As news of federal funding cuts to regional food banks ripples through northern New Mexico, many communities are bracing for the impact. Concerns are rising about how these reductions could affect families who rely on food assistance to get through the month. The Food Depot, which supplies food to pantries across the region, including Questa, is one of the organizations facing uncertainty.
According to the Food Depot’s website, 14 percent of Taos County residents experience food insecurity. Additionally, 15 percent rely on SNAP for groceries, while 608 families are enrolled in WIC.
On March 17, the Food Depot shared a release confirming the federal funding supporting the Regional Farm to Food Bank (RF2FB) program had been terminated. The program connected New Mexico farmers, ranchers, and food producers in the state to the food bank network. Since its inception, the RF2FB has been a significant purchaser of local foods, accounting for 34 percent of all New Mexico-grown institutional purchases from small and midsize producers in 2024
“During the last three years, New Mexico’s RF2FB program has been a national standout, spending more than $3.6 million with local producers on healthy and culturally appropriate food,” says Denise Miller, executive director of the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association that partners with The Food Depot on this initiative.
In October of 2024, the USDA announced a $2.8 million dollar investment into the program in New Mexico. However, under the new administration, the funding commitment was axed, meaning this funding will expire at the end of 2025.
In Questa, the North Central Food Pantry volunteers are already strategizing and looking toward the future with faith and confidence. Food Bank President Jeannie Masters says, “Every day I pray to Our Father, and in that prayer, I say ‘let your will be done.’ That means that I live by faith and I know God will provide.”
Currently, Masters leads the fundraising initiatives for the Pantry, noting that she is shameless in seeking help in these efforts. “I am not embarrassed, I ask everyone and anyone for help. The worst they can say is no, and after all, it is a tax write-off. I do it because I know it is going to help our local families who need support.”
Masters says she has seen the power of God time and time again through her work through Questa’s North Central Food Pantry, noting back to the Thanksgiving Food Pantry Giveaway when the organization needed to come up with $10,000 and Masters fell ill, limiting her ability to raise the money. “I was able to ask Maria Gonzalez with the LOR Foundation and they came through. The Questa food pantry currently receives food through three avenues, statewide government commodities, through the Food Depot, and through local fundraising.
I asked Gabe Herrera at Chevron and he told me he could help us. Then, all of a sudden, I got a call from a donor who used to give us money through the Taos Community Foundation. He said he wanted to donate directly and three days later, I got $5,000 in the mail for our Pantry. This is not about me, it’s a God thing.”
The Questa food pantry currently sources its supplies through government commodities, The Food Depot, and local fundraising. We serve upward of 500 families a month, reaching nearly 1,000 people. If these cuts significantly affect us, we might not be able to distribute as much as we have in the past, but we will still be able to provide some assistance.”
Masters says the Sangre de Cristo Market has been very generous and supportive of the Food Bank and so has Red River local Missy Turner, who has helped build bridges with Shamrock Foods, leading to donations of canned goods and frozen turkeys for the 2024 giveaway. Additionally, employees from ENTACT work to support the efforts.
While the cuts at the federal level have many people worried, Masters says, “We’re not blind to what’s going on. We’re just preparing the best we can—and praying on the rest.”
To support Questa’s North Central Food Pantry, you can contact Jeannie Masters at (575) 779-9194.
