Local group helps feed students in food scarcity

BOSQUE FARMS—Feed NM Kids Valencia County began passing bags filled with food items out to local schools in August of 2019.

Dr. Niki Wolff is the regional director for the Valencia County branch of the organization.

She said this is the second location that the organization is in, but hopes it will become a state-wide initiative.

“I approached the Feed NM Kids out of Albuquerque about bringing it down here and they were totally on board,” Wolff said.

While Feed NM Kids Valencia County is a branch of the Feed NM Kids organization, Wolff said the branch is it’s own entity. The Valencia branch is responsible for its own donations and financial situation.

The organization is currently operating out of the First Baptist Church of Bosque Farms, where the food items are stored and packaged. It is a non-profit organization through NM Prays.

“We send gallon bags with about 12 items. They’re very specific, easy-open single-serve items, including three high protein items and we provide utensils and a napkin,” Wolff said.

They are asking for donations of nonperishable foods, such as Ramen noodles, beef jerky, canned vegetables or fruit and pudding cups. A full list of foods that are easy to open and single-serve are available on their Facebook page, as well as the link to the Amazon wish list, where items can be ordered and sent directly to the host church for distribution.

The program is currently serving three schools but hopes to expand.

“There has been other schools that have approached us with need but we just can’t do it right now,” Wolff said.

“Serving three schools, we give out 94 bags a week with each bag costing about $7.”

She noted that before the Feed NM Kids Albuquerque program became active, some students were losing one or two pounds over the weekend.

“It is definitely helpful to those kids who might have trouble accessing food over the weekend.”

Drop-off locations include Wolff Family Chiropractic, Main Street Muscle and Fitness, The UPS Store, Los Lunas Police Station, First Baptist Church of Bosque Farms, First Assembly of God Bosque Farms, and Calvary Chapel Bosque Farms.

“We would like to encourage community involvement,” Wolff said.

“We can always use food donations and financial donations, as well as volunteers.”

For more information, call Niki Wolff at 505-730-9436 or e-mail her at [email protected].