Envisioning a world where every person has plentiful, nutritious food.
Rio Grande Food Project (RGFP) is a Food Pantry, Urban Garden, and Community Hub whose mission is to alleviate hunger and cultivate long-term food security in our communities.
RGFP's Food Pantry has been addressing hunger in Albuquerque, New Mexico for 36 years, since 1989, in an area of the westside labeled a "food desert". The USDA defines this as "an area that lacks access to affordable fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk, and other foods that make up the full range of a healthy diet.” Access can be impaired or limited by several factors, such as income, location, time, and the ability to travel to a store.
Rio Grande Food Project also provides more than food.
RGFP offers guests a Community Hub where clients can access other services that can help maximize household incomes such as utility bill assistance through the PNM Good Neighbor Fund and the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. Other partners offer services to help with employment and job training, enrollment assistance for federal and state applications such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), emergency cell phones, free books for kids, financial wellness coaches and financial literacy classes, as well as nutrition and healthy cooking education.
Our Urban Garden is a space where RGFP guests and community members can learn how to grow their own fresh produce throughout the growing season alongside Albuquerque Master Gardeners and Composters. Fresh vegetables and fruit are essential to a healthy diet and 100% of our harvest is distributed at weekly food distributions. Healthy cooking classes are also held in our garden space for RGFP guests to participate in!
THANK YOU for supporting our mission and programs!
~The Rio Grande Food Project Team