It is positive news for our work to end hunger in New Mexico", states Nancy Pope.

In a report released this week http://frac.org/pdf/foodinsecurity_2008_rank.pdf by the USDA, New Mexico moved from 50th to 45th in food insecurity in the U.S. in front of Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas and Georgia.

“It is positive news for our work to end hunger in New Mexico, states Nancy Pope, Director, New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger, “however, one in five children in New Mexico do not know where they will get their next meal. There is so much more work to do”.

The overarching goal of the 2010 New Mexico Plan to End Hunger, is to move New Mexico from the worst (50th) to 45th in the nation in food insecurity by 2010. The specific goals of the Plan include eliminating childhood hunger, finding adequate food for seniors, improving access to food in rural and underserved communities, full participation in public food assistance programs and creating an awareness of hunger in New Mexico.

Over the past two summers, Collaboration partners conducted Intergenerational Summer Food Programs. During the summer of 2009, 46 sites across the state fed 7,000 children with 500 volunteers participating in the program.

Other components of the summer program include connecting each site to free USDA funded breakfast and lunch, privately funded weekend food bags and programming that included nutrition education, gardening and outdoor sports. “The Intergenerational Summer Food Program addressed two of the Plan’s goals: eliminating childhood hunger and providing adequate food for seniors”, states Pope.

Click here view the Plan to End Hunger.