Since 1989, Rio Grande Food Project (RGFP) has worked to prevent and end hunger for children, adults, and seniors throughout Albuquerque. Established in 1989 by several members of the Rio Grande Presbyterian Church, the efforts of RGFP has significantly grown ever since. The Rio Grande Food Project separated from the church in 2004 and has transformed into the largest food pantry on Albuquerque’s Westside, transporting about 90,000 lbs of food and serving close to 4,000 people every month. Lovelace Health System is fortunate to support this growing food pantry year after year. Ari Herring, Executive Director at RGFP says, “Community support has blossomed for this work. It’s a neighborhood where there is a lot of strength in the community but also a lot of poverty.” Hunger is a chronic condition in New Mexico per the statistics below.
New Mexico Statistics on Hunger:
- Ranks #2 in the nation in childhood hunger
- Ranks #7 in overall hunger
- 1/3 adults have some form of a health condition that relates to hunger (Bernalillo County)
- 1/6 residents do not know where their next meal will come from (Bernalillo County)
RGFP provides a monthly food distribution program, where hungry households can pick up a week’s worth of food once a month. Individuals are able to pick up both frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, frozen meats, beans and rice, breads and canned goods. RGFB is also open for food box distribution Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10am to 2pm and Saturdays from 9am to 12pm. The organization grows their own produce in a garden and has a state-of-the-art rain harvesting system to accumulate water.
The Rio Grande Food Project works closely with Roadrunner Food Bank, as well as farms, distributors and more than 12 local grocery stores to acquire safe, edible food that is no longer needed. Approximately 30 churches, schools, and companies do annual food drives for Rio Grande Food Project, including Lovelace Health System.
Lovelace is the largest supporter of the Rio Grande Food Project with barrels available at each Lovelace Hospital and 12 Lovelace Medical Group clinic locations during several drives over the course of each year. Herring shares, “Lovelace food drives are always the biggest for us. There are more sites and more weeks involved. It’s evident that Lovelace employees get excited about this. There is a lot of spirit about employees giving back and Lovelace employees do so much to take care of the community and then there’s this food piece that people get really excited about. We believe food is medicine and it seems like Lovelace employees agree.”
Below are the stats of Lovelace’s contribution to RGFP over the years.
Pounds of Food Collected by Lovelace Health System:
- 2014: 2,667 lbs.
- 2015: 2,561 lbs.
- 2016: 2,451 lbs.
Herring says Lovelace has helped shape the guidelines for other supporters. “A lot of sugary foods come through food drives, but Lovelace has always done a nice job providing low sodium and low sugar canned goods, which is incredible for us,” she says. “Peanut butter has been huge, especially from Lovelace because it is such a good protein that can sit on a shelf for a long time.”
Ari Herring shares her gratitude towards Lovelace Health System’s donation efforts, “Hunger prevents people and communities from thriving and achieving fullest potential. But we cannot do this work without our community – we are beyond grateful that Lovelace Health System shows so much support for Rio Grande Food Project’s critical hunger relief work year after year!”
Each one of our Lovelace locations are eager to contribute to this year’s holiday food drive. To all employees and patients who have made contributions thus far- thank you!
If you need food or want to help, learn more at www.rgfp.org.