St. Felix Pantry in Rio Rancho, NM is kicking off its 30th anniversary year stronger than ever.
Led by President and CEO Sr. Mary Angela Parkins, the St. Felix Pantry has been providing the people of Rio Rancho and throughout the state of New Mexico with access to food and other resources since 1992.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused a drastic increase in people needing food due to job loss, children being out of school, and the elderly who are self-isolating for safety. By the grace of God, and the tireless efforts of St. Felix Pantry staff and volunteers, corporations and government leaders have taken notice of the organization’s critical role throughout the pandemic and into the current economic challenges and have made donations and awarded grants of $190,000.
St. Felix Pantry was one of nine organizations in central New Mexico that competed in a competitive grant application process and received Healthy Kids, Healthy Families grants from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico. The $15,000 grant will be used to provide food for weekends and nutrition education for children in need at the Puesta Del Sol Elementary School.
The organization also received several other large donations and grants: $25,000 from the Catholic Foundation Archdiocese of Sante Fe; $35,000 from Bank of America; and $15,000 from Sandia National Laboratories.
St. Felix Pantry also participates in the Nusenda Credit Union Community Rewards program that offers personal checking account customer to select a community initiative that the credit union supports each time a purchase is made.
At the end of April, New Mexico State Representative Joshua Hernandez presented St. Felix Pantry with a check for $100,000 in an effort to ease the economic instability faced by individuals and families.
St. Felix Pantry serves more than 1,000 people every week and in 2021 was fueled by 12,576 volunteer hours and 439,514 pounds of donated food. As they celebrate 30 years of service to the community, they rely with gratitude on financial donations, volunteers, and food donations to continue serving New Mexico with love and compassion.
