Food Depot

THE FOOD DEPOT STRIVES TO END HUNGER IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. THE FOOD DEPOT COLLECTS FOOD FROM NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL SOURCES AND PROVIDES THESE DONATIONS TO HUNGRY NEW MEXICANS THROUGH MORE THAN 76 PARTNER AGENCIES IN NINE COUNTIES.

THE FOOD DEPOT FOSTERS HEALTHY COMMUNITIES BY ENGAGING A NETWORK OF PARTNERS DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS FOR A HUNGER-FREE NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. AS THE FOOD BANK FOR NINE COUNTIES, THE FOOD DEPOT PROVIDES HUNGER RELIEF TO AN AVERAGE OF 48,300 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY EACH MONTH. THE FOOD DEPOT OFFERS FOOD TO PERSONS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY THROUGH STRATEGIC PROGRAMS AND A NETWORK OF 76 NONPROFIT HUNGER RELIEF PARTNERS. BETWEEN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, THE FOOD DEPOT COORDINATES, OR PARTNERS WITH, 161 DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS ACROSS NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE FOOD DEPOT PROVIDED AN ESTIMATED 660,000 MEALS EACH MONTH TO PEOPLE IN NEED AND THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR COMMUNITY (CHILDREN, SENIORS, WORKING FAMILIES, AND THOSE IN ILL HEALTH). THE FOOD DEPOT'S STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS OPERATE SEVERAL PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS OF HUNGER AMONG VULNERABLE POPULATIONS INCLUDING: CASITA DE COMIDA, DIAPER DEPOT, FOOD MOBILE 1.0, THE FOOD DEPOT PANTRY, FOOD 4 KIDS, FOOD 4 PETS, AND MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES. TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF ITS PARTNERS AND DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS, THE FOOD DEPOT ACTS AS A FOOD RESCUE ORGANIZATION, ACCESSING SURPLUS FOOD THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO TO WASTE. THE FOOD DEPOT COMBINES RESCUED FOOD WITH FOOD ACQUIRED FROM LOCAL AND NATIONAL FOOD MANUFACTURERS, FOOD DRIVES, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, GROWERS, FOOD DISTRIBUTORS, AND FOOD BROKERS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, THE FOOD DEPOT PROVIDED 9.5 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD, ENOUGH FOR 7.9 MILLION MEALS TO NEW MEXICANS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY IN NINE COUNTIES. PARTNER AGENCIES ARE ORGANIZATIONS WITH A HUNGER-RELIEF COMPONENT OF THEIR MISSION, REGISTERED AS 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR CHURCHES, WHICH ARE CONTRACTED WITH THE FOOD DEPOT TO DISTRIBUTE OR SERVE FOOD PURCHASED FROM OR PROVIDED BY THE FOOD DEPOT. PARTNER AGENCIES HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE FOOD DEPOT'S PROGRAMMING SINCE ITS INCEPTION AND, THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP, HAVE PROVIDED A LARGE MAJORITY OF OUR HUNGER RELIEF WORK OVER OUR HISTORY. WE HAVE 76 PARTNER AGENCIES IN SEVEN COUNTIES; THESE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE CHURCHES, SHELTERS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, SOUP KITCHENS, EMERGENCY PANTRIES, COLLEGE CAMPUSES, TRANSITIONAL OR SUPPORTED LIVING PROGRAMS, AND MORE. THEY PROVIDE MANY OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING, HOUSING, FAMILY SERVICES, STREET OUTREACH, REHABILITATION, FAITH-BASED SERVICES, HARM REDUCTION, AND EDUCATION. AGENCIES RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM THE FOOD DEPOT IN PURSUING THEIR HUNGER RELIEF GOALS, INCLUDING SITE VISITS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND RESOURCES FOR CLIENTS. PARTNER AGENCIES DISTRIBUTED 3,892,223 POUNDS OF FOOD, THE EQUIVALENT OF 3,243,519 MEALS. THIS FOOD REACHED 10,822 HOUSEHOLDS, OR 26,927 INDIVIDUALS, FOR A TOTAL OF 129,858 SERVICE INSTANCES.

CASITA DE COMIDA - CASITA DE COMIDA WAS LAUNCHED IN DECEMBER 2022 AND IS LOCATED IN ESPANOLA, NEW MEXICO IN RIO ARRIBA COUNTY. CASITA IS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO HUNGER RELIEF THAT TRANSFORMS A FOOD PANTRY INTO A NO COST GROCERY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE. ONCE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS HAVE REGISTERED IN ADVANCE, THEY ARRIVE AT THEIR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT TIME AND ANY SHOPPER AT CASITA CAN CHOOSE WHICH ITEMS THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE HOME FROM A VARIETY OF SHELF STABLE FOODS LIKE MASA, RICE, BEANS, CANNED MEAT, AND SOUPS, AS WELL AS FRESH PRODUCE, DAIRY, EGGS, AND FROZEN MEAT. PERSONAL CARE ITEMS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR SHOPPERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE ALSO OFFER OUR DIAPER DEPOT PROGRAM AS WELL AS SENIOR BOXES FROM THE AGING AND LONG TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT. SINCE THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED, CASITA HAS SERVED 1,629 HOUSEHOLDS AND 4,335 INDIVIDUALS. OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS, 1,526 QUALIFY FOR TEFAP. CASITA HAS DISTRIBUTED 697 ALTSD SENIOR BOXES FOR PEOPLE IN FOUR COUNTIES AND OVER 361 PACKAGES OF DIAPERS.

MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES AND FOOD MOBILE - MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES REACH COMMUNITIES IN RURAL NORTHERN NEW MEXICO WHERE THERE ARE A HIGH NUMBER OF "FOOD DESERTS." FOOD DESERTS ARE AREAS WHERE THERE IS LITTLE OR NO ACCESS TO FULL SERVICE GROCERY STORES THAT OFFER FRESH AND AFFORDABLE FOODS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY DIET. PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THESE AREAS OFTEN HAVE TO DRIVE AN HOUR OR MORE TO PURCHASE FOOD FOR WHICH THEY MAY BE CHARGED A PREMIUM, AND TYPICALLY PRODUCE IS EITHER NOT AVAILABLE OR IS NOT FRESH. MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES RELY ON COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD DIRECTLY TO THOSE IN NEED ON THE DAY OF DELIVERY, WITH NO NEED FOR LONG- TERM STORAGE. MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES REACH COMMUNITIES THAT DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SET UP THEIR OWN FOOD PANTRIES AND ENCOURAGES THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION. MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES REACHED 3,963 NEW MEXICANS IN 1,680 HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY EACH MONTH, WITH A TOTAL OF 20,160 SERVICE INSTANCES. THE FOOD DEPOT'S MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES PROVIDED MORE THAN 1,169,593 POUNDS OF FOOD, EQUIVALENT TO 974,661 MEALS. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS 17 COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. IN JULY 2021, THE FOOD DEPOT LAUNCHED THE FOOD MOBILE PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM SERVES THE GREATER SANTA FE AREA, BRINGING A CLIENT-CHOICE PANTRY INTO SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS IDENTIFIED AS HIGH-NEED AREAS. THE FOOD DEPOT'S STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HANDLE THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF THE FOOD OFFERING. THE FOOD MOBILE BUS LOCATIONS SERVE <100 HOUSEHOLDS AND ARE INTENDED TO SERVE RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY/NEIGHBORHOOD IMMEDIATELY NEARBY THE DISTRIBUTION LOCATION. IN AREAS WHERE WE SERVE >100 HOUSEHOLDS WE WILL CONVERT THE FOOD MOBILE DISTRIBUTION INTO A FOOD MOBILE PLUS LOCATION UTILIZING SEMI TRUCKS, WHILE STILL PROVIDING CLIENT-CHOICE. THE COMBINED MODELS OF THE FOOD MOBILE SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 1,001 HOUSEHOLDS AND 2,994 INDIVIDUALS EACH MONTH. AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE 13 DISTRIBUTION SITES THAT PROVIDED OVER 296,681 POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE FOOD DEPOT PANTRIES AND DISASTER RELIEF - THE FOOD DEPOT (TFD) PANTRY BEGAN WHEN THE FOOD DEPOT TOOK OVER A LARGE-SCALE DRIVE-THRU DISTRIBUTION PREVIOUSLY RUN BY FEEDING SANTA FE DURING THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. THIS DISTRIBUTION BECAME KNOWN AS THE FOOD DEPOT PANTRY AT SILER. TFD PANTRY AT LOS ALAMOS TRANSITIONED FROM BEING A MOBILE FOOD PANTRY, AND CONTINUES TODAY AS TFD PANTRY. THIS PANTRY DISTRIBUTES USDA COMMODITIES THROUGH THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TEFAP). THE ENTIRE PROCESS FOR A TFD PANTRY IS HANDLED BY TFD STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY. TFD PANTRIES ARE DRIVE-THRU DISTRIBUTIONS THAT SERVE OVER 100 HOUSEHOLDS AND ARE AVAILABLE AND ADVERTISED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. EACH HOUSEHOLD CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY 60 POUNDS OF FOOD AT THESE DISTRIBUTIONS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, BOTH TFD PANTRIES DISTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 2,237,338 POUNDS OF FOOD, EQUIVALENT TO 1,864,448 MEALS. TFD PANTRY AT SILER SERVED 1,186 HOUSEHOLDS, OR 5,193 INDIVIDUALS EACH MONTH. TFD PANTRY AT LOS ALAMOS SERVED 171 HOUSEHOLDS, OR 427 INDIVIDUALS EACH MONTH. WHEN CALLED INTO SERVICE BY LOCAL AND STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS OFFICIALS, THE FOOD DEPOT ACTS AS A DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATION. THE FOOD BANK PROVIDES HUNGER RELIEF IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, SUCH AS FLOODING, WILDFIRES, PANDEMICS, WATER SHORTAGE, ETC. THE FOOD DEPOT'S DISASTER RELIEF RESPONSE TAKES DIFFERENT FORMS: WATER DELIVERY, POP-UP PANTRIES, MEAL DELIVERY, FOOD DRIVES, RESOURCE NAVIGATION, AND SUPPORT OF PARTNER AGENCIES IN AFFECTED AREAS. THESE SERVICES SUPPORT EVACUEES, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THOSE WHO ARE ISOLATED FROM RESOURCES BY NATURAL DISASTERS. THE FOOD DEPOT DEVELOPS PLANS FOR SPECIFIC EMERGENT SITUATIONS AND WORKS TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM ASSISTANCE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. FOR INSTANCE, THE FOOD DEPOT INSTANTLY BEGAN A DISTRIBUTION IN MORA WHEN THE COMMUNITY WAS DIRECTLY BEING AFFECTED BY THE CALF CANYON/HERMIT'S PEAK FIRE IN THE SPRING OF 2022. THIS DISTRIBUTION CONTINUED THROUGHOUT FISCAL YEAR 2023 TO ENSURE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS GROCERIES AS THEY TRANSITIONED BACK TO LIVING IN THEIR COMMUNITY. IN RESPONSE TO THE FIRES THAT THREATENED THREE COUNTIES OF OUR SERVICE AREA, THE FOOD DEPOT'S DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT FISCAL YEAR 2023. THE FOOD DEPOT'S DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS DISTRIBUTED 607,968 POUNDS OF FOOD, EQUIVALENT TO 506,640 MEALS. THIS FOOD REACHED 3,873 HOUSEHOLDS, OR 9,683 INDIVIDUALS.