As concerns grow over interruptions to federal food programs expected to stop on Nov. 1 amidst the government shutdown, the North Central Food Pantry is doubling down on efforts to make sure local families don’t go hungry.
“We buy food from the Food Depot in Santa Fe,” said pantry director Jeannie Masters. “They had been limiting what we could order, but they’ve lifted those restrictions, so we’re stocking up as much as possible.”
The pantry recently secured a grant from the Taos Community Foundation to purchase turkeys for Thanksgiving — enough to feed hundreds of families in need. “We’re hopeful to order 400 turkeys this year,” Masters said.
While shelves are stocked for now, Masters said the organization is preparing for higher demand if federal food aid is disrupted by the ongoing government shutdown. “We’ll feed the community as long as we can,” she said. “This is in God’s hands, not ours. I’m writing grants, asking for money, reaching out to every business I can.”
State officials say local groups like the North Central Food Pantry are vital as New Mexico prepares to bridge gaps in assistance. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Wednesday, Oct. 29 that the state will allocate $30 million in contingency funds to continue food aid through early November, after the federal government signaled it would pause the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the shutdown. Covering the entire month would cost roughly $80 million dollars. Governor Lujan Grisham hopes federal intervention will take place before then.
“We’re not waiting on Washington to act,” Lujan Grisham said at a news conference. “New Mexicans will not go hungry on our watch.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has said it will suspend benefits starting Saturday due to a lack of federal funding during the shutdown.
Residents who want to help can drop off nonperishable food items at the Red River Conference Center or send monetary donations to the North Central Food Pantry, P.O. Box 134 or P.O. Box 1076 in Questa. Checks can be made out to North Central Food Pantry.
