2020 Priorities Fact Sheet

Thank you to New Mexico First for helping put together our discussions/ideas into this document

Anti-Hunger Initiatives Moving Foward in 2020 Legislative Session

The 2020 Session of the New Mexico State Legislature is almost halfway over. Like most 30-day sessions, legislation is moving through committees very quickly. For those of us involved in anti-hunger efforts, this session has brought many encouraging developments.  Without going much into detail, I would like to highlight a number of bills and one memorial that have moved forward in just two weeks.

Coalition Celebrates Passage of HM6 and HB75

A Shared Effort
A broad coalition of organizations and foundations, brought together by Rep. Melanie Stansbury, has looked at short-term goals and also considered the long-term vision, which is to create omnibus legislation (similar to the federal farm bill) that makes connections among the different factors that address hunger. That proposal is something that we will promote fully in the 2021 session.

HB253: A Good Precedent
An important bipartisan omnibus bill co-sponsored by three Republicans (Rep. Rebecca Dow, Rep. Gail Armstrong and Rep. Kelly Fajardo) and two Democrats (Rep. Stansbury and Rep. Candy Sweetser) was introduced in the current legislative session.

The initiative, House Bill 253 and a companion measure proposed by Sen. Pete Campos (Senate Bill 177), supports a broad range of agricultural programs via an allocation to New Mexico State University. While the measure is not as broad as the one we envision for 2021, this bill brings together many related elements into one legislative initiative.

 "New Mexico First, the NM Food & Agriculture Policy Council, and a coalition of organizations and agencies worked diligently over a weeks time to create a budget comprised of a dozen agriculture related programs that will benefit farmers, ranchers and consumers," the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council said in relation to HB253.

See Full Document

Priorities for 2020 Session
The effort to address hunger in New Mexico in a coordinated manner was the result of weeks and months of consultation by various is initiative was the result of joint efforts by members of our coalition. To prepare for the 2020 legislative session, we put together a document listing three areas of work during the 2020 session. Because of the short nature of the session, our important bills had to be pre-filed.

At the top of our list were House Memorial 6 and House Bill 75.  The two measures are actually related to the first priority, which was to ensure that we obtained data-informed decision-making to guide our plans to address hunger in New Mexico. HM6 asks the Secretary of Human Services convene a task force to assess data and recommend was to remove barriers to food acces.  HB75 appropriates the funds for the Human Services Department to conduct the task specified in HB6.

On Jan. 31, the Health and Human Services Committee approved HM6 and HB75 on a Do Pass basis, which is an affirmative recommendation to move the measure to the next committee or to the floor of the full House.

Supporting Local Food Systems, Low-Income Families
The second set of priorities proposed funding for different programs that would enhance our local food systems and promote resiliency in local agriculture. The New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council, the New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association and others offered recommendations on this set of proposals.

The third set of priorities proposed funding for measures that would increase the monthly food budget for low-income families in our state. New Mexico Voices for Children, the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty and New Mexico Appleseed offered recommendations in this area.

Sen. Nancy Rodriguez poses with coalition members

Gleaning Unharvested Produce
There was also some activity in the Senate. Senate Memorial 3, which was supported by the NFAPC and the New Mexico Assocation of Food Banks. requested that the Department of Agriculture covene a working group to develop recommendations  on gleaning unharvested farm produce as another means to address food insecurity in New Mexico.

SM3, which was proposed by Senator Nancy Rodriguez, was approved by the Senate Rules Committee on Jan. 31.  

Design Adapted by Brenda Sinfield

Hunger Caucus a Reality
The Interfaith Hunger Coalition first proposed the idea of a Legislative Hunger Caucus at the End Hunger Summit  in 2017.  Former Rep. Sarah Maestas Barnes and three other legislators (including Rep. Joanne Ferrary) introduced a Memorial in 2018 that proposed a hunger council comprised of legislators and community organizations. A Memorial in 2019, proposed a separate Legislative Hunger Caucus and reaffirmed the existence of the Hunger Council.

Which brings us to the 2020, session, when the Hunger Council is finally becoming a reality.  Several legislators, mostly members of the House, attended the first meeting of the Hunger Caucus on Friday, January 31.  The meeting was convened by Rep. Ferrary and Rep. Melanie Stansbury.

Rep. Phelps Anderson, Rep. Daniel Barrone,  Rep. Karen Bash, Rep. Natalie Figueroa and Sen. Bill Tallman were the other legislators who attended the meeting.

Other legislators who expressed support for the caucus but were unable to attend because of scheduling conflicts included Rep. Rebecca Dow, Rep. Gail Armstrong, Rep. Debbie Armstrong, Rep. Liz Thomson, among others. Sen. Michael Padilla, Sen Liz Stefanics, Sen. Pete Campos and Sen. Nancy Rodriguez have also supported the goals fo the caucus.  We have no doubt that the list of legislators participating in the caucus will grow.

While Friday's meeting represented  a first step for the caucus to become a reality, the actual public launch date will occur on Thursday, Feb. 6, as part of the awards ceremony hosted by the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council's Food and Farms Day in the Rotunda of the State Capitol Building.

Meet Mag Strittmatter, the New President of Roadrunner Food Bank

"Her passion and commitment to provide services for people in need truly stands out. We look forward to her ability to lead the Food Bank into a new era for the benefit of our low-income neighbors’ in a state that has one of the highest poverty rates in the U.S.”  -Mark Ryerson, board chair of Roadrunner Food Bank

You Are Invited to an Open House
Meet Mag Strittmatter
the new president and CEO
at Roadrunner Food Bank
Thursday, March 22, 
5:30 pm to 7:00 pm 
5840 Office Blvd NE (map)

RSVP to Brian Brown
505-349-8829
brian.brown@rrfb.org
or RSVP via Facebook

About Mag Strittmatter
Mag comes to Roadrunner Food Bank from The Action Center in Colorado, where she served as director of development and communications from 2002-2006, and as executive director from 2006 until early 2018. The home page of the Roadrunner Food Bank website has more information about Mag’s background.

Mag is the fifth person to lead Roadrunner Food Bank since it was founded by Rev. Titus Scholl in 1979. She succeeds Melody Wattenbarger, who retired in 2017.

Walking with the Rio Grande Food Project on the Path to Ease Hunger

The Rio Grande Food Project cordially invites you to take a hike in the woods on Saturday, October 21.

The Second Annual Hike Against Hunger features a two-mile, four-mile or six-mile loop through the Rio Grande Bosque near Corrales. The event begins and ends outside of Boxing Bear Brewing Co, 10200 Corrales Rd NW (map)

Check in at 9:30 a.m. and start walking at 10:00 a.m. You choose how far you want to walk. Bring your four-legged friends if you'd like.  The hiking trail and Boxing Bear patio are dog-friendly!

Hang out after the hike to grab a bite from local  food trucks, wash down your lunch with brews from Boxing Bear, and listen to live music. (Perhaps you will still have some energy to dance).  Oh, and bring your wallet to buy items from a silent auction.

How much does it cost and where do I register? Here's the info.
$15 suggested donation / hiker: register online by Oct. 19
$20 suggested donation / hiker: register in-person day of hike
Buy your turquoise Hike Against Hunger T-shirts online through Oct. 8. (See the design above).

Tell the House Appropriations Committee: #DontCutLives!

Members of the House Appropriations Committee are reviewing State and Foreign Operations Appropriations budget for the coming year.

Thanks to our advocacy, they have pushed back against the most extreme, life-threatening budget cuts – but we need to protect every dollar we can to save lives around the world, including the 30 million facing unprecedented famine.

Send your message right now to committee members and call on them to protect this crucial budget from any cuts, and ensure America’s foreign assistance can continue to be a force for good around the world.

Below is the text of  the message that CARE has put together for you to send.  Follow this link to send the message

Protect the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill

To the members of the House Appropriations Committee,

I am joining with CARE advocates to urge you to protect America's foreign assistance budget, and to call on you to mitigate any cuts to the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for FY18.

There has never been a more crucial time for our country to reaffirm its commitment to providing assistance and spreading stability around the world through foreign aid. More than 30 million people are currently facing starvation in an unprecedented four potential famines -- and in these devastating conditions, women and girls face the most vulnerability. Already these conditions have caused a cholera outbreak in Yemen, with one person dying nearly every hour on average.

Protecting this spending bill from the Trump Administration's proposed cuts will save millions of lives, not only through immediate relief assistance, but also by continuing to provide maternal health, economic development, education, and so much more.

Foreign aid saves lives -- and right now, it's time to save foreign aid. I call on Congress to protect foreign assistance funding in all budget negotiations and to pass a budget that protects lives, supports our national security and maintains our nation's leadership in the world.

Sincerely,

Event Cancelled: Blessing, Open House for New Catholic Charities Site

[Editor's Note:  Catholic Charities has cancelled the July 22 Blessing Ceremony and Community Open House for its new building. 

"We regret to announce that the Catholic Charities Building Blessing & Community Open House has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts and concerns about summer heat. Please look for future communications regarding a new date. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Development (development@ccasfnm.org or 505-724-4637).]

Here is the original post
Catholic Charities of Central New Mexico invites the local community to a very special occasion: a blessing and an open house for its new facilities on 2010 Bridge Blvd. SW (map) on Saturday, July 22.  Archbishop John C. Wester will preside over a Blessing Ceremony for the building from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.  Ecumenical leaders have been invited to take part in the blessing.  RSVP for the blessing requested, development@ccasfnm@.org The Open House, Noon to 3:00 p.m., will feature tours of the new facility, local fare from food trucks, music, and dancing.

Meals on Wheels is All About Relationships

Jason Riggs (Roadrunner Food Bank) listens to Sharon Rogers

Sharon Rogers, a long-time volunteer with Meals on Wheels-Albuquerque and a fabulous story-teller, was the featured presenter at the bi-monthly meeting of the Interfaith Hunger Coalition on June 13. She said relationships are what keep meals on wheels vibrant. This means relationships with the clients, relationships among volunteers and staff, relationships with the community, relationships with other agencies and service providers.

Everyone gets a meal, including breakfast. Some clients can pay for all or part of the meal; others on fixed income get their meals free. Medical needs are also an important consideration during the preparation of the meals. "Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque is the only home delivered meal program in our area preparing special diets," MOW-Albuquerque said on its website. "We prepare these special diets for a variety of needs, including diabetes, renal failure, heart issues, chewing and swallowing problems, etc." The volunteers who deliver the meals develop a strong bond with the clients. According to Ms. Rogers, there are occasions when a client's only contact on a given day is with the Meals on Wheels delivery person. 

IHC Education Committee chair Joy Dinaro

An Early Presbyterian Connection
Meals on Wheels in Albuquerque has had a "Presbyterian" connection since its inception. The organization started in the kitchen of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Nob Hill in 1972. Operations later moved to First Presbyterian Church and then to Presbyterian Hospital downtown. Meals on Wheels now has its own site, but the distribution points are all at the various Presbyterian Hospital locations in Albuquerque.

Volunteers serve most of the greater Albuquerque area, including Rio Rancho and Corrales. The East Mountains and Valencia County are not currently served. While increased funding could help expand services to these communities, the most important need is volunteers, said Ms. Rogers.

On the subject of funding, Meals on Wheels Albuquerque is one of the few local affiliates of the national organization that does not receive direct funding from the national Meals on Wheels organization.  According to Ms. Rogers, while the national funding would be helpful, the local board decided it would be better to raise funds locally, allowing greater control over Meals on Wheels-Albuquerque's finances. "We did not want to be in a position where the [national] money would suddenly go away," said Ms. Rogers. That was a prophetic decision on the part of the Meals on Wheels-Albuquerque board. The national organization is funded in part by federal community grants, which are on the chopping block in the Trump administration's initial budget.

Even without the national funding, the local affiliate still receives plenty of support from national Meals on Wheels, including training and networking opportunities and access to programming information and ideas.

While delivering food to homes remains the biggest part of  Meals on Wheels in Albuquerque, the local organization also provides several important services.

Local Harvest: Through this program, Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque purchases locally farmed fruits and vegetables for use in its meals. "The program allows us to support local farmers, our economy, and the environment while providing our clients with fresh and healthy produce that they would be unable to obtain on their own,"

Weekend Pantry Box:  This allows low-income clients to eat food on days when meals are not delivered. "This collaboration between Silver Horizons and Roadrunner Food Bank provides us small boxes of shelf stable, non-perishable items that are delivered to our clients once a month. These boxes include items like crackers, pudding cups, microwavable meals and more. We are grateful to Silver Horizons and Roadrunner Food Bank and thank them for their partnership."

Love on a Leash:  The program provides healthy food and more to the pets of Meals on Wheels Clients. "Having a pet is proven to ease depression and relieve feelings of isolation—something many of our clients struggle with daily. Help our L.I.F.E. program clients keep their furry friends by their side. Services include food, veterinary care, and mobile grooming."

Read more about the Three programs. 

Volunteers Needed 
Meals on Wheels currently has 400 volunteers, but more part-time and full-time volunteers are needed to continue the high level of service and to expand operations to other parts of the metropolitan area.  Learn about Volunteer Opportunities

Fifth Annual Kids Count Conference Scheduled for June 26

CHI St. Joseph's Children and New Mexico Voices for Children cordially invite you to the

Fifth Annual Kids Count Conference
Monday, June 26, 
7:15 AM-3:15 PM 
Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North, 
5151 San Francisco NE (off I-25)

Featured speakers include Nick Johnson, Senior Vice President at Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, and Dennis Campa, Associate Director, State Policy Reform and Advocacy, External Affairs at The Annie E.CaseyFoundation.

This year's conference will examine linkages between women's economic security and the well-being of children, and how to advance opportunities for New Mexico's children, women and families in a new political era.  NewMexicoWomen.org will present its report on gender justice, and three panels will address the issue: 

• Heart of Gender Justice: Intersectionality, Economic Security, Health Equity 
• Women’s Economic Security in NM & Child Well ‐ Being
• Policy Solutions for Women and Child Well ‐ being in New Mexico

Several individuals will be honored with the Amy Biehl Youth Spirit. Alice King, Polly and Patty Citizen Advocate and Spirit of Hope awards.

A number of state legislators are scheduled to take part in panel discussions, including Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, Sen. Mimi Stewart, Rep. Georgene Louis, Rep. Christine Trujillo, and Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton.

See full schedule

Registration (including lunch) is $75 for individuals and $1,000 for a table  Register here

A New Truck for East Central Ministries

A donation from the Dominican Ecclesial Institute (via Lumen Award honoree Carlos Navarro) helped defray the cost of a new vehicle for East Central Ministries

The Donor
"The Board of Directors of the D+E+I, the Dominican Ecclesial Institute, determined to set aside 5% of the net proceeds of its 2017 Annual Lumen Awards event (Nutriendo el Cuerpo y Alma) to be awarded to charities designated by its two major awardees. Please find a check payable to East Central Ministries for the Food Donation Collection Truck, as a token of gratitude toward your good New Mexico works in the area of hunger, poverty and immigration..."  
 
The Recipient
"Our van at East Central Ministries is used daily to retrieve donated food, as well as at other times to pick up donated goods to sell at our thrift store or deliver shipments of plants and ollas to our wholesale partners around the city.  It is a vital component of our food cooperative, without which the program couldn't function. We replaced our old van, which was constantly breaking down, with a secondhand box truck.  This truck not only increases our cargo capacity for food pickups, but also allows us to go about this work more efficiently and safely"

Join Us at People's Climate March on April 29

The Interfaith Hunger Coalition is one of the endorsing organizations of The People's Climate March on Saturday, April 29, at Washington Middle School Park, 1101 Park Ave. SW, at 10:30 p.m. (Check out our logo at the bottom of the flyer below) Our partner, New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light and the Sierra Club are among the organizations that are taking a direct role in planning the event, which will include an interfaith prayer, speakers, a march and a Healing Circle Event organized by the Pueblo Action Alliance (PAA) at 804 Park Ave SW. There will be Pueblo style menu and other activities at the PAA event.

Poets, Musicians Help Raise Funds for Immigration Advocacy Coalition

A cellist, a pianist, a guitarist, a percussionist and several poets will perform at a fundraiser for the New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice on Saturday, April 29, 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 3701 Carlisle. The event, entitled Stand with Immigrants!, will honor the social justice work of Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino. Donations accepted at the door via cash, check or credit card or online.

Writing Letters in the Church Hall and at an Awards Ceremony

Photo courtesy of  Ellen Buelow

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Community in Albuquerque had its Offering of Letters on the weekend of March 18-19. Two other churches in New Mexico also organized letter-writing on that weekend, joining three other churches that have scheduled their Offering of Letters as of the end of March.

Parishioners at Holy Rosary participated actively in writing letters to Congress this year, as they have in many years past.

Bread for the World's 2017 Offering of Letters is focused on urging members of Congress to make funding decisions that put our country and the world on track toward ending hunger. We want Congress to fund and protect programs such as SNAP, WIC, international poverty focused development assistance, and tax credits for low-income workers.

Ellen Buelow, who organized the Offering of Letters at Holy Rosary, took some of the sample letters that she used at her parish to a Bread for the World display table at the annual Lumen awards ceremony sponsored by the Dominican Ecclesial Institute (D+E+I) the following Sunday. The display table included materials from the OL entitled Doing Our Part to End Hunger (download the guide). A few more letters resulted from this effort.

Highlighting the work of Bread
The D+E+I event provided the opportunity for a reunion.  Former Bread board member Ann Sims attended the ceremony. Ann served on the board in the 2010s. The picture to the left shows Ann (to my left) and Sue Slankard (to my right). The D+E+I honored me with the Lumen Ecclesaie award, providing me the opportunity to speak about the great work of Bread for the World over the past several decades.

The Interfaith Hunger Coalition also set up a display table at the conference, and receiving the award gave me the opportunity to speak about how a group of people of faith came together to provide a space for the faith community to discuss ways to work together to address hunger and poverty in New Mexico.

Pictured at left are two members of our steering committee, Sarah Rahman Muhammad from the Islamic Center of New Mexico and Brenda Sinfield from First Presbyterian Church.

SHARE New Mexico Expanding Resource Site for Hunger, Nutrition Issues

SHARE New Mexico is in the process of expanding the resources available to anti-hunger and nutrition advocates in New Mexico. This page contains the current resources, but keep in mind that this is a work in progress. (So check frequently).
 
A group of community advocates, with the assistance of SHARE New Mexico staff member Wendy Wintermute, has volunteered to help ensure that the list is as complete, as up to date, and as user friendly as possible. Representatives from Bread New Mexico and the Interfaith Hunger Coalition are participating in the discussion.

"The initiative currently has a core group from various areas that encompass food and hunger in New Mexico. The group’s focus is to address hunger in New Mexico and promote a robust local food economy that provide security to all New Mexicans," said Sarah Haynes, coordinator of the Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition (ICAN) program at the Bernalillo County Extension Service and a member of the planning team. The group met twice in 2016 and plans to hold additional meetings in 2017. If you are not part of the team and would like to join this effort, send an e-mail message to Wendy Wintermute  (wendy@sharenm.org).

"In New Mexico, Map the Meal Gap reports that New Mexico is 7th for hunger and 2nd in the for childhood hunger in the United States," Haynes said in the SHARE Blog.  "As with national trends, there is promise in the local food movement in New Mexico to uplift the current economic status in a vigorous local food system along with a successful export sector and this initiative group hopes to explore these areas in depth."

Expert on Social Justice in Crime and Law to Speak at Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Advocacy Conference on Nov. 1

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM hosts an advocacy conference each fall. The conference includes sessions on topics related to our Advocacy Agenda as well as the basics of advocacy. 

The conference is open to all. Here is information on this year's conference.

 “Advocacy 2016”

  Saturday, November 5

8:30 am – 1pm

St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church

601 Montaño Rd NW 87107

Albuquerque

Cost per person is $15, including lunch

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Nicholas Natividad
Dr. Natividad is a member of the faculty at NM State University in the Criminal Justice Department. He received his Ph.D. in Justice Studies from Arizona State University with concentration on issues of social justice in crime and law. His research and teaching interests include: borderland studies, race and identity studies, indigenous jurisprudence, immigration.

Breakout session topics will include advocacy basics, immigration, criminal justice, and more. The conference is open to everyone interested in learning more about advocating on public policies impacting our many neighbors living in poverty and with hunger.


Registration Information
Deadline: November 1
Cost per person is $15, including lunch
Send your name, contact information and congregation/organization to info@lutheranadvocacynm.org or call 505-984-8005

Lutheran Family Services to Host Afternoon Tea for Friends, Volunteers

Lutheran Family Services (LFS) invites friends, volunteers and supporters to an afternoon of tea and conversation.

The purpose of the open house is for the Albuquerque office of LFS-Rocky Mountains to say Thanks! and to showcase its new office on 4105 Silver  (map). All are invited to drop in between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 20. 

A central function of the local LFS office is to assist refugees and asylum seekers. Volunteers have played an essential role in helping local staff better serve those individuals.  

Who is Maurice Bloem? And Why is He Walking 25 Miles in Albuquerque and Santa Fe

Maurice A. Bloem is walking 25 miles in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, as part of his annual 100-mile walk, which will take place in New Mexico, Arizona and California on Oct. 17-22  So who is Maurice Bloem, you ask? He is executive vice president at Church World Service, and he has walked 100 miles each of the past four years  He is walking to  (1) to raise awareness of global hunger, (2) to celebrate and promote volunteerism, and (3) to raise funds to end hunger. During the first three years of the walk, Maurice raised nearly $25,000 from global supporters for CWS and its partner organizations around the world.

The 100-Mile Hunger Walk has previously been held in Southern California, Northern California, the Upper Midwest, and the East Coast. Maurice chose to bring the walk to the Southwest in 2016, and is set to walk the streets of Albuquerque on Monday, October 17. He will do the same in Santa Fe on  Tuesday, October 18. He will then travel on to Arizona and California.

The Albuquerque walk is set to start and end at Faith Lutheran Church, 10000 Spain NE (Map).
 Here is an approximate map of the 15-mile route he will follow in the Duke City.



The 10-mile route in Santa Fe is not defined yet. However, Lenann Gardner, coordinator of the New Mexico portions of the walk, is working with the Church of Antioch and others to determine the path that Maurice will follow in the City Different on October 18. Stay Tuned.

Maurice has also made a point to visit food banks, shelters, youth centers and other service provides in the communities where he has walked. This is part of the goal of celebrating and promoting volunteerism while also highlighting the local hunger needs. Stay tuned for information of which sites he will visit in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Walk with Maurice!
So how can you support Maurice and Church World Service?  
Donate.  Pledge online or bring a check made out to Church World Service to Albuquerque and Santa Fe Walks or to a dinner hosted by Lenann Gardner on Sunday evening at her home, 649 Cougar Loop NE (map) at 6:00 p.m. For more information, call her at 505.250.3355  or send her an e-mail (LenannMG@gmail.com). In addition to her role of coordinator of Albuquerque and Santa Fe activities, Lenann is a member of the CWS board of directors.

Yes, you are welcome and encouraged to join Maurice for all or parts of the walks in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. CWS board members, small business owners, local nonprofit leaders, students, and activists have joined him for parts of his walks in 2012-2015. (The video below is from George Flowers, who joined Maurice in the 2012 walk in Southern California).

If you walk with Maurice, get your own pledges, especially  since there are no CROP Walks scheduled in Albuquerque or Santa Fe in 2016. Also, support walkers or churches participating in upcoming CROPS Walks in New Mexico: Gallup on Oct. 16, Las Vegas on Oct. 22, Carlsbad on Nov. 12, and Los Alamos on Nov. 20. Four Corners had had its walk on Oct. 1, and Durango, Colorado, on April 9)


Spreading the Word
Another important step for the walk is to create publicity. Maurice has been interviewed by local NBC and FOX news stations, newspapers, and radio stations about the 100 Mile Hunger Walk (and hopefully our three TV stations, the Albuquerque Journal, The New Mexican and the radio stations will interview him).

There is also social media. Maurice’s personal Twitter account has surpassed 9,000 followers, largely as a result of publicity from the 100 Mile Hunger Walk He shares his adventures with more than 10,700 Twitter followers: @mauricebloem and @100milehunger  You could also follow Maurice on Twitter and retweet and/or like his tweets. Use the hashtag #Hunger100 on Facebook or Twitter. (Like the 100 Mile Hunger Walk page on Facebook).

Here is one of his most recent tweets.

Why millions more will go hungry in 2016 IF WE DON'T ACT NOW! https://t.co/rsy9ZuHYU7 #endhunger #ElNino @CWS_global pic.twitter.com/3FkIj4hWUj

— maurice bloem (@mauricebloem) January 6, 2016

Help the Rio Grande Food Project (by Taking a Hike in the Woods!)

Saturday, October 22, 2016 

Rio Grande Bosque, Albuquerque

What could be more pleasant than a hike in the bosque during the fall season?  The trees are covered with a canopy of yellow and gold, the air is crisp as freshly picked apple, and the views of the Rio Grande are magnificent.

As long as you are taking a fall hike along the river (and you know you want to do it), you might as well make each of your steps count by participating the the Hike for Hunger to help the Rio Grande Food Project.

The hike follows a four-mile loop on the west bank of the river in northwest Albuquerque. The starting and ending point is  the Boxing Bear Brewing Co., 10200 Corrales Rd. NW (map). Registration is open at  9:30 A.M., and the hike begins at 10:00 A.M.  Registration costs are $20 for adult hikers (18 or older), $15 for adults who register in a group of 10 and $10 for youth hikers under 18. Register Online  by Wednesday, October 5, and receive a Hike for Hunger T-shirt!

Raise additional funds while you hike. Get creative and have fun raising funds during your hike! People want to support good causes like ending hunger. Ask family, friends and colleagues to support you by the number of steps or miles you complete or giving a one-time donation. Reach out via Social Media, Email, Phone, or In Person. All proceeds will help Rio Grande Food Project fill empty bellies!

The Rio Grande Food Project helps supplement the food needs of low-income families and individuals in the Albuquerque area  New Mexico is one of the hungriest states in the country. Thousands of our neighbors struggle to fill their empty bellies every month. The reasons for their lack of food vary: low wages, rising cost of living, expensive health issues, job loss, and other life struggles. Fatigued parents go without to make sure their children eat. Too many kids start the day hungry, unable to focus in school. After a lifetime of working, New Mexico seniors face the hard choice: “Do I buy my medication or food?”

A Hunger Op-Ed Written Fifteen Years Ago in The Albuquerque Tribune

Even though we live in a country with an incredibly high standard of living, there are many in our communities, locally and globally, who do not share in this prosperity. They are nonetheless our neighbors and part of the fabric of our life together, and justice demands that we work both collectively and as individuals to ensure that all people can sufficiently meet the basic needs of life.

Who remembers Albuquerque's now-defunct afternoon newspaper The Albuquerque Tribune? This great newspaper, like many newspapers around the country, was a victim of the changing times: a decline in readership, rising costs and other factors. All of a sudden, there was no room for two newspapers in Albuquerque.

We remember some of the great attributes of "The Trib," including its Insight & Opinion section. For Jack Ehn, editor of this section, the voice of the community was very important. He would often ask representatives of various community organizations to put together Op-Ed pieces on a variety of issues to publish every week.

Here is a piece that Ruth Hoffman of the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico (then called the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry, LOGM) wrote exactly 15 years ago, on Sept. 14, 2001. We put together the piece, partly to promote a join conference on hunger sponsored by LOGM and Bread for the World on Sept. 29. The keynote speaker was Rev. Arthur Simon, founder of Bread for the World. Here are scanned images of the piece.

Catholic Relief Services Prepares for Sainthood of Mother Teresa

Fijamos la mirada en tu ejemplo,
alejándote del camino seguro 
arriesgando todo para cumplir la voluntad del Señor 
con los más pobres de los pobres. 
Y escuchamos el agonizante lamento que invocabas: “Tengo sed”.

¿Acaso nosotros no hemos escuchado también la Voz de Dios?

We gaze upon your example
Walking off the safe path
To risk all in doing the will of the Lord
For the poorest of the poor.
And we hear the agonizing cry of the one who called upon you: “I thirst.”

Have we too not heard the voice of God? 

-from I Thirst, A prayer inspired by Mother Teresa  (Tengo sed, una oración inspirada por Madre Teresa)

Together with the entire Church, Catholic Relief Services has planned a celebration of the canonization of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta in Rome on Sept. 4, 2016 .

CRS has a long history with Mother Teresa. "We assisted Mother Teresa before her work was well known and have been a friend of the Missionaries of Charity, religious sisters devoted to 'wholehearted and free service to the poorest of the poor,' for nearly 50 years," said CRS.

To prepare for this momentous occasion, CRS has put together two special sites, one dedicated to  the canonization and the other providing  a collection of resources  to help communities of faith  to learn about and celebrate her witness of faith. The resources include a flyer in English and Spanish, an intergenerational parish-wide activity illustrating about how Mother Teresa is a model of faith for us today, A prayer in English and Spanish inspired by Mother Teresa(excerpts at the top of this blog post), and videos with personal stories and reflections about Mother Teresa.

"Hearing the voice of God while traveling from Calcutta to Darjeerling, Mother Teresa was moved to reach out to Calcutta's poorest citizens. Her ministry blossomed into the formation of the Missionaries of Charity who operate today in countries around the world," said CRS.

"Mother Teresa's tireless efforts on behalf of God’s most vulnerable children made her the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and an example for millions worldwide devoted to the struggle for human life and dignity," added the international relief organization.

Bread for the World, an' Implementing Partner' of The Hunger Project

Where can you find Bread for the World listed along with the Fundación Acción Cultural Loyola (ACLO) of Bolivia, the Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía, Chirapaq of Peru, and the
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa? These organizations are among a group of implementing partners of The Hunger Project, along with representatives of international anti-poverty, human rights and relief groups (Oxfam, Environmental Defense Fund, Red Cross, Engineers without Borders) in specific countries in Africa and Asia. The Hunger Project also lists several organizational partners, including 1,000 Days, Zero Poverty 2030 Campaign InterAction, and others (including a group of UN agencies).

22 Countries Working Together
The Hunger Project, is an organization that works in a very targeted manner. Individuals and organizations from 22 developed and developing countries work together to design and implement projects. Each of the projects aims to reinforce local knowledge and skills,enabling communities and local governments to take charge of their own development processes. Ultimately, the process  perpetuates, sustains and enhances the work begun in partnership with The Hunger Project. '

The ultimate goal is to promote self-reliance. So how do you define self-reliance? The concept comes into play when "community members are confident and have the capacity and skills to act as agents of their own development."
 
The Hunger Project wants to emphasize that self-reliant epicenter communities are not necessarily self-sufficient. "Self-sufficiency implies needing no outside help in satisfying one’s basic needs.
Epicenters are not self-sufficient. Whereas before these communities were largely isolated from public services, they are now managing effective links with district resources to build skills, develop additional infrastructure and increase access to services. The epicenter communities are active members of civil society and remain committed to the fulfillment of ongoing and future needs. They both give and take from their wider circles of contact.

There is also the matter of measuring results through Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). There are three criteria for (M&E): 1. Measuring what matters, 2. Evaluating grassroots, community-led engagement, and 3. A Focus on Objectivity.

One can To learn more about  the work of The Hunger Project via Our Work link. That's just a part of the story. The News and Headlines link offers a broader picture of what The Hunger Project is all about.