Spring Food Drive provides 450,000 meals to fight food insecurity

Los Alamos National Laboratory  employees made a positive difference to Northern New Mexico communities during this year's Spring Food Drive, donating $111,457 and 5,000 pounds of food to The Food Depot. 

Together, the donations translate to 450,000 meals for people facing food insecurity in the Northern New Mexico counties of Colfax, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos and Union — an increase of over 110,000 meals from last year. 

Driven by champions

More than 60 employees served as champions for the drive, encouraging donations and managing collection points for nonperishable food items across Lab sites in Los Alamos and Santa Fe.

"Every dollar or item donated helps put food on someone's table," said drive coordinator Tina Moore from the Community Partnerships Office. "We're incredibly grateful for these donations, which help ensure that our local partners can respond quickly and thoughtfully to real needs in our community." 

Volunteering in person

During the drive, a total of 80 volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got to work at volunteer sessions hosted by nonprofits tackling food insecurity.

Some helped at the San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen in Española; another group volunteered at Kitchen Angels in Santa Fe, making meals for homebound individuals or those facing serious illness. Others sorted food to be distributed by The Food Depot, helped at a food distribution, or worked shifts at The Food Depot's Casita de Comida in Española — a no-cost market that provides choice and dignity in a traditional store setting.

Battling the hunger crisis

Headquartered in Santa Fe, The Food Depot serves 40,000 people experiencing food insecurity across nine counties in Northern New Mexico. The nonprofit supports a hunger-relief network of more than 80 partner agencies, together with its own mobile food pantries, school-based pantries and drive-through distribution.