Questa’s North Central Food Pantry is constantly working to ensure local northern Taos County residents have access to basic food necessities. President Jeannie Masters is a passionate and crucial part of the pantry’s success.
“We have been blessed beyond measure,” Masters says. “This year, we were able to get approximately $10,000 in donations from the community to purchase frozen turkeys, chickens, and Thanksgiving fixings to give to the community.” The giveaway was on Friday, November 22. The organization had 350 turkeys and 363 people had registered to receive them.
The program has been ongoing for four years and every year, an ‘anonymous angel’ has paid for turkeys to be given to the community. This year, the LOR Foundation gave $4,000, River Community Church gave $1,000 and an anonymous donor from Kansas contributed $5,000. “God is so good to us and he blesses us abundantly,” Masters says. “I don’t worry, because I know regardless of if we need more donations or more volunteers, God will provide.”
The pantry maintains that food is free to anyone in the Questa community and surrounding areas within the state of New Mexico, regardless of income. “I am not afraid to ask businesses for help collecting money or donations. The people here understand it’s to feed families in our community who need food, and they are happy to help out.”
Treasurer Joan MacDonald says “we do this to help out the community, it’s needed and that’s why we do this.” Many of the community members who attended the give-away expressed their sincere gratitude for the wonderful items they received, many saying it was a blessing and a gift.
The North Central Food Pantry is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The five board members include President Jeannie Masters, Vice President Kate Cisneros, Secretary Nancy Parker, Treasurer Joan MacDonald, and member-at-large Gaea McGahee. If you’re interested in donating your time, funding, or other resources, visit the pantry’s website at https://www.ncfpquesta.com/support-us. You can also call (575) 586-0486.
“We have to walk in faith—because at the end of the day, all we have is our faith,” Masters says. “God is so good to us every day and I thank the Lord for his countless blessings that allow us to feed those who are hungry in our community.”
