ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Dan Herrera made his first visit to Rio Grande Food Project on Friday. He came away with a box of food and a smile.
An Albuquerque painter who has been unemployed for the past six months, Herrera said his family of four have been struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic.
“There aren’t many painting jobs because a lot of people don’t want to let people in their homes,” Herrera said. “My wife is working, but it’s tough right now.”
Herrera had seen cars lining up at RGFP on Albuquerque’s West Side and Friday he decided to stop.
“Those people were so nice,” he said. “They told me how it works and gave me a nice box of food. It helps.”
Monico Acosta also made his first visit Friday, though he’s used and volunteered at food banks in the past. Acosta said he went to RGFP to pick up a box for some struggling family members.
“I dropped off that box, and two little girls grabbed some applesauce and had big smiles on their faces,” he said. “There were probably 15 or 20 cars (at RGFP) when I was there, and those people were rocking it. All I saw was positive impact. It’s awesome what they do.”
RGFP executive director Ari Herring said many clients are depressed about having to seek food assistance. Her staff and volunteers do their best to lighten the burden.
“We’re getting a lot of first-time clients, and this is hard on them,” Herring said. “People sometimes feel ashamed to ask for help, even when things are out of their control. We just try to provide a little reassurance.”
George Gonzales has been a regular visitor to RGFP, but the 67-year-old often shares the food he receives. Gonzales and his wife are retired and living on a fixed income, and their family has been hit by COVID-19.
“My son and his wife had to close down their business because of the pandemic,” Gonzales said. “We’re all getting by, but we have friends who can’t go pick up food because they don’t have vehicles, so we share what we get. People are hungry. What those people are doing is a blessing right now.”
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December 06, 2020 at 02:02PM
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‘A blessing right now’ - Albuquerque Journal
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