THE FOOD DEPOT

The food depot pantries the food depot (tfd) pantry began when the food depot had taken 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 an mfp, and continues today as a 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 - 2024, both tfd pantries combined distributed over total of 2.1m pounds, equivalent to 1,750,000 meals. Tfd pantry at siler served 1,224 households, or 4,913 individuals each month. Tfd pantry at los alamos served 160 households, or 383 individuals each month. Casita de comida casita de comida was launched 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, 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 496 individual households and provided 3,061 instances of supportive food security supportive services. Of the households served: 485 (98%) qualify for tefap, 229 (46%) of the people served are children under the age of 18, 295 (59%) households include seniors, and of those homes 115 (39%)are responsible for raising grandchildren. Casita distributed over 516 packs of diapers to families with infants during fiscal year 23-24. The food 4 kids program the food depot runs the food 4 kids program in collaboration with schools and community partners across northern new mexico. One of its strongest partnerships is with communities in schools of new mexico, which ensures students at 14 santa fe county schools have access to the program. Additionally, the program has set up two pantries in pojoaque valley schools, four in rio arriba county, and four in taos county, with plans to further expand. The program follows a school-based pantry model, where partners provide physical space to store a variety of grocery items. Ideally, these pantries include refrigerated or frozen storage for fresh produce, dairy, and meat, ensuring families can regularly access nutritious food. Food 4 kids seeks to reduce food insecurity by providing nutritious food to children and their families in a welcoming and accessible environment. The food depot is dedicated to offering hunger relief in a respectful and dignified manner that prioritizes the needs of those facing food insecurity. Childhood hunger remains a serious issue for many children in new mexico. Research shows that missing meals can have long-term effects beyond hunger. The food depot is committed to fighting hunger throughout northern new mexico, especially for vulnerable populations. With one in five children in the state experiencing hunger, this crisis has wide-reaching impacts on their social, emotional, and physical well-being. While working toward long-term solutions, the food depot ensures that no child goes hungry. Food 4 kids offers children and their families access to nutritious meals and groceries. This approach is designed to meet the children and families where they are, reducing the burden on families and improving access to services. By including the entire family in food distribution, the program promotes inclusivity. Distribution methods school-based pantries: working with public schools and organizations like communities in schools, the program provides families with nonperishable staples and fresh produce. Pantry access is coordinated by school staff and offers hunger relief to the whole family, including younger siblings and parents. Program growth food 4 kids has continued to evolve, and during the 2023-2024 school year, the program served 18,472 children, 16,275 adults, and 8,610 households.