File photo: Food Pantry (KRQE)
CLOVIS, N.M. (KRQE) – A food bank in eastern New Mexico has received a grant from the Walmart Foundation to help feed families.
The $100,000 grant is one of the largest donations the food bank has ever received, the food bank said in a news release. This money will be used to feed people in Clovis and eastern New Mexico communities.
Food banks can now host mobile food pantries throughout the new year. Mobile food pantries will be held in the communities of Clovis, Portales, Tucumcari, Logan, Melrose and Fort Sumner.
“Thanks to the generous support of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, we will be able to serve an additional 1,000 families in addition to the more than 4,000 families our food bank serves each month in eastern New Mexico. will continue until early next year,” said Deanna Sprague, executive director of the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico. “The holidays should be a time of joy and celebration for everyone, and we look forward to continuing our work to ensure everyone has a place on the table throughout the new year.”
The grant comes after a September fire forced the temporary closure of the Clovis Walmart Supercenter. Before closing, the store donated about 5,000 pounds of food to food banks each month, according to a news release. Walmart stores are currently being renovated and have plans to reopen.
“After the fire, the Walmart Foundation stepped up to help us continue to support the food bank’s important work in our community,” said Elizabeth Frazier, front-end coach at the Walmart Supercenter in Portales. ” he said.
For more information about the Mobile Food Pantry and Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico, please visit our website at https://www.fbenm.org.