♪ 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 SHOW TODAY, YOU'LL FIND OUT BECAUSE OUR GUEST TODAY IS JILL DIXON, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD DEPOT.

>>JILL: INDEED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

>>LORENE: IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

TELL ME JUST IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDING TO PEOPLE AND THEN I'LL LET YOU EXPLAIN ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO, BUT GIVE US SOME, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS?

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

WE SERVE NINE COUNTIES SO IN THAT SPACE, WE ARE THE VOICE AND WE ARE UPLIFTING THE VOICES OF PEOPLE WE SERVE THAT ARE FOOD INSECURE FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT MIGHT BE.

IN SOME WAYS, WE'RE THE HIGHEST POINT OF CONTACT WITH A PERSON WHO IS STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND ISN'T SURE WHERE THE NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM.

>>LORENE: AND WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAMILIES AND ABLE-BODIED ADULTS, I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE SOME FEDERAL LAWS THAT CAME UP.

WHAT'S CHANGED WITH SNAP AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

>>JILL: SO THE SNAP PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1970S.

>>LORENE: SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

>>JILL: CORRECT, YOU'VE GOT IT.

FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS, WE NEVER REALLY GOT OVER THE BRANDING CHANGE ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, IT HAS LONG BEEN THE FIRST AND BEST DEFENSE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY.

IT GETS MONEY ONTO A CARD, THEY CAN GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, BUY THE FOOD THAT BEST MEETS THEIR NEEDS, THEIR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, THEIR FAMILY PREFERENCES.

IT'S REALLY A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES NINE MEALS FOR EVERY ONE MEAL THAT'S PROVIDED BY A FOOD BANK.

BUT IN JULY OF 2025, WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE WAS MAJOR LEGISLATION PASSED UNDER HR1, OFTEN FREQUENTLY CALLED THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL AND OUT OF 900 PAGES OF LEGISLATION, THERE WAS A PIECE IN THERE THAT REALLY FUNDAMENTALLY SHIFTED THE SNAP PROGRAM.

ONE OF THOSE COMPONENTS THAT CHANGED, THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT POLICY ASPECTS, IS THAT THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT POPULATIONS WAS CHANGED.

SO PEOPLE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN EXEMPTED FROM WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR VERY LEGITIMATE REASONS WERE NO LONGER EXEMPTED FROM THOSE WORK REQUIREMENTS.

THOSE CHANGES ROLLED OUT IN JANUARY OF 2026 AND HERE IN NEW MEXICO, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE LOSE THEIR BENEFITS AS THEY GO TO RECERTIFY.

AND AMONG THOSE THAT ARE AFFECTED ARE CHILDREN WHO'VE AGED OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

THEY PREVIOUSLY DIDN'T HAVE TO MEET WORK REQUIREMENTS UNTIL THEY WERE 24 TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO GET ON THEIR FEET AND GET THINGS FIGURED OUT AND MAKE SURE THEY HAD FOOD WHILE THEY WERE DOING THAT.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY WHO PREVIOUSLY DIDN'T HAVE TO MEET WORK REQUIREMENTS IF THEY NEEDED FOOD ASSISTANCE, THEY ARE NOW SUBJECT TO WORK REQUIREMENTS AS WELL, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

>>LORENE: I FORGOT ABOUT THE VETERANS.

THAT'S KIND OF THOUGHTLESS, THAT'S KIND OF UNGRATEFUL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY GAVE A LOT TO OUR COUNTRY.

SO, WHAT KIND OF MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>>JILL: THE AVERAGE FAMILY, AND IT REALLY DEPENDS, SNAP BENEFITS ARE ALWAYS DETERMINED BY WHAT SOMEONE'S FINANCIAL POSITION IS.

IN NEW MEXICO, WE HAVE PEOPLE QUALIFY IF THEY'RE MAKING 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL OR LESS.

THAT WAS INTENTIONAL, THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED THAT LEGISLATION IN 2024 TO EXPAND ENROLLMENT IN THE SNAP PROGRAM TO GIVE MORE NEW MEXICANS A LEG UP AND A BRIDGE THROUGH A HARD TIME.

THE SNAP PROGRAM DOESN'T SUPPORT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE LIVES, IT'S HELPFUL IN A MOMENT WHEN YOU'RE EXPERIENCING A CANCER DIAGNOSIS OR WHEN YOU'RE SUDDENLY CARING FOR AN ELDERLY ADULT IN YOUR HOME.

SNAP IS INTENDED TO BE A BRIDGE FROM ONE MOMENT OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY TO ANOTHER, WITH HARDSHIP IN BETWEEN.

AND THAT PROGRAM WAS REALLY AT THE ANCHOR OF SO MUCH OF THE FOOD SECURITY WORK THAT HAPPENED HERE AND WE HAVE REALLY SEEN FOLKS START TO LOSE THEIR BENEFITS.

THE PRESSURE HAS THEN TURNED TO THE FOOD SECURITY NETWORK TO TRY TO PICK THOSE FOLKS UP AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY STILL HAVE FOOD WHILE THEY MOVE THROUGH THAT HARD TIME, BUT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT THAT SNAP USED TO PROVIDE.

FOR MANY FAMILIES, THAT WAS THREE TO FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH THAT IS SUDDENLY JUST GONE AND CONSIDERING THAT THE SNAP PROGRAM'S ALLOCATION WAS VERY MODEST TO BEGIN WITH, APPROXIMATELY SIX DOLLARS A DAY FOR A PERSON RECEIVING SNAP.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT GROCERIES COST, YOU CAN SPEND $65 AND WALK OUT WITH A BAG OF GROCERIES, MAYBE TWO.

SIX DOLLARS A DAY DOESN'T GO VERY FAR ANYMORE.

>>LORENE: ARE YOU MORE BUSY NOW THAN YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST, PEOPLE HAVE REALIZED THAT YOU'RE A LIFELINE FOR THEM.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE SEEN A REALLY STEADY PRESENCE OF INCREASED NEED SINCE ABOUT SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, DEFINITELY STARTING TO PEAK ABOUT THE TIME THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WAS ON.

THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER SNAP BENEFITS WOULD CONTINUE DURING THAT TIME, WHICH WAS A REAL MOMENT OF FEAR FOR THE FOLKS THAT WE SERVE, BUT WE HAVE STEADILY SEEN ABOUT A 30 PERCENT INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICES.

I KNOW THAT ACROSS THE STATE, OUR OTHER FOOD BANKING PARTNERS, OUR FOOD PANTRY PARTNERS ARE INTERMITTENTLY SEEING A GREATER NEED THAN THAT.

>>LORENE: AND SO WHAT'S THE POPULATION IN THE NINE COUNTIES THAT YOU PARTICULARLY SERVE IN THE NORTH, ROUGHLY?

>>JILL: WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 43,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR.

IN ANY GIVEN MONTH, THERE ARE OVER 200 FOOD DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS IN OUR NINE-COUNTY SERVICE AREA, A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE, 50 PERCENT OR MORE, ARE HANDLED BY OUR FOOD SECURITY PARTNERS.

THAT'S THE PANTRY IN YOUR CHURCH THAT MAY ALSO LOOK LIKE AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM OR A SHELTER.

IN THE OTHER 50 PERCENT OF CASES, WE'RE OPERATING THOSE PROGRAMS OURSELVES TO HELP FILL GAPS IN COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO RUN A TRADITIONAL PANTRY.

>>LORENE: SO THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY.

>>JILL: YES.

>>LORENE: THEY HAVE COME UP WITH A CHANGE, I THINK IT WAS IN JANUARY 2025, ABOUT ABLE-BODIED ADULTS, SO WHAT IS THAT, IT SEEMED THE CRITERIA WAS KIND OF AN ELABORATE INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO CAN YOU TELL US WHO QUALIFIES, WHO PARTIALLY QUALIFIES, AND WHO DOESN'T QUALIFY?

>>JILL: WELL, THAT'S THE WHOLE THING ABOUT QUALIFYING FOR SNAP.

FOR ANYBODY WHO, YOU KNOW, THINKS THAT THE SNAP PROGRAM MAY SUFFER FROM RAMPANT ABUSE OR MAYBE PEOPLE QUALIFYING FOR BENEFITS WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T, I'D STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEMPT TO FILL OUT A SNAP APPLICATION.

THE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY ADMINISTERS THE SNAP PROGRAM AND THE ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS OR WITHOUT DISABILITIES IS PART OF THE RULE CHANGE THAT HAPPENED IN HR 1.

SO THE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY HAS BEEN TRYING VERY, VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO CAN KEEP THEIR BENEFITS DOES KEEP THEIR BENEFITS, AND THEY'VE BEEN AN INCREDIBLY PROACTIVE STATE AGENCY IN THAT SPACE.

SO A LOT OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN OUT THERE WITH THEM TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S CALLED ABAWD IS HELPING CONNECT PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER GET TO KEEP THEIR SNAP ELIGIBILITY UNLESS THEY MEET WORK REQUIREMENTS.

THE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY IS TRYING TO CONNECT THEM TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, TO OTHER STRATEGIES THAT CAN HELP THEM KEEP THEIR BENEFITS, PLACES TO VOLUNTEER, PLACES TO ENROLL IN A TRADE OR A CONTINUED LEARNING PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP THEM CONTINUE TO QUALIFY FOR THEIR SNAP BENEFITS.

SO THE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY HAS DONE A HUGE AMOUNT OF LIFTING TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR BENEFITS, LET THEM KNOW THAT THAT CAN BE HAPPENING AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO TRY TO PROTECT THEM.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES ME REALLY PROUD TO BE A NEW MEXICAN, THAT OUR STATE AGENCIES ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE THE FOOD BANKS AND WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN SOMEONE LOSES THEIR SNAP BENEFITS, THERE'S NOTHING ANYBODY CAN DO TO PREVENT THAT.

THEY ARE THEN REFERRING THEM TO THE FOOD BANK NETWORK, OUR WEBSITES ARE LISTED THERE, OUR FOOD FINDER MAP IS LISTED ON THE HCA WEBSITE SO PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE LOST THEIR SNAP BENEFITS CAN IMMEDIATELY BECOME AWARE OF WHERE ELSE THEY CAN FIND FOOD ASSISTANCE.

>>LORENE: SO YOU HAVE THIS, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING CALLED A FOOD FINDER MAP.

SO, THERE'S A WHOLE SORT OF SAFETY NET ACROSS THE STATE OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TRYING TO BE SURE THAT KIDS, IN PARTICULAR, DON'T GO HUNGRY, BUT THAT NOBODY GOES HUNGRY.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: SO HOW DO PEOPLE FIND OUT WHERE THEY CAN GO AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE?

>>JILL: IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

IN SOME WAYS, TECHNOLOGY IS ABSOLUTELY GRAND, I KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING OUR BEST TECHNOLOGY MOMENT RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE'S A COMPANY CALLED VIVERY, WHO HAS OFFERED UP THIS MAP THAT THE DIFFERENT FOOD BANKS CAN ENROLL IN, AND THEY'RE DOING THAT COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE, WHICH ANYONE WHO WORKS IN SOFTWARE KNOWS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

SO ALL FIVE FOOD BANKS IN NEW MEXICO ARE ENROLLED WITH ALL OF OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS ON THERE AND WE'VE ENCOURAGED ALL OF OUR PARTNER AGENCIES OR OTHER NONPROFITS THAT ARE RUNNING PANTRIES TO ALSO LIST THEIR FOOD DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION ON THERE.

SO, IF YOU GO TO ANY ONE OF THE FOOD DEPOTS OR THE FOOD BANK'S WEBSITES, OURS IS THEFOODDEPOT.ORG, YOU CAN GO ON THAT WEBSITE, CLICK THE FIND FOOD BUTTON, AND YOU PUNCH IN YOUR TOWN NAME, YOUR ZIP CODE, AND IT'S GOING TO SHOW YOU ALL THE PUBLIC FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE WITHIN A CERTAIN RADIUS OF YOU AND YOU CAN SET THAT RADIUS TO BE WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE, WITHIN FIVE MILES, WITHIN 25 MILES, AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE HOURS, ROADRUNNERS, WHICHEVER FOOD BANK MIGHT BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR YOU.

IT'S A REALLY WONDERFUL TOOL TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THEY CAN FIND RESOURCES ON EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

>>LORENE: WELL, THERE'S A PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUE THAT I'D LIKE YOU TO ADDRESS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE HUNGRY AND THEY LOOK AT THEIR KIDS AND THEY'RE HUNGRY, THEY FEEL A LOT OF SHAME IF THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO A FOOD BANK OR TO THE FOOD DEPOT OR SOMETHING AND SO I THINK IT'S KIND OF THE AMERICAN WAY NOT TO ALLOW KIDS TO BE HUNGRY, AND IT'S THERE AND I JUST THINK I'VE HEARD YOU TALK BEFORE THAT IT'S THERE IF YOU NEED IT.

DON'T BE SHY, DON'T COME UP IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT WEARING A CAP AND SUNGLASSES AND A SCARF, COME, IT'S THERE FOR YOU, THERE'S NO SHAME IN IT.

>>JILL: NO, I THINK THERE'S TWO DIMENSIONS TO THAT.

SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY, IF YOU'VE MISSED A MEAL SO YOU CAN FEED YOUR KIDS, YOU NEED TO GO FIND THE FOOD FINDER MAP AND WE ARE READY TO HELP.

WE HAVE ENOUGH, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, YOU'RE NOT TAKING FOOD AWAY FROM SOMEONE ELSE.

SO PLEASE JUST COME VISIT US AT THE DISTRIBUTION THAT IS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR YOU AND WE'LL GET YOU TAKEN CARE OF SO YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY.

BUT IT'S ALSO, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN SOCIAL DISCOURSE, ABOUT HOW WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, BECAUSE FOR EVERY CONVERSATION THAT I CAN HAVE LIKE THAT, ENCOURAGING SOMEONE TO COME FORWARD FOR HELP, THEY HEAR DOZENS OF CONVERSATIONS OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT FOLKS WHO RECEIVE SNAP ARE LAZY, THAT THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO WORK, THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING HANDOUTS AND THAT'S INCREDIBLY DAMAGING TO THE OTHER HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.

THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY AND I THINK THAT WE DO ALL AGREE IN OUR HEART OF HEARTS THAT EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD.

>>LORENE: WE'RE THE LAND OF PLENTY.

>>JILL: WE ARE THE LAND OF PLENTY AND I SEE NEIGHBORS UPLIFT EACH OTHER EVERY SINGLE DAY AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ULTIMATELY BELIEVE THAT.

BUT WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE WAY WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS IN PUBLIC BECAUSE ALL EARS ARE LISTENING AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A MOMENT OF HARDSHIP SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FEEL SHAME IN ADDITION TO MOVING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME.

>>LORENE: I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A LITTLE SIDE NOTE, BUT THAT A LOT OF LOCAL FARMERS HAVE COME AND DONATED PRODUCE THAT THEY'VE GROWN FRESH RIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND.

>>JILL: THEY HAVE.

>>LORENE: THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>>JILL: THE FOOD DEPOT OPERATES THE REGIONAL FARM TO FOOD BANK PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF THE FIVE FOOD BANKS IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

THIS WAS A PROGRAM THAT WAS NOT RENEWED BY THE USDA IN JUNE OF 2025, AND WE WERE FORTUNATE, OR IN JUNE OF 2026, I'M SORRY, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THE STATE LEGISLATURE ALLOCATE $2 MILLION FOR US TO BRING IT BACK.

THAT MEANS THAT THE FIVE FOOD BANKS ARE PURCHASING $2 MILLION OF LOCALLY GROWN FOOD, AND THAT FOOD IS GOING INTO OUR FOOD PANTRIES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>>LORENE: IT'S SO MUCH FRESHER.

>>JILL: IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT FOODS THAT CAN BE OUT OF REACH FOR FOLKS, WE WANT TO PUT NUTRITIOUS FOOD ON THE TABLE, SO IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT SOMEONE CAN SEE BUTTER LETTUCE THAT'S GROWN RIGHT IN RIO ARRIBA COUNTY, THAT WE HAVE LOCAL PINTO BEANS, THAT WE ARE SEEING CHILE COME OUT OF THE HATCH AREA AND INTO OUR FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTIONS.

BECAUSE FOOD IS LIKE WHO WE ARE, IT'S A CULTURAL CONNECTION, IT'S A HUMAN CONNECTION AND WHEN WE CAN BUY LOCAL, WE WANT TO AND THE STATE LEGISLATIVE MONEY, BOTH THROUGH REGIONAL FARM TO FOOD BANK AND ALSO OUR GROW FUND, IS HELPING FOOD BANKS DO THAT AT A SCALE WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO BEFORE.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH JILL DIXON, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD DEPOT, SO THANK YOU, I JUST THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

SO HOW CAN PEOPLE HELP, I LOVE THE FACT THAT FARMERS ARE BRINGING YOU FRESH PRODUCE AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE PROTEIN SOURCES BESIDES THE LOCALLY GROWN PINTO BEANS AND YOU DO WELCOME VOLUNTEERS TO COME, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SO SATISFYING.

I LIVE OUT WHERE YOU'RE LOCATED ON SILER ROAD, BUT I GO BY ON THURSDAYS, AND THERE'S THIS LONG LINE OF CARS WITH KIDS IN THE BACK SEAT, AND THEY DRIVE UP AND YOU PUT, I THINK, BOXES FOR TWO FAMILIES IN EACH CAR.

>>JILL: YEP.

>>LORENE: AND THEY GO AWAY, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL THING.

SOMETIMES I AM SURPRISED AT HOW LONG THE LINE IS.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

THAT LINE CONTINUES TO GET LONGER, UNFORTUNATELY, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT REGULARLY, BUT WE'RE INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A DEEPLY CONCERNED COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO UPLIFT OTHERS.

AND I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET INVOLVED, FIRST AND FOREMOST, YES, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY VOLUNTEER, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US AT THEFOODDEPOT.ORG, THERE'S GOING TO BE A BUTTON FOR HOW TO VOLUNTEER AND YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT IT TAKES TO REGISTER, TO GET YOUR TOUR, GET ORIENTED, AND GET STARTED.

WE ALSO HAVE SATURDAY OPPORTUNITIES PRETTY REGULARLY WHERE YOU CAN JUST COME AND TEST DRIVE IT AND SEE HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT VOLUNTEERING.

SO REALLY ACCESSIBLE, LOTS OF DIFFERENT JOBS, SO DON'T THINK, HEY, I CAN'T LIFT REALLY HEAVY THINGS, THAT'S NOT FOR ME.

>>LORENE: A 50-POUND BAG OF POTATOES.

>>JILL: OH MY GOSH, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.

WE HAVE VOLUNTEER RECEPTIONISTS WHO JUST HELP US OPEN THE DOOR AND TAKE DONATIONS FROM PEOPLE, IT'S A REALLY MAGNIFICENT WAY TO GET INVOLVED.

OBVIOUSLY, FINANCIAL DONATIONS ARE ALWAYS PRECIOUS, IN THIS MOMENT MORE THAN EVER BEFORE WHERE WE'RE HAVING TO BUY MORE FOOD TO REPLACE THE USDA COMMODITY FOODS THAT AREN'T COMING.

WHEN WE'RE REPLACING THE DONATIONS FROM... >>LORENE: WHEN DID THOSE STOP?

>>JILL: THEY DIDN'T STOP COMPLETELY, BUT WE'VE SEEN A 40% REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF COMMODITIES COMING FROM THE USDA OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, SO THAT'S A PRETTY DEVASTATING BLOW AS THAT SUPPLIED ABOUT 30% OF OUR OVERALL FOOD HISTORICALLY.

SO WE'RE BUYING FOOD TO REPLACE THAT, WHICH MEANS DONATED FUNDS ARE REALLY THE MOST FLEXIBLE WAY FOR US TO GET PROTEIN ITEMS, GET PRODUCE ITEMS, AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE AVAILABLE TO FOLKS WE SERVE.

>>LORENE: YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF I MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, BUT AREN'T 60% OF YOUR FOOD BOXES FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, ROUGHLY.

>>JILL: WE HAVE A GOAL THAT NO LESS THAN 50% OF OUR FOOD THAT WE DISTRIBUTE, 11.7 MILLION POUNDS LAST YEAR, WILL BE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND THAT NO LESS THAN 15% WILL BE PROTEIN ITEMS.

AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT IN FISCAL '26, WE EXCEEDED THOSE GOALS ONCE AGAIN WITH THE VAST MAJORITY BEING PRODUCE.

CERTAINLY, PINTOS ARE THE BACKBONE, BUT WE DO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PURCHASING FROZEN PROTEIN ITEMS, MEAT PROTEIN, AND MAKING THOSE AVAILABLE AS WE'RE ABLE.

>>LORENE: AND EGGS, DAIRY.

>>JILL: WE HAVE SOME GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH EGG PRODUCERS IN THE NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AREA, SO SOUTHERN COLORADO, NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.

THE FOOD DEPOT HAS DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED THE AMOUNT OF FOOD IT PURCHASES WITHIN A 250-MILE RADIUS.

WHILE THAT NUMBER MAY HAVE BEEN AROUND 100,000 POUNDS IN A YEAR PREVIOUSLY, LAST YEAR WE PURCHASED ALMOST A MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD LOCALLY WITHIN THAT RADIUS, WHICH I THINK IS A REAL TESTIMONY TO HOW MUCH WE CARE ABOUT BEING PART OF THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.

>>LORENE: YES, HOW WONDERFUL FOR THE LOCAL FARMERS.

>>JILL: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT IT SHIPPED TO NEW YORK CITY, I MEAN, OF COURSE, HOW LOVELY FOR NEW YORK, BUT I MEAN IT'S FOR PEOPLE HERE, IT'S TO HELP OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITIES.

>>JILL: WE KNOW THAT OUR FARMERS WANT TO FEED PEOPLE.

THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR A CHECK, THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT, THEY'RE LOOKING TO FARM, THEY'RE LOOKING TO RANCH, THEY'RE LOOKING TO CARRY ON THEIR FAMILY TRADITION IN SO MANY CASES.

WE'RE CREATING A MARKET IN THAT SPACE, SO, RATHER THAN JUST BEING A CHARITABLE FOOD INSTITUTION, WE'RE ALSO A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM IN TERMS OF PURCHASING AND BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, AND IT MATTERS.

NEW MEXICO HAS INVESTED DEEPLY IN HAVING A HEALTHY FOOD SYSTEM OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS AND BEYOND, AND THIS ERA IS JUST THE REFINEMENT OF THAT.

>>LORENE: WELL, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF YOUR CONTROL.

OF COURSE, THE WEATHER, GLOBAL WARMING, ALL OF THAT, BUT ALSO THE PRICE OF GASOLINE AND THE PRICE OF DIESEL FUEL, AND FOR THE FARMERS TOO, BECAUSE THEIR TRACTORS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO RUN THEIR EQUIPMENT, AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M JUST SO CONCERNED WHEN I LOOK AT IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER.

AND AS YOU SAY, THE DEMAND, THE NEED FOR WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING IS GROWING SUBSTANTIALLY.

SO, WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW, HOW CAN PEOPLE HELP, DONATIONS, OF COURSE, VOLUNTEERING, OF COURSE.

AND ARE WE REALLY AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AND OF COURSE, WE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND WE COME OUT WITH OUR EYES AS BIG AS SAUCERS AND A LITTLE BAG OF GROCERIES.

BUT LOOKING AROUND AT OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STATE, AND OUR COUNTRY, WHERE DO YOU THINK THINGS ARE GOING?

THAT'S A BIG QUESTION.

>>JILL: THAT'S A HUGE QUESTION.

>>LORENE: IN BRIEF.

>>JILL: I THINK THAT THE THING TO REMEMBER IN THIS MOMENT WHERE THERE IS NOTHING BUT UNCERTAINTY AND I WOULD SAY THAT ANYBODY WHO COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITH AUTHORITY IS SOMETHING OF A CHARLATAN, QUITE FRANKLY.

BUT WHAT I KNOW TO BE TRUE IS THAT WE ARE ALL HAVING THESE SAME MOMENTS OF HARDSHIP, SO THE FOLKS THAT WE SERVE ARE PRESSED ECONOMICALLY; THEY ARE ABLE TO BUY LESS FOOD, THEY'RE COMING TO OUR FOOD LINES MORE FREQUENTLY, THEY NEED MORE ASSISTANCE.

THE SNAP PROGRAM IS ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTY, THE FOOD BANKS CAN'T BUY AS MUCH FOOD WITH THE SAME DOLLAR THAT WE USED TO.

OUR ENTIRE FLEET DELIVERING THAT FOOD ALL OVER NINE COUNTIES, 26,000 SQUARE MILES, THAT FLEET RUNS ON DIESEL, OUR COSTS WENT FROM $9,000 A MONTH TO $30,000 A MONTH FOR FUEL.

THE FARMERS, ABSOLUTELY, FERTILIZER HAS INCREASED IN PRICE, THERE'S A SHORTAGE ON THAT FRONT, THEIR MACHINERY RUNS ON DIESEL.

BUT WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING THAT SAME HARDSHIP.

I THINK THE THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT NEW MEXICANS HOLD EACH OTHER UP.

WE HAVE BEEN SCRAPPY, RESILIENT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR VARIOUS ANCESTRAL HISTORIES AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BELIEVE AND TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A MOMENT FOR US TO STEP CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER.

I SEE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS COLLABORATING IN WAYS THAT THEY NEVER HAVE BEFORE, SHARING RESOURCES, SHARING EXPERTISE, AND SHARING JUST TOGETHERNESS AND COMMUNITY.

I SEE FUNDERS COMING TO THE TABLE AND ASKING GREAT QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HELP, AND WE CAN STRETCH THINGS TO COVER US ALL.

THERE'S PROFOUND ACTION HAPPENING LEGISLATIVELY, BOTH ON THE POLICY AND THE FUNDING END, SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BELIEVE AND LOOK FOR THE GOOD.

I BENEFIT FROM SITTING RIGHT INSIDE A STORM OF GOOD EVERY SINGLE DAY AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE'RE SURROUNDED BY THIS CLOUD, THAT WE NOT BE CONSUMED BY THE NEGATIVITY, THE FEAR, THE UNREST, AND THAT WE CENTER OURSELVES IN THE FACT THAT OUR PEOPLE, IF WE CHOOSE, WILL STAND UP TOGETHER FOR EACH OTHER AND WE CAN CREATE INCREDIBLE THINGS.

WE'RE GOING INTO A LONG SESSION WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION, I'M DEEPLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE WAY THE FOOD SYSTEM ORGANIZATIONS ARE SHOWING UP.

THERE'S POLICY BEING SHAPED, THERE ARE LEGISLATIVE ASKS BEING MADE AND I THINK THAT THERE'S INCREDIBLE CHANGE THAT CAN COME FROM THIS MOMENT OF DIFFICULTY.

>>LORENE: I REMEMBER IN 2025, THERE WAS A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION CALLED, NOT ONLY ABOUT FOOD, BUT THAT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.

AND THE LAWMAKERS, THEY'RE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEY KNOW THAT THEIR PEOPLE ARE HURTING.

>>JILL: THEY ALL STOOD FOR THAT.

WHEN THE NEW MEXICO STATE LEGISLATURE VOTED IN THE SECOND SPECIAL SESSION TO COVER SNAP BENEFITS FOR EVERY SINGLE NEW MEXICAN, THAT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

SO MAKE NO MISTAKE, HUNGER IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE, FOOD SECURITY IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE ON EVERY SIDE OF THE AISLE, AT EVERY POINT IN THAT CONTINUUM, BELIEVES IN.

WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT HOW TO GET THERE, BUT IN THIS MOMENT, WE ARE ALL GOING TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS STRUGGLING AND WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR EACH OTHER.

>>LORENE: YES, AND THAT'S WHY I WAS SURPRISED WITH THE NEW ADDITION OF THE ABLE-BODIED ADULT, MALE WITHOUT DEPENDENCE, OR MALE OR FEMALE, JUST ADULT WITHOUT DEPENDENCE, CAUSE THAT SEEMED TO INSINUATE A WHOLE NEW ELEMENT THAT HADN'T BEEN THERE BEFORE, BUT TIMES CHANGE AND THE NEEDS CHANGE AND WE'LL JUST WATCH AND SEE HOW THAT TURNS OUT.

SO THERE'S VOLUNTEERING, THERE'S DONATING, AND THERE'S THE AWARENESS AND NEW MEXICANS ARE SO NEIGHBORLY.

PERHAPS YOU HAVE AN ELDERLY NEIGHBOR OR SOMEBODY, GRANDPARENTS, WHO JUST SUDDENLY ARE TAKING CARE OF GRANDKIDS AND HUNGRY TEENAGERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO LOOK AROUND AT OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND SEE, WE CAN ALWAYS HELP THROUGH AN ORGANIZATION LIKE YOURS, BUT PERSONALLY, FRIEND TO FRIEND, NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR, JUST SEE, OH, I BAKED A MEATLOAF, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS OR HERE'S A HUNDRED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

JUST TO BE GENEROUS AND NOT MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT, JUST THAT I WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU.

>>JILL: I WAS AT THE FARMER'S MARKET THIS MORNING AND I SAW A PIECE OF ART THAT HAD THIS PORTION, I BELIEVE OF A HOPI BLESSING ON IT THAT SAID, "WE ARE THE PEOPLE WE WERE WAITING FOR," I THINK THAT'S THE CALL.

>>LORENE: THAT'S THE CALL.

>>JILL: WE CAN ALL SHOW UP AND FIND A NEIGHBOR WHO MIGHT NEED A LITTLE HELP.

I FOUND OUT LAST YEAR THAT MY DAUGHTER'S BEST FRIEND'S FAMILY WAS USING THE SNAP PROGRAM.

THEY'RE MY FAMILY TOO AND YOU JUST DROP OFF AN EXTRA PLATE OF SPAGHETTI, LIKE, HEY, WE MADE A LITTLE TOO MUCH, CAN YOU GUYS TAKE THIS.

WE CAN LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND I THINK PERSON TO PERSON IS WHERE SOME OF THAT CHANGE IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT BECOMES INFECTIOUS.

YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY JOIN OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS, THE FOOD DEPOT IS INCREDIBLY ACTIVE, BOTH DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND BEYOND.

WE WANT MORE ADVOCATES TO JOIN US, WE WANT TO SEE YOU ON HUNGER ACTION DAY AT THE ROUNDHOUSE, REALLY ELECTRIC ENERGY AROUND THAT.

BUT I CAN'T ENCOURAGE YOU ENOUGH, IF YOU'RE FEELING ADRIFT AND YOU WANT A PLACE TO ANCHOR YOURSELF, VISIT THEFOODDEPOT.ORG, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME WAY IN THERE THAT YOU CAN FEEL ANCHORED TO OUR MOVEMENT.

AND IF FOOD SECURITY ISN'T IT FOR YOU, WE CAN CONNECT YOU TO A PARTNER WHO'S GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE YOU FEEL FULL.

>>LORENE: OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

WELL, I'M SO GRATEFUL.

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

IT'S REALLY EYE-OPENING TO SEE THE RESURGENCE OF NEW AND BIGGER PROBLEMS, BUT THE RESPONSE THAT YOU AND YOUR OTHER FELLOW ORGANIZATIONS HAVE HAD.

SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND TELLING US ABOUT IT.

>>JILL: I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>>LORENE: WE'LL DO AN UPDATE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A STATIC SITUATION.

>>JILL: DEFINITELY NOT.

>>LORENE: THIS IS DYNAMIC.

I WANT TO THANK YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR JOINING US TODAY.

I'M LORENE MILLS, THIS IS REPORT FROM SANTA FE , AND 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.

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