Hunger Initiative

In October 2006, New Mexico fell to the worst in the nation in food insecurity.

“One in four children and one in eight seniors do not know where they will get their next meal. The root issues of hunger in New Mexico can be attributed to the high poverty rate and the fact that 32 of 33 counties qualify as “rural” by federal standards”.

-Nancy Pope, Director of the New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger

The Foundation has partnered with over 40 organizations, both Private and Public to form the New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger.

In early 2007, a three-year plan was created:

  • The Plan has 5 goals and 87 strategies. It is both Programming and Policy.
  • Over $1.5 Million has been raised from the private sector for the Plan. Additional funding is being raised to support the Plan.

    The overarching goal of this Plan was accomplished late last year: To move New Mexico from the worst in the nation in hunger (2007, USDA) to the 45th in hunger.  Based on the USDA food insecurity data released in November 2009, New Mexico became 45th in food insecurity in the nation.

    Other goals of the plan are to provide adequate food for seniors, improve access to food in rural and underserved communities, to encourage full participation in public food assistance programs and to create awareness of hunger in New Mexico.


Programming accomplishments resulting from the Plan:

  • 2008 Intergenerational Summer Food Program conducted at 37 statewide sites, 5,600 children fed (229,229 meals served) and 250 senior volunteers engaged.
  • 2010 Intergenerational Summer Food Program reached their goal of feeding 7,600 children at 62 sites across New Mexico. Besides free breakfast and lunch at most sites, 58,000 weekend food bags were distributed and 24 community gardens were planted and are currently being harvested. 

The Collaboration’s Advisory Council is now planning for the next 5 years and has created a new Vision and Mission:

Vision: Organization working together to end hunger in New Mexico.

Mission: Connect, convene, communicate, collaborate and build capacity of the public and private organizations whose strategic partnership is focused on ending hunger in New Mexico.

Learn more and read the complete plan on the NM Collaboration to End Hunger website.