TAOS, N.M. – Dozens of volunteers gathered at the New Mexico National Guard’s Taos Readiness Center Friday to begin distributing over 1,100 boxes of groceries to families in need across Taos County.
Taos Feeds Taos serves community for 34th year
NMNG Soldiers and Airmen, Taos residents, and Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadets from Taos area high schools all pitched in to prepare and move the grocery boxes, each of which contained about $56 worth of food for the holidays.
Making it all possible is a 34-year-old program called Taos Feeds Taos. It was established in 1986 by the NMNG’s own retired 1st Sgt. Francis Cordova and Taos native Jim Ulmer, and has grown to help more than triple the 300 families it originally aided.
The distribution event kicked off at 9:00 a.m. with remarks from Cordova, Taos Feeds Taos board members, sponsors, local representatives, and Maj. Gen. Kenneth Nava, the adjutant general of New Mexico.
“It’s hard work and dedication,” Cordova said. “There is no community more united in making a program like this succeed.”
Cordova thanked the sponsors, board members, and most importantly volunteers, who help the program prepare year-round.
“Give yourselves a big round of applause,” Cordova said. “We’re a community that doesn’t give up. We all work together to make it happen.”
Cordova said that the program raised over $72,000 dollars this year, not including donated groceries.
Nava spoke about the importance of the event and said that the NMNG is proud to participate every year.
“There is no better demonstration of New Mexico’s will to fight hunger than Taos Feeds Taos,” said Nava. “34 years of this community coming together and helping northern New Mexico with this issue.”
Nava also lauded the program for its unique mission nationwide.
“Honestly, it’s one of the most impressive programs in the entire National Guard,” said Nava. “It’s our honor to be a part of this.”
