NM food banks see more visitors amidst stricter SNAP rules
Stricter SNAP eligibility rules and inflation are driving more New Mexicans to food banks, including The Food Depot in Santa Fe, which has reported a sharp increase in visitors over the past year.
“SNAP provides nine meals for every one meal that a food bank provides. So it creates a really profound crisis,” said Jill Dixon, executive director of The Food Depot.
The Food Depot has seen a consistent rise in demand across its service area.
“We have consistently seen about 30 to 40% more people at our food distributions across nine counties,” Dixon said.
While community donations have helped meet the increased need, Dixon expressed concerns about the long-term sustainability of this support.
“We’re so fortunate to benefit from a community who really understands and believes that access to nutritious food is a human right, and donations have kept pace with these changes,” she said. “But we know that that can’t continue forever.”
The Food Depot provides food assistance through a central fixed location, mobile distribution programs, and a network of community partners.
“We’re very low-barrier, which means we believe people when they come forward saying that they need help. We don’t ask a lot of questions about that,” Dixon said.
The organization prioritizes nutritious food, aiming for its supply to consist of 50% produce and 20% protein.
“We also try to focus on culturally familiar foods so that people feel that they are being taken care of and supported for who they are and met where they are at with what they need,” Dixon said. “Pintos, tortillas, and chiles are a great way to do that.”
Food banks across the state, including The Food Depot, are connected through the New Mexico Association of Food Banks, which facilitates surplus trading to create a balanced safety net. The association also advocates at the state level for those experiencing hunger in all 33 counties.
“We want to see the line get shorter, not just distribute more pounds of food every single year,” Dixon said.
According to Feeding America, more than 382,000 New Mexicans face food insecurity. Dixon noted that SNAP changes and inflation are contributing factors to this issue.
Regardless of the reasons behind food insecurity, Dixon emphasized that anyone can visit the food bank.
“We’re very low barrier, which means we believe people when they come forward saying that they need help. We don’t ask a lot of questions about that,” she said.
While food donations often peak during the holidays, Dixon stressed that the need for assistance is critical year-round.
Major food banks in New Mexico, including The Food Depot, actively seek volunteers for warehouse tasks and food distributions.
