED LONG SHUTDOWNS BEFORE AND OTHER SHUTDOWNS THAT HAD VARIOUS TIMINGS, WE'VE NEVER REALLY CONFRONTED THE IDEA THAT THE SNAP PROGRAM WOULD COME TO A HALT.

THAT CERTAINLY DEFIED OUR IMAGINATION.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>JILL: SO ABOUT TEN DAYS BEFORE THAT HAPPENED, WE STARTED TO REALLY THINK, OH MY GOODNESS, THAT'S POSSIBLE THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN.

THERE WERE SOME EARLY MEMOS FROM THE USDA THAT INDICATED THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE, AND THE FOOD BANKS GOT TO WORK PREPARING.

IN NEW MEXICO, LIKE YOU SAID, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE A HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY, A LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH THAT WERE LISTENING WHEN WE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WE ALL SPOKE TO EACH OTHER ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SNAP DIDN'T COME ON NOVEMBER 1ST AND HOW WE WOULD RISE TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE NEW MEXICANS WERE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND DESPITE ALL OF THE HUGE OBSTACLES AHEAD OF US, I'M JUST SO INSPIRED BY THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SORT OF LINKED ARMS IN THAT MOMENT AND WE KNOW THAT UNTIL THE 10TH, NEW MEXICANS HAVE MONEY ON THEIR EBT CARDS AND THE FOOD BANKS ARE RISING AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE DISTRIBUTIONS ALL OVER THE PLACE TO HELP TAKE CARE OF FOLKS.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH JILL DIXON, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD DEPOT, AND I HAVE YOU HERE BECAUSE I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WORK.

BUT HUNGER IS A POLICY CHOICE AND IT'S MADE BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN HUNGRY.

WE DON'T WANT TO SUBJECT THEM TO DEPRIVATION SO THEY KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, BUT JUST HAVE A LITTLE COMPASSION AND EMPATHY AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT A CHILD OR A BABY, THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO BE HUNGRY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE JOB OF THE REST OF THE HUMAN RACE TO STEP FORWARD AND TAKE CARE OF OUR YOUNG AND TO SEE THAT SO MUCH OF THIS PAIN AND SUFFERING FOR SOME POOR KIDS.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY WHEN THESE KIND OF THINGS HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE SNAP PROGRAM BEING IN JEOPARDY, CERTAINLY OUR CHILDREN.

I ALSO HAVE THIS INCREDIBLY SOFT SPOT IN MY HEART FOR ELDERS.

AT OUR THURSDAY DISTRIBUTION, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO LINE UP THE EARLIEST ARE WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 80 WHO ARE LIVING IN A PLACE WHERE THE COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO RISE, WHERE THE MONEY THEY PUT AWAY IS NO LONGER ENOUGH.

>>LORENE: AND THE LITTLE THAT COMES IN IS FIXED AND ISN'T GOING TO INCREASE AND IS MAYBE BY ONE PERCENT.

>>JILL: AND THEY ALL TELL THE SAME STORY THAT THEIR HUSBAND HAS DIED, THE PENSION HAS GONE WITH HIM AND NOW THEY ARE SCRAPPING IT OUT TO SURVIVE.

THERE'S SOMETHING SO INCREDIBLY HEARTBREAKING ABOUT THAT, PEOPLE WHO WORKED AND DID WITHOUT.

THESE ARE FOLKS WHO, YOU KNOW, LIVED THROUGH WORLD WARS AND MADE SACRIFICES, AS AMERICANS AND TAXPAYERS.

>>LORENE: WHEN I TALK TO THESE PEOPLE, THERE'S A KIND OF ELEMENT OF SHOCK, BECAUSE WE THOUGHT AS A CIVILIZATION, AS A CULTURE, IN THE LAND OF PLENTY, THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF, THAT'S WHY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

BUT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE TO SCRAP OR HAVE A 95-YEAR-OLD IN LINE FOR FOUR HOURS, YOU KNOW, I DO LOVE THE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS WHERE YOU CAN DRIVE UP AND YOU PUT BOXES IN THE TRUNK AND PEOPLE CAN DRIVE WHERE THEY CAN PICK UP FOR TWO FAMILIES.

THIS IS A GODSEND AND IT'S NOT JUST FLOUR AND SUGAR, ITS FRUITS, STRAWBERRIES, IT'S VEGETABLES, YOU KNOW, IT'S TREATS FOR THE KIDS.

IT'S LOVELY.

I DON'T KNOW WHO PUTS, I GUESS WHAT YOU PUT IN HAS TO DO WITH DONATIONS THAT YOU GET BOTH FINANCIAL AND THEN IN TERMS OF ACTUAL FOOD STAMPS.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS FOR ALL OF US TO REMEMBER ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY IS THAT SUPPLY CHAINS MAY NOT ALWAYS WORK.

I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE FLOUR AND RICE AND BEANS, JUST ON HAND, JUST IN CASE, IT WON'T GO BAD.

YOU KNOW, JUST MAYBE SOME BLIP IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN THAT WE CAN'T GET THE STUFF WE'RE USED TO, WOULDN'T HURT.

YOU KNOW, WE LEARNED THIS FROM OUR GRANDPARENTS TO SET ASIDE PROVISIONS JUST IN CASE YOU NEED THEM.

>>JILL: JUST IN CASE.

AND I THINK THERE'S A FEW THINGS FOR FOLKS TO REMEMBER ABOUT SNAP RECIPIENTS, IF I CAN SHARE THAT.

>>LORENE: YES, PLEASE.

>>JILL: THERE'S SO MUCH MISINFORMATION.

AROUND 50% OF PEOPLE THAT RECEIVE SNAP BENEFITS WORK FULL TIME, SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO COMPLEMENT A FAMILY'S INCOME WHEN THEY MAYBE DON'T MAKE VERY MUCH.

THOSE WHO DO NOT WORK ARE ELDERLY, CHILDREN OR ADULTS WHO ARE CARING FOR A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES OR A MINOR CHILD, SO I THINK WE NEED TO REFRAME A LITTLE BIT THE WAY THAT WE THINK ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT ARE RECEIVING IT.

I ALSO WANT TO PUT TO BED THIS INCREDIBLE MISUNDERSTANDING THAT, I WON'T USE THE WORD ILLEGAL, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS HUMAN BEINGS, BUT MOST PEOPLE WITHOUT A FULL DOCUMENTED CITIZENSHIP OF THE UNITED STATES DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE SNAP PROGRAM.

THEY DON'T RECEIVE THOSE BENEFITS.

>>LORENE: YEAH, THAT'S ONE OF THE MYTHS THAT PEOPLE SPIT OUT.

THEY'RE NOT EVEN CITIZENS, WE'RE FEEDING ALL THESE UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE, AND WE AREN'T.

>>JILL: WE'RE NOT.

THAT FOOD, THOSE FUNDS ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ELDERS, VETERANS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING.

SO I REALLY JUST WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE TABLE TO BEGIN WITH.

IT'S A VITAL, VITAL PROGRAM THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND AS PART OF THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND PART OF THE CONTRACT, THAT IF WE FALL ON HARD TIMES, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.

>>LORENE: THERE'S A SAFETY NET.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: AND THAT'S WHAT THE BEWILDERING THING IS FOR PEOPLE WHO SLIP THROUGH THOSE GAPS IN THE SAFETY NET THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN SOMEONE HELP ME?

WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW, WHO, DO YOU HAVE ANY STATISTICS ABOUT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR POPULATION RECEIVE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE?

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME?

>>JILL: YEAH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT, DIG INTO THE DOLLARS AND THE STATS.

NEW MEXICO HAS APPROXIMATELY A POPULATION OF ABOUT TWO MILLION PEOPLE, AND 21% OF THAT POPULATION RECEIVES SNAP BENEFITS.

THAT IS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE IN THE NATION, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

>>LORENE: BUT IS PER CAPITA.

>>JILL: PER CAPITA.

AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ANOTHER MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT IS THAT ISN'T TO SUGGEST THAT NEW MEXICO IS THE POOREST STATE IN THE COUNTRY, THAT'S WHY OUR PERCENTAGE IS SO HIGH.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE RESULT OF A VERY INTENTIONAL DECISION ON BEHALF OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO EXPAND SNAP ACCESS TO THE MAXIMUM FEDERAL ALLOWABLE LIMIT OF 200% OF FPL, WHICH IS FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

WHICH MEANS AND THAT MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT THE LIMIT OF HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN MAKE BEFORE YOU GET KICKED OFF OF SNAP IS $34,000 A YEAR.

I JUST WANT TO BE SO CLEAR.

>>LORENE: IS THAT FOR A FAMILY >>JILL: THAT'S FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON.

SO FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, $64,000 IS THE THRESHOLD, WHICH IS STILL NOT MUCH WHEN YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE ALICE DATA.

YOU ARE DEFINITELY NOT THRIVING AT THAT INCOME, REGARDLESS OF THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN.

SO NEW MEXICO TWO YEARS AGO EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY TO THE PROGRAM TO 200% OF FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL AND ADDED AN ADDITIONAL 67,000.

>>LORENE: WAS IT AN ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE?

>>JILL: YES, YES.

SO THAT WAS A LEGISLATIVE DECISION THAT POLICY ADVOCATES DEFINITELY ADVOCATED FOR AND THEY SAW THE PATH THAT WOULD LIFT 67,000 NEW MEXICANS, ADDITIONAL NEW MEXICANS, OUT OF POVERTY.

IT WAS A CHOICE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GOT FED, SO THEY COULD WORRY LESS ABOUT THE FOOD THAT WAS IN THE REFRIGERATOR AND MORE ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND THRIVING IN THE MOMENT.

>>LORENE: SO PEOPLE SHOULDN'T SPIN IT, THAT THERE'S MORE NEEDING IT NOW, WE LOWERED THE BAR SO THAT MORE PEOPLE COULD GET THE FOOD THEY NEEDED.

>>JILL: YES.

SO, WE COULD RISE AS A COMMUNITY.

SO YES, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE USING THAT PROGRAM, BUT USING IT TO ADVANCE AND TO THRIVE AND TO GET TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE PLACE AND ALL OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL POVERTY DATA SHOWS THAT THAT APPROACH IS WORKING.

SO ABSOLUTE SHOUT OUT TO THE FORWARD THINKING LEGISLATURE THAT REALLY CONSIDERS WHOLE HUMANS AND THEIR NEEDS.

>>LORENE: VERY COMPASSIONATE.

>>JILL: VERY AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS WELL.

I THINK THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

>>LORENE: YES.

OUR GOVERNOR HAS STEPPED UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

THE OTHER THING THAT IS PROVIDED THERE'S LIKE DIAPER DEPOTS.

SO BECAUSE THAT'S ONE TIME USE AND THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE SO THAT THERE ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND GET, YOU KNOW, SOME LARGE PACKAGES OF DIAPERS AND THEN COME BACK AND GET MORE, BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPENSIVE.

I KNOW THAT HAND WASHING, WASHING DIAPERS IS VERY IMPORTANT, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT YOU NEED THEM FOR WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO ANY HELP WE CAN GIVE TO FAMILIES, I'M JUST SO HAPPY IT'S NOT JUST FOOD.

AND THEN WHAT ABOUT PETS?

>>JILL: THE FOOD HAS REALLY TAKEN A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PROVIDING RESOURCES TO PEOPLE, FOR, WELL OVER A DECADE NOW, AT LEAST 13 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING THE DIAPER DEPOT PROGRAM, WHICH YOU MENTIONED, AND ALSO OUR FOOD FOR PETS PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES A SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPLY OF PET FOOD IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN TANDEM WITH ONE OF OUR MOBILE FOOD PANTRY PROGRAMS.

THERE ARE 14 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THAT BENEFIT FROM THE FOOD FOR PETS PROGRAM AND WE GIVE OUT DIAPERS A COMBINATION OF BY OURSELVES INDIVIDUALLY TO PEOPLE, AND THEN ALSO THROUGH A SERIES OF PARTNER AGENCIES.

BEYOND THAT, WE OPERATE IN THE INSTANCE OF DISASTER, WE SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING EVACUATED OR HAVE HAD THE WATER IN THEIR COMMUNITY GO BAD.

WE SUPPORT THOSE SITUATIONS THROUGH SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT WE OPERATE, WE OFFER PERSONAL CARE ITEMS TO PEOPLE.

SO, WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE.

IF YOU'RE GOING HUNGRY, WHAT ELSE IS MISSING AND WE REALLY WANT TO HELP LIFT PEOPLE UP.

>>LORENE: WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, AND I'VE GOT TO HAVE YOU TELL US HOW PEOPLE CAN HELP.

SO YOU NEED VOLUNTEERS, YOU NEED PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXTRA FOOD TO DONATE IT AND PEOPLE TO DONATE MONEY, SO YOU CAN GET A MUCH BETTER PRICE THAN RETAIL.

YOU USE THE MONEY WISELY AND I THINK ONCE YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING BAGS OF GROCERIES IN THE BACK OF A CAR WITH SIX LITTLE HEADS OF KIDS IN THERE, AND THEY'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT, THEY'RE LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOW AND MAKING LITTLE HEARTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT'S SO REWARDING.

I MEAN, IT'S TRUE, TO GIVE IS TO RECEIVE AND THEN WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP THE ONES THAT THEY CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES AND ARE THE NEEDIEST.

SO TELL US HOW WE CAN HELP.

>>JILL: SURE.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR EVERYONE TO STAY FOCUSED.

WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AND THE DESIRE TO HELP.

PLEASE, IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING DOING THAT, ASK THE ORGANIZATION YOU WANT TO SUPPORT HOW YOU CAN BEST DO THAT BEFORE YOU PROCEED.

SO IT IS ABSOLUTELY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE FOOD DEPOT AND OTHER FOOD SERVING ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU CALL THEM AND ASK IF YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER AND SEE WHEN THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL FOR THEM.

CASH IS KING, AND I HATE TO TURN IT TO THAT, BUT WE HAVE PURCHASING POWER THAT FOLKS DO NOT, SO IF YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT SPENDING $20 TO BRING US FOOD THAT YOU BUY AT RETAIL IN THE GROCERY STORE, PLEASE CONSIDER JUST MAKING THE CASH DONATION SO WE CAN STRETCH THAT EXPONENTIALLY.

>>LORENE: TAX DEDUCTIBLE?

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE THEFOODEPOT.ORG.

THAT IS IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE, NO SHAME.

PLEASE COME GET THE SUPPORT YOU NEED, THERE'S A MAP YOU CAN FIND THERE THAT WILL HELP YOU FIND THE BEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION THAT'S NEAREST TO YOU.

YOU CAN ALSO DONATE DIRECTLY AT THAT WEBSITE, THEFOODDEPOT.ORG AND YOU CAN FIND OUT HOW TO VOLUNTEER AND YOU CAN GET CONNECTED TO OTHER RESOURCES.

>>LORENE: THERE'S SOME VIDEOS THERE OF THE WAREHOUSE WITH FRONT LOADERS LIFTING PALLETS OF SUPPLIES.

IT'S SO LIKE OPERATING WITH MILITARY PRECISION AND IT DID MY HEART GOOD TO SEE THAT ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES ARE THERE.

>>JILL: THEY ARE.

>>LORENE: AND YOU MENTIONED THE VERY IMPORTANT THING THAT IF YOU NEED IT, ASK FOR IT.

THERE'S NO SHAME IN THAT, TIDE COMES IN, THE TIDE GOES OUT.

WE'RE ON TOP, WE'RE ON THE BOTTOM, IF YOU NEED IT THAT'S WHY YOU'RE THERE.

>>JILL: YES, THAT IS WHY WE'RE HERE.

WE ARE ALL STRONGER TOGETHER, WE'RE HERE TO HELP AND WE WANT YOU TO COME BE PART OF THAT WITH US.

>>LORENE: AND SO HOW CAN THEY FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION?

>>JILL: PLEASE VISIT US AT THEFOODDEPOT.ORG, THEFOODDEPOT.ORG MAKE SURE YOU GET BOTH DS, THEFOODDEPOT.ORG.

>>LORENE: ARE THEY RUN ON, ALL ONE WORD.

>>JILL: ALL ONE VERY LONG THREE WORDS PUSHED TOGETHER.

>>LORENE: WELL, I'VE BEEN TO YOUR SITE A LOT AND I'M ALWAYS SO INSPIRED BY IT.

WHEN I SEE HOW WELL RUN IT IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A STREET CORNER OPERATION, I MEAN, IT'S REALLY WELL ORGANIZED AND YOU PROVIDE, YOU FILL THE NECESSITIES ON SO MANY, MANY LEVELS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU AND ALSO, I WANT TO THANK THE LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR AND OUR LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH WHO ALSO REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, AND STEP UP, AND WE SHOULD WRITE THEM AND THANK THEM.

YOU KNOW, JUST EVEN IF WE'RE NOT THE RECIPIENT OF THESE THINGS, THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF THESE OTHERS.

>>JILL: PLEASE DO THAT, PLEASE DO THAT.

>>LORENE: I AM SO HAPPY YOU CAME TODAY.

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

YOU CAN GO TO THEFOODDEPORT.ORG AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IT.

I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE AND TELLING US MORE ABOUT IT.

>>JILL: IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>LORENE: AND I'M LORENE MILLS, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON A VERY IMPORTANT EDITION OF 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