Employees from Los Alamos National Laboratory joined forces with The Food Depot to combat food insecurity across Northern New Mexico, donating $70,738 as well as 7,509 pounds of food. That works out to 289,000 meals for people facing food insecurity in the counties of Colfax, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos and Union.
Of the Laboratory’s approximately 17,000 employees, two thirds live outside Los Alamos County in surrounding Northern New Mexico communities.
“Our employees want to give where they live, and this is a primary way the Laboratory is a force for good in the community,” says Community Partnerships Office Director Kathy Keith.
“Record housing and health care costs are driving many New Mexicans to balance their budgets by relying on food assistance, stretching the capacity of area soup kitchens, food banks and partner agencies. That’s why this drive matters so much,” says Sherry Hooper, executive director of The Food Depot.
A total of 37 volunteers — including employees, their friends and family — rolled up their sleeves and got to work at six volunteer sessions with nonprofits tackling food insecurity.
Some helped at the San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen in Española; another group volunteered at the St. Felix Pantry in Sandoval County; others packed 752 pantry bags (eight pallets’ worth) at The Food Depot for use in their distributions. A fourth group worked shifts at The Food Depot’s Casita de Comida in Española — an innovative, no-cost market that provides choice and dignity in a traditional store setting.
The Food Depot is a nonprofit organization that aims to make healthy food accessible to every person in every community in New Mexico. As the food bank for nine northern counties, The Food Depot provides resources to more than 40,000 New Mexicans across 26,000 square miles. Its innovative programs, resource-navigation services and advocacy work supports individuals in achieving food security. In 2023, The Food Depot’s unique programs, along with 80 nonprofit partners, provided an average of 624,000 meals each month to those experiencing food insecurity. You are invited to join the food security movement by donating, volunteering or advocating on its website, thefooddepot.org. The Food Depot operates as an equal opportunity provider.