New Mexico in Focus; 527; Special Public Square: Hunger in New Mexico

THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, AN NMiF SPECIAL ON HUNGER...WITH OUR SISTER SHOW, PUBLIC SQUARE. WHO'S GOING HUNGRY IN OUR STATE, WHO'S TRYING TO REACH THEM, AND WHAT'S GETTING IN THE WAY. NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW. THE UNITED STATES IS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST NATIONS ON EARTH AND A FOREMOST PRODUCER OF FOOD. YET EVERY YEAR, NEW MEXICANS WHO CAN'T AFFORD ENOUGH TO EAT MISS THIS YEAR, OUR SISTER PROGRAM, PUBLIC SQUARE, TALKED TO THOSE WHO ARE GOING HUNGRY AND GATHERED TOGETHER THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO HELP THEM FIND FOOD. HERE NOW, GWYNETH DOLAND AND PUBLIC SQUARE ON HUNGER

IN NEW MEXICO. >> FUNDING FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC SQUARE, PROVIDED BY THE W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION, WORKING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN. >> IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE IN THIS COUNTRY TO HAVE 50 MILLION AMERICANS HUNGRY. >> I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THIS. IT HAS GOT TO STOP. >> PEOPLE NEED TO THINK IN TERMS OF THAT PERSON THREE DOORS DOWN FROM THEIR HOUSE, MIGHT NOT BE GETTING A FULL MEAL AT NIGHT. HOW, AS A SOCIETY, ARE WE GOING TO SUCCEED ECONOMICALLY, IF STUDENTS CAN GET A PROPER MEAL, FAMILIES CAN'T FEED THE KIDS AT THE TABLE. HUNGER KNOWS NO GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES. >> WE NEED TO GET BACK TO A TIME OF FAIRNESS IN OUR SOCIETY. WHAT IS ECONOMIC JUSTICE? >> CAN WE GET MORE MONEY? IS IT POSSIBLE? >> I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A BIGGER BUCKET OUT THERE. UNTIL THERE IS A MOVEMENT... YOU KNOW, THERE IS A MOVEMENT ABOUT WALL STREET AND BANKERS AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING, BUT WHEN IT GETS TO HUNGER, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND MORE PEOPLE BY A FACTOR OF 100.

>> I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO EVALUATE OUR PRIORITIES AND IT STARTS WITH THESE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS. >> WELCOME TO PUBLIC SQUARE. WHERE CIVIC DIALOGUE TAKES CENTER STAGE; WHERE REAL PEOPLE COME TOGETHER WITH LEADERS TO DISCUSS AND HELP SOLVE IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ISSUES. WE WOULD HOPE THAT FOOD PANTRIES WOULD ONLY BE A NECESSITY IN TIMES OF CRISIS BUT UNFORTUNATELY NEW MEXICANS HAVE BEEN IN A TIME OF CRISIS FOR MANY YEARS NOW. >> TODAY OUR TOPIC IS HUNGER IN NEW MEXICO. EVERYDAY NEW MEXICANS STRUGGLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS SAY THEY SERVE MORE THAN 40,000 PEOPLE EVERY WEEK, THE EQUIVALENT OF A CITY THE SIZE OF FARMINGTON. WE WANTED TO TALK TO SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO WORK IN HUNGER RELIEF TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO MEET THIS NEED. SO, WE INVITED MELODY WHATTENBARGER FROM ROADRUNNER FOOD BANK, LEE MAYNARD OF THE STOREHOUSE, CHRIS PACELLI FROM THE COLLABORATION TO END HUNGER AND DAVID WHITELY WITH THE RIO GRANDE FOOD PROJECT.

WE ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT POVERTY, THE ROOT CAUSE OF HUNGER. SO WE HAVE A COUPLE EXPERTS ON THAT TOPIC. ONA PORTER, FROM PROSPERITY WORKS AND ALICIA MANZANO FROM NEW MEXICO VOICES FOR CHILDREN. WE'LL ALSO HEAR ABOUT WHAT THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT CAN DO AS WE TALK TO TERRY WERNER, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND STATE LAWMAKERS JIMMY C. HALL AND JOHN SAPIEN. BUT BEFORE WE GET STARTED, HERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR TOPIC. >> THEY FEED A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, NEEDY PEOPLE. PEOPLE OUT OF JOBS. >> IN NEW MEXICO MORE THAN A QUARTER OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN SAY THEY SOMETIMES DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY FOOD. SOME SENIORS AND DISABLED PEOPLE SAY THEIR BENEFITS DON'T BUY ENOUGH GROCERIES TO LAST THE MONTH. AND HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE SAY DEMAND FOR THEIR HELP HAS GONE UP AS MUCH AS 40% AS THE

RECESSION HAS PUSHED MORE TO THE EDGE. MANY FIND HELP AT "THE STOREHOUSE," ALBUQUERQUE'S LARGEST FOOD PANTRY. TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNINGS, THE WAREHOUSE'S DOORS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AND VOLUNTEERS HELP CLIENTS SELECT AROUND 60 MEALS WORTH OF GROCERIES TO TAKE HOME. WE WENT TO "THE STOREHOUSE" ONE RECENT MORNING AND TALKED TO SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO GET HELP THERE. >> I AM DISABLED VETERAN AND I GOT FIVE KIDS. I HAVE TWO TYPES OF EPILEPSY FROM ROADSIDE BOMB AND NOBODY WANTS TO HIRE SOMEBODY THAT TAKES FOUR TYPES OF MEDICATIONS, THREE TIMES A DAY AND HAS TO GO TO VA HOSPITAL EVERY TWO OTHER THREE WEEKS. >> WE ALSO GOT A TOUR FROM LEE MAYNARD, THE PRESIDENT OF "THE STOREHOUSE." >> "THE STOREHOUSE" IS A 42 YEAR OLD NONPROFIT THAT DOES A VERY SIMPLE THING. WE GIVE AWAY FOOD BY THE TON. THERE IS A BIG NEED OUT THERE. WE HAVE 75,000 PEOPLE

REGISTERED OUT HERE FOR FOOD SERVICE. THAT IS 15% OF THE POPULATION OF ALBUQUERQUE PROPER. >> THIS WOULD PROBABLY COST ME 1/3 OF THE CHECK THAT I GET FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND SO, IT HELPS OUT A LOT. A WHOLE LOT. >> OUR CLIENTS ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED BY THE SOCIOLOGISTS TO BE THE WORKING POOR. BY AND LARGE, THERE IS ONE EMPLOYED PERSON IN EVERY FAMILY WHO REGISTERS HERE. THEY ARE FOLKS WHO JUST ARE HAVING A HARD TIME. >> WITH CONSTRUCTION, ROOFING, RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO WORK, SO, I COME EVERY NOW AND THEN WHEN I REALLY DON'T HAVE MONEY TO BUY GROCERIES. I LIVE WITH SIX, MY WIFE AND MY KIDS. IT HELPS OUT FOR EVERY TWO WEEKS. >> A TYPICAL FAMILY WOULD BE A FAIRLY YOUNG COUPLE, MIDDLE 30'S, COUPLE OF CHILDREN, ONE OF THEM IS WORKING FULL-TIME, PROBABLY 10 HOURS A DAY, MINIMUM WAGE, NOT MAKING IT. NOT TODAY.

THEY ARE NOT MAKING IT. >> I LOST MY HUSBAND, HE PASSED AWAY A YEAR AGO AND JUST ON MY OWN, SINGLE MOTHER, TWO GIRLS, JUST GOT REALLY TOUGH. I GET SURVIVOR BENEFITS FROM MY HUSBAND PASSING AWAY SO I MAKE TOO MUCH TO GET ANY HELP FROM FOOD STAMPS OR ANYTHING BUT NOT ENOUGH TO PROVIDE ENOUGH FOOD EVERY MONTH, SO THIS HELPS OUT WITH BEING ABLE TO BRING IN A LITTLE EXTRA EACH MONTH. >> THE NUMBER OF HUNGRY PEOPLE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO OVERALL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF THE COUNTRY. RECENTLY, THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, THE FOLKS WE SEE COMING IN HERE WOULD BE FOLKS THAT WE WOULD NOT NORMALLY SEE COMING IN HERE. BECAUSE, WHEN THE ECONOMY GETS BAD, THINGS GET SQUEEZED TO THE BOTTOM. >> I LOST MY JOB. I LOST MY UNEMPLOYMENT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A JOB. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD TO LOOK FOR HELP. >> WE ARE OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK. WE SEE AVERAGE OF 160 FAMILIES PER DAY. >> THEY ARE ALWAYS HERE, NICE.

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TIME YOU COME. I HAVE BEEN HANDICAPPED AND LIVING ALONE, I AM A HAPPY CAMPER ALL THE TIME WHEN I COME HERE. >> HUNGER IS A SYMPTOM OF A LARGER ISSUE WHICH IS POVERTY. AND NEW MEXICO RANKS 49TH IN POVERTY IN THE NATION WHICH IS A HUGE PROBLEM. >> EVEN WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS GOOD, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WERE SLIPPING OUT OF THE MIDDLE CLASS AND INTO POVERTY. THIS IS THE WORST THAT I HAVE SEEN IT, EVER, AND I AM REALLY CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BOUNCE BACK. >> EVEN THOUGH WE CAME OUT WITH SOME BETTER RANKINGS AS PART OF OUR FOOD INSECURITY GOES, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT INSECURITY OF NEW MEXICANS HAS GONE UP IN THE LAST YEAR. >> A NUMBER OF CLIENTS HAVE BEEN LAID OFF; LOST JOBS AND FIND THEMSELVES STRUGGLING FROM JUST DAY-TO-DAY EXISTENCE

AND TRYING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. >> RIO GRANDE FOOD PROJECT, WE HAVE SENIORS, WE HAVE CHILDREN, WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE EMPLOYED WHOSE PAYCHECKS JUST DON'T MAKE IT TO THE END OF THE MONTH. >> WE SCRAMBLE NOW TO FIND ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED EVERYBODY THAT COMES INTO THE STOREHOUSE. >> THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH HUNGER IN EVERY DISTRICT. IT IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE FOR ONE PART OF THE CITY OR ANOTHER PART. >> PEOPLE KIND OF DON'T WANT TO CONFESS TO THAT, BUT, WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM, YOU FIND OUT THAT THEY PROBABLY -- THEY MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FOOD AT THE TABLE IN THE SENSE BUT NOT GETTING IT ALL THE WAY THERE. THEY ARE NOT WHAT WE CALL IN OUR CULTURE FOOD SECURE WHERE EVERY MEAL IS A GOOD MEAL. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS IN THE WEALTHIEST NATION IN THE WORLD, IS IT REASONABLE TO THINK THAT SOMEONE WHO WORKS FULL-TIME SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A DECENT LIFE? AND THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE THEIR OWN FOOD. >> WE HAVE BEEN DOING GREAT THINGS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD. WE ARE DISTRIBUTING MILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL POUNDS OF FOOD

IN RESPONSE TO THIS CURRENT CRISIS BUT OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT, TO GROW AT THAT PACE IS UNLIKELY. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US HERE TODAY. I WANT TO START THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT HUNGER WITH YOU DAVID. YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN HAVE THIS IMAGE OF HUNGER AS FOLKS LINED UP OUTSIDE A FOOD PANTRY ON A GRITTY URBAN STREET AND YOU KNOW WE THINK THESE FOLKS ARE ALL HOMELESS. ARE HUNGRY PEOPLE HOMELESS PEOPLE? >> AT MY PANTRY, WE SEE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER-EMPLOYED OR UNEMPLOYED OR WHO WORK FULL-TIME, NEEDING FOOD, BECAUSE THEIR PAYCHECKS, IF THEY ARE WORKING, JUST DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH ANYMORE. >> LEE, IS THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE TOO? >> ABSOLUTELY, WE ACTUALLY SERVE AT THE STOREHOUSE VERY FEW HOMELESS. THERE IS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY THAT DO AN INCREDIBLY GOOD JOB OF THAT. THE QUINTESSENTIAL CUSTOMER AT THE STOREHOUSE IS A FEMALE,

MID TO LATE 30'S, A COUPLE KIDS, HUSBAND IS WORKING MINIMUM WAGE, 10 HOURS A DAY, AND THEY ARE NOT MAKING IT. >> MELODY, YOU WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS ALL OVER THE STATE. IS THIS THE SAME KIND OF THING YOU HEAR? >> ABSOLUTELY, ONLY ABOUT 13% OF THE HUNGRY PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO ARE HOMELESS. WHICH MEANS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. THEY WORK, THEY STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE BUDGETS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE. CHILDREN. NEARLY HALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE OUR STATE'S CHILDREN. >> SO, YOU WORK WITH ROADRUNNER. HOW IS THE FOOD BANK DIFFERENT FROM WHAT DAVID DOES? >> WE SUPPLY OUR FOOD, NOT TO INDIVIDUALS, WE SUPPLY OUR FOOD TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. HUNDREDS OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE GET FOOD FROM US, SO WE WOULD SUPPLY FOOD, PART OF THE FOOD THAT DAVID'S ORGANIZATION

NEEDED TO FEED THOSE FAMILIES, WOULD COME FROM US. >> IT IS ALMOST SORT OF A BUSINESS. YOU GUYS ACTUALLY PAY FOR THAT FOOD BUT WHAT DOES THAT AMOUNT LOOK LIKE THAT YOU PAY TO ROADRUNNER. >> WELL, LAST YEAR, I THINK I SPENT $67,000 AT ROADRUNNER FOOD BANK, AND I THINK IT AVERAGED OUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 25 AND 30 CENTS A POUND ON THE AVERAGE. SOME THINGS ARE CHEAPER AND SOME THINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE. TO GIVE YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE, I JUST FOUND OUT THAT A CASE OF PEANUT BUTTER WHICH WE USED TO PAY $12 FOR THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR, HAS NOW GONE UP TO $25 A CASE. >> YOU GUYS PAY A MUCH LOWER PRICE THAN IT WOULD COST THROUGH ROADRUNNER BUT YOUR EXPENSES HAVE GONE UP AT ROADRUNNER AND THAT GETS PASSED ON, IS THAT RIGHT? >> 60% OF THE FOOD THAT WE DISTRIBUTE AT THE FOOD BANK IS TOTALLY FREE. WE GIVE THAT AWAY. THERE ARE COSTS, REAL COSTS

ASSOCIATED WITH THE FREE FOOD AND, FOR EXAMPLE, FUEL. YOU KNOW A LOT OF THIS FOOD COMES INTO NEW MEXICO. WE BRING IT IN FROM OTHER PLACES IN THE U.S. AND YOU KNOW WHEN I FIRST STARTED AT ROADRUNNER, WE COULD BRING IT, FOR EXAMPLE, A TRUCKLOAD OF FOOD FROM OKLAHOMA CITY, WHICH IS WHERE A FAIR AMOUNT OF IT COMES FROM, WE COULD BRING IT HERE FOR FREIGHT BILL OF $250. AND THAT FREIGHT BILL IS NOW $2500. THOSE FREIGHT COSTS GO UP OR ANY COSTS REALLY, ONCE THEY GO UP, THEY STAY UP. AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE -- WE'RE SUBJECT TO THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, PEANUT CROP FAILURE. WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE PEANUT CROP BUT WHAT IT DOES IS WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND GOOD PRICES FOR PEANUT BUTTER EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE BEEN SHOPPING IT NATIONALLY AND WE CAN'T FIND ANY. >> AT THE COLLABORATION, YOU WORK WITH A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS TOO.

WHAT ARE THEY TELLING YOU THEY NEED HELP WITH? >> MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE HERE IN THIS ROOM WHO WE ARE WORKING WITH ON A DAILY BASIS. MANY OF THEM NEED RESOURCES, THEY NEED RESOURCES FOR OUTREACH, THEY NEED RESOURCES TO BUY FOOD. THEY NEED RESOURCES TO ACTUALLY HELP THEIR INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY ARE SERVING; ACCESS TO FOOD AS WELL. >> THEY NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP AND PEOPLE TO GIVE FOOD, MAYBE DRIVE TRUCKS AROUND, THINGS LIKE THAT? >> RIGHT AND REALLY HAVING THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE THE FOOD IS A BIG PART OF IT AS WELL. MANY OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES ARE BEING CUT AND SO THEY ARE LOOKING AT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE UP FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT BUDGET CUT. >> LAST YEAR EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM ALLOCATED $250,000 TO BERNALILLO COUNTY TO HELP FIGHT HUNGER, TO HOUSE PEOPLE ON A TEMPORARY BASIS. AND, THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THE NATIONAL BOARD EXPERIENCED A 40% CUT IN FUNDING AT THE

NATIONAL LEVEL, OUR COUNTY WASN'T POOR ENOUGH TO RECEIVE ANY FUNDING. AND THAT AFFECTED US. IT AFFECTED THE STOREHOUSE. I ASSUME IT AFFECTED YOU ALL DIRECTLY, TOO. >> INDIRECTLY. >> AND, THEN, OTHER DIRECT FEEDING PROGRAMS IN THE CITY THAT FEED PEOPLE, HOT MEAL PROGRAMS, PLACES THAT PROVIDE SHELTER WERE AFFECTED BY THAT LOSS OF FUNDS SO IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT HIT. FOR MY ORGANIZATION, IT ACCOUNTED FOR ALMOST 1/3 OF MY FOOD BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR. >> IT IS REALLY INTERESTING THAT ANYONE IS SAYING THAT THE METROPOLITAN AREA IS NOT POOR ENOUGH TO RECEIVE FUNDS. IN FACT, THERE WAS JUST A BOOKINGS INSTITUTE REPORT RELEASED LAST WEEK AND THEY ARE FINDING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 50'S, A RISE IN WHAT IS CALLED EXTREME CONCENTRATED POVERTY. TWO OF THOSE AREAS ARE IN ALBUQUERQUE CITY LIMITS. EXTREME CONCENTRATED POVERTY MEANS MORE THAN 40% OF THE PEOPLE ARE LIVING AT 100% OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.

>> AND, WHAT IS THAT NUMBER FOR THE POVERTY LINE, RIGHT NOW? DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW? >> NO. >> IT IS 22,000. >> 22,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR. >> RIGHT. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD APPLY TO SOME OF THOSE FAMILIES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. IF YOU HAVE ONE PERSON WORKING AT MINIMUM WAGE, THAT IS A LOT LESS THAN 22,000. SUPPORTING A FAMILY, YOU COULD SEE HOW THAT COULD HAPPEN ESPECIALLY IN ALBUQUERQUE. SENATOR SAPIEN, YOU TOLD US EARLIER THAT A LOT OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS WERE, YOU KNOW, ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING WORK. EVERYBODY SAYS, WELL, WE JUST NEED TO CREATE JOBS. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? >> WELL, I THINK SINCE THIS CRISIS BEGAN, SOME THREE YEARS AGO, WE'RE ALL FINDING IT IS VERY HARD JUST TO CREATE JOBS. OUR LARGER CHALLENGE IS REALLY HOW AS NEW MEXICANS DO WE CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE THAT DOES BRING IN THE INDUSTRIES THAT WILL PROVIDE GOOD, CLEAN, HIGH PAYING JOBS TO NEW MEXICANS AND THAT DOES GO BACK

TO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. DO WE HAVE THE WORKFORCE THESE INDUSTRIES ARE LOOKING FOR? IN MY DAILY OPERATION IN MY BUSINESS, WE RUN INTO CLIENTS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS WHO WERE YOUR MIDDLE CLASS, ABLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, HOUSEHOLDS, WHO, BECAUSE OF THIS CRISIS, HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS. AND NOW THEY ARE NOT ONLY COMING IN TO SEE US TO HOPEFULLY KEEP RISKS DOWN AND KEEP INSURANCE, BUT THEY ARE ALSO GOING ACROSS THE STREET TO THE LOCAL BAPTIST CHURCH THAT HAS A FOOD GIVE-AWAY EVERY TUESDAY. AND, JUST TO REITERATE WHAT SOME ARE SAYING, IT IS NOT THE HOMELESS. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING ACROSS THE STREET AND THE BAPTIST CHURCH IS GRACIOUS FOR PUTTING THIS ON ON TUESDAYS, THE PEOPLE SHOWING UP FOR FOOD, THEY ARE NOT WALKING UP. THEY ARE DRIVING UP, SO IT IS NOT YOUR HOMELESS. IT IS WORKING POOR AND WE NEED, AS NEW MEXICANS AND POLICYMAKERS, TO SOMEHOW FIND THAT EDGE WHERE WE CAN INCREASE THE AVAILABLE JOBS OUT THERE, BUT ALSO THE AVAILABLE INCOME SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST WORKING AT LOCAL FAST

FOOD RESTAURANTS. WE ALSO HAVE CONSTITUENTS MAKING ABOVE THE POVERTY LEVEL. >> MY DISTRICT IS NORTHEAST HEIGHTS. I AGREE WITH THE SENATOR, HUNGER KNOWS NO GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES, KNOWS NO SOCIOECONOMICAL ANYTHING. SO, IT IS A PROBLEM THAT WE FACE HERE IN NEW MEXICO. AND, MY BACKGROUND IS AGRICULTURE. WHAT BOTHERS ME, AS I WAS TALKING TO LEE, IS THAT WE PRODUCE SOME OF THE BEST AGRICULTURAL CROPS ANYWHERE FROM PECANS AND PEANUTS TO CATTLE, SHEEP, CORN, AND, CHILI AND WE CAN'T GET IT OUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HUNGRY. THAT NEED IT. >> THIS IS A PROBLEM, SHERRY COOPER FROM THE FOOD DEPOT IN SANTA FE COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY, BUT WHEN I TALKED TO HER RECENTLY, SHE SAID ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN SANTA FE AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO IS COLD STORAGE. THEY JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO STORE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN THEM AND THERE ARE GROWERS IN NORTHERN

NEW MEXICO WHO WANT TO GIVE THE FOOD DEPOT FOOD BUT SHE HAS TO TURN SOME OF IT AWAY. TERRY, IS THIS SOMETHING YOU GUYS WORK ON? >> I THINK WHAT WE'RE ALL GETTING INTO HERE IS HOW COMPLEX THIS ENTIRE EQUATION IS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCER ONTO THE PLATE. ALL THE DIFFERENT LINKS IN THAT CHAIN HAVE TO BE THERE FOR YOU TO GET ACCESS TO GOOD FOOD. SO, YOU NEED COLD STORAGE. YOU NEED FACILITIES THAT CAN DISTRIBUTE THE FOOD. YOU NEED BETTER PRODUCE ON CONVENIENCE STORE TRUCKS. YOU NEED A WAY FOR YOUR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO BE ABLE TO KEEP PRODUCING. WE SEE LESS AND LESS OF OUR AGRICULTURAL LAND IN PRODUCTION NOW. AND WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM BY WHICH WE ARE BRINGING IN NEW FARMERS TO PRODUCE. WHAT IS GRADUALLY HAPPENED IS AN ERODING OF THIS CHAIN. AND THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE PEOPLE MISSING MEALS, KIDS, YOU KNOW, NOT GETTING A FULL NUTRITIOUS MEAL AT DINNER. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE APPLYING FOR OUR SNAP PROGRAM.

AND, WE HAVE SEEN A 40% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR IN THE STAMP PROGRAM. >> FOOD STAMPS? >> ESSENTIALLY AND ONLY 8% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON FOOD STAMPS ARE ON THE WELFARE SYSTEM. AND, THAT USED TO BE 40% BACK IN 1990. SO, WHAT WE SEE NOW IS THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF OUR ECONOMIC SITUATION, ARE BEING DRIVEN TO THIS SITUATION WITH HUNGER AND LOW ACCESS TO FOOD. BUT, THEN ALSO WE'RE LOSING CRUCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD. OUR SMALL COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE GROCERY STORES ANYMORE AND THEY ARE VERY OFTEN DRIVING OUT INTO A RURAL COMMUNITY LIKE VAUGHN, NEW MEXICO, YOU DRIVE 30 MILES TO SANTA ROSA TO GO TO THE SUPERMARKET. AND THAT IS TOUGH. AND, SO, AT USDA, WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT IS NOT ONLY THE NUTRITION SIDE, BUT ALSO STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMY AND THE ECONOMICS BEHIND THIS WHOLE ISSUE AND THEN ALSO LOOKING FOR THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU HAVE THROUGH FOOD PANTRIES, AND

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, COOPERATIVES, ALL SORTS OF THINGS, TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO GET HIGH QUALITY PRODUCE AND MEAT ON THE TABLE. WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED HERE. THE REPRESENTATIVE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE CAN PRODUCE A LOT IN NEW MEXICO BUT WE'RE NOT. AND, WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF LINKING UP ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS. I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT. >> LET ME GO BACK TO THE COLD STORAGE ISSUE. IF I NEEDED ANOTHER FRIDGE AT MY HOUSE, I COULD BUY A NEW ONE FOR $700 OR GET ONE, YOU KNOW, OUT OF THE PAPER FOR 100 OR $200 BUT FOR THE KIND OF STORAGE THAT, SAY, THE FOOD DEPOT NEEDS OR FOR ANOTHER COOLER OVER AT THE FOOD PROJECT, HOW MUCH DOES THAT COST? >> WELL, WE'RE TALKING -- I WORK WITH A CO-OP, FOOD CO-OP IN TUCUMCARI, AND THEY CURRENTLY GET THEIR PRODUCE FROM CALIFORNIA. IT GOES FROM CALIFORNIA TO A CO-OP. THEY DRIVE IN THEIR TRUCKS FROM TUCUMCARI AND PICK IT UP IN ALBUQUERQUE AT THE CO-OP AND DRIVE IT BACK TO TUCUMCARI

AND DISTRIBUTE IT TO MEMBERS OF THE CO-OP. IF THEY JUST HAD ABOUT $80,000 MAYBE $120,000, THEY COULD GET THE KIND OF COMMERCIAL COOLER THAT THEY NEED, SO THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS CRAZY DANCE OF DRIVING OUT TO ALBUQUERQUE EVERY WEEK TO PICK UP THE PRODUCE FOR THEIR FOOD CO-OP. SO, IT IS LITTLE INVESTMENTS LIKE THAT. THESE SMALL COMMUNITIES, AT LEAST FROM WHAT I SEE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT 10 MILLION OUT THERE. YOU HAVE TO FIND THAT IMPORTANT LYNCHPIN THAT IS GOING TO KEEP THEM GOING, SO THAT MIGHT BE, YOU GOT TO HELP A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION BUILD A FACILITY OR GET COLD STORAGE OR YOU HAVE TO HELP SOMEBODY BUY A TRUCK. >> $80,000 SEEMS LIKE AN UNREACHABLE GOAL FOR SOME OF THESE SMALLER OUTFITS. >> AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE HAVE STATE PROGRAMS THAT IF IT IS A PUBLIC ENTITY THAT IS FORMED LIKE THE TUCUMCARI GROUP, THAT IS ESTABLISHED, WE CAN GO THROUGH THE MORTGAGE FINANCE AUTHORITY AND A COUPLE OTHERS TO GET BASICALLY INTEREST FREE

LOANS TO DO THESE THINGS. BUT, IN SOME CASES, IN RURAL NEW MEXICO, NOT JUST NORTHERN BUT IN TOTAL RURAL NEW MEXICO, THERE IS NOT THE ORGANIZATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO START WITH. >> WE HAVE THE SAME TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND HE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY OUT THERE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS. PEOPLE ARE ON THEIR OWN AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THESE VERY COMPLEX ISSUES IN SMALL COMMUNITIES AND IT IS TOUGH OUT THERE. >> WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? >> I THINK THAT IN SOME CASES, THERE ARE SOME EFFORTS TO OVERCOME THIS AND, FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW AT THE SOUTH VALLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER, WHERE THEY HAVE A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, THERE ARE LOCAL PRODUCERS WHO ARE ABLE TO USE THAT KITCHEN FOR A SMALL FEE, WITH THE PURPOSE OF GETTING THINGS TO MARKET. >> IF I MAY, THE LEGISLATURE THIS LAST SESSION, WE PASSED LEGISLATION THAT DID MANDATE THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO SELL CHILI IN NEW MEXICO, YOU HAVE TO SAY WHERE IT IS FROM. >> YOU GUYS GIVE AWAY CHILI. >> WE HAD SOME THIS SUMMER

BECAUSE OF ROADRUNNER. THEY HAD SOME THAT THEY PASSED ONTO US. >> DO YOUR CLIENTS GET EXCITED ABOUT THAT? >> THEY LOVE IT AND THE OTHER PLACE WE GOT IT FROM, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN CORRALES CALLED "SEED A NEED" THAT GREW CHILI FOR US THIS YEAR. AND, THAT WAS EXCITING. PEOPLE LOVED IT AND THEY LOVE GETTING THE FRESH VINE-RIPENED TOMATOES GROWN JUST UP THE ROAD. >> THERE IS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR COMMUNITY GARDENS THAT GIVE FOOD AWAY TO HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS BUT MELODY, HOW MUCH COULD THAT HELP? >> YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING HELPS. AND WE ARE -- I THINK THE WHOLE ISSUE OF CAPACITY IS -- I THINK REALLY THAT IS KIND OF THE KEY TO ALL OF THIS. WE JUST HAVE A LACK OF CAPACITY IN OUR STATE THAT KIND OF HOLDS US BACK. WE DON'T HAVE ORGANIZATION THAT IS CONSISTENT ACROSS THE STATE. WE HAVE WHOLE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY DON'T EVEN TALK TO EACH OTHER WITHIN THOSE

COMMUNITIES AND SO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF WE DEVELOP SOME CAPACITY, THEN I THINK YOU'LL SEE THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY GARDENS GROWING IN LOTS OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. WE ACTUALLY NEED, IN OUR BIGGEST YEAR EVER WE DISTRIBUTED TEN MILLION POUNDS OF PRODUCE. AND, THAT IS -- THAT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WE COULD HAVE DONE. >> YOU GUYS HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN YOU GET FRESH PRODUCE DONATED, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING IT OUT FAST ENOUGH BEFORE IT GOES BAD? >> NOT REALLY, NOT ANYMORE. WE COULD DISTRIBUTE, I REALLY BELIEVE, 20 OR 30 MILLION-POUNDS OF PRODUCE IF WE HAD IT. AND, THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR THAT IN NEW MEXICO BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH INCIDENCE OF DIET-RELATED DISEASE AND POOR DIET-RELATED DISEASE AND SO IF

WE COULD REALLY SOMEHOW FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO RAMP UP THE DISTRIBUTION OF FRESH PRODUCE, ESPECIALLY OUT INTO THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES, THAT WOULD BE HUGE. >> WHAT IS THE MISSING LINK? >> MONEY. >> WHAT DO YOU NEED THE MONEY TO DO, THOUGH? >> WE NEED THE MONEY TO TRANSPORT IT. WE NEED THE MONEY TO STORE IT. YOU KNOW. THE KEY WITH PRODUCE, OBVIOUSLY, IS RAPID DISTRIBUTION, SO, YOU CAN'T JUST BRING IT IN AND THEN THINK ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION LATER. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A VERY RAPID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, REALLY, TO THE POINT IF WE WERE GOING TO DISTRIBUTE 30 MILLION-POUNDS, WE WOULD HAVE TO BE, WHAT WE CALL CROSS DOCKING IT, WHICH MEANS IT WOULD HAVE TO BE GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME IT IS COMING IN, CONTINUOUSLY. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM BUT SOME OF IT WOULD COME FROM OUT OF STATE. THERE IS THAT FREIGHT COST. IT REALLY IS ABOUT MONEY.

>> I THINK ANOTHER LINK THERE THAT COULD BE EASILY ACHIEVED IS IF PEOPLE WHO GROW FOOD WOULD PARTNER DIRECTLY WITH A DISTRIBUTION SITE LIKE US, LIKE THE STOREHOUSE, ANY OTHER PANTRY AND THEN THE FOOD DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO ROADRUNNER AND COME TO US, IT WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THE RIO GRANDE FOOD PROJECT OR WHATEVER ORGANIZATION IS DISTRIBUTING THAT FOOD, LIKE WE HAVE THREE COMMUNITY GARDENS THAT DO THAT FOR US, AND I WISH WE HAD 300 COMMUNITY GARDENS, BECAUSE WE WOULD DISTRIBUTE THE FOOD AND PEOPLE LOVE GETTING THE FRESH PRODUCE THAT WAY. AND THEN WE'RE TAKING OUT A WHOLE TRANSPORTATION LINK AND I THINK THAT IS A DIRECT WAY THAT PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO COULD START HELPING WITH THE HUNGER PROBLEM. IF THEY HAVE A GARDEN, YOU KNOW, COME BRING -- WHEN AUGUST HITS AND NOBODY WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT ZUCCHINI AND TOMATOES, COME SEE ME. OR ANY OTHER FOOD PANTRY IN THE CITY. THEY WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR PRODUCE. >> I HAD AN EGGPLANT SITUATION THIS SUMMER. I SHOULD HAVE CALLED YOU. >> IT IS INTERESTING, WHEN YOU DISORGANIZED INFRASTRUCTURE

AND THAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM. I AM ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT BELIEVES THERE IS A LOT OF FOOD OUT THERE THAT WE JUST DON'T REALLY HAVE OUR HANDS AROUND HOW TO DO THAT. AT THE STOREHOUSE, IF I ASK EACH OF YOU WHAT BUSINESS WE ARE IN, YOU WOULD PROBABLY SAY, WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF GIVING AWAY FOOD. THAT IS NOT A BUSINESS. THAT IS A CHARITY. SO, WHAT THE BUSINESS WE'RE REALLY IN IS FINDING THAT STUFF IN THE FIRST PLACE AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET IT IN TO THE STOREHOUSE IN A WOEFULLY SMALL BUILDING. I HAVE 11,000 SQUARE FEET AND NOT NEARLY LARGE ENOUGH. WE HAVE ONE WALK IN COOLER, 12 BY 24. THAT IS IT. SO, IT IS INFRASTRUCTURE. IT IS TRUCKS. IT IS ELECTRICITY. IT IS ALL THOSE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T RELATE TO HUNGER WHEN THEY GIVE YOU A BASKET OF TOMATOES.

>> YOU WOULD RATHER HAVE A BASKET OF CASH? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> WHAT I WANTED TO MENTION, GWYNETH, WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS BEING SAID HERE, WE HAVE A PROJECT WITH THE SAN JUAN CHAPTER OF THE NAVAJO NATION AND THE FARMERS UP THERE AND THEY CAME TO US AT USDA BECAUSE THEIR FARMERS ALL ALONG THE HIGHWAY FROM FARMINGTON TO SHIPROCK WERE LETTING PRODUCE ROT IN THE FIELDS AT THE END OF THE SEASON BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT FROM THE FIELD INTO COLD STORAGE, YOU KNOW, TO TREAT IT PROPERLY SO IT COULD BE PUT OUT FOR SALE, OR DISTRIBUTION OR WHATNOT. SO WE ARE TRYING TO FORM AN AGRICULTURAL CO-OP, SO THEY CAN BUY THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT AND MAYBE GET SOME DISTRIBUTION AND MAYBE AN OFFICE MANAGER WHO HAS THE CAPACITY TO APPLY FOR GRANTS, BUT THERE IS FOOD LEFT IN THE FIELDS AND WE HAVE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO TACKLE THAT PROBLEM AND IT DOES TAKE MONEY. AND CAPACITY BUILDING. I MEAN, IN A LOT OF CASES, IF YOU'RE WORKING WITH ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS, THE STATE OR THE FEDS OR NONPROFITS, YOU

HAVE TO FILL OUT GRANT APPLICATIONS TO GET MONEY AND WE ARE RUNNING INTO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME THAT SAY, I DON'T WANT TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION OR I DON'T KNOW HOW TO. AND I NEED SOMEONE TO SIT WITH ME AND DO IT. SO, WE HAVE GOT TO, I THINK AS A COMMUNITY, GET BEHIND THIS IDEA AND HELP EVERYBODY OUT. I WAS AMAZED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE SNAP PROGRAM. I THINK IT IS UP TO MORE THAN 400,000, WHICH IS A QUARTER OF THE POPULATION. PEOPLE NEED TO THINK IN TERMS THAT THE PERSON THREE DOORS DOWN FROM THEIR HOUSE MIGHT NOT BE GETTING A FULL MEAL AT NIGHT. IT IS THAT CLOSE TO US, SO WE HAVE TO BE ACTIVE IN TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. >> IF THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT THE STATE HAS AND THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE, I MEAN, COULD WE USE VOLUNTEERS TO SIT WITH THEM AND HELP FILL OUT THOSE GRANT APPLICATIONS? IF THERE IS MONEY AVAILABLE -- >> THERE HAS TO BE THAT COMMITMENT OF THE COMMUNITY TO SUSTAIN IT. THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE

THROUGHOUT NEW MEXICO IS OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BUT IF YOU HAVE COLD STORAGE, IT IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF PLUGGING IN AND MAKING SURE THE PLUG IS IN THE WALL. IS THERE BACKUP BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE SEVERE WEATHER, SOMETIMES THAT GOES OUT AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT BACKUP, YOU LOSE ALL THE FOOD. SO, THERE HAS TO BE THAT COMMITMENT AT THE COMMUNITY TO WANT TO DO THIS. AND IF YOU HAVE THAT, THEN -- I HAVE WORKED -- YOU CAN DO LOTS OF THINGS. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT ARE WHAT ARE THE MODELS THAT WORK IN A RURAL STATE, BECAUSE THERE ARE REAL CHALLENGES AS HAVE BEEN POINTED OUT. BUT, IN OUR ASSETS CONSORTIUM, FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE 31 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE FROM COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO INDIGENOUS FARMERS AND WE TRAIN AND CERTIFY FAMILY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS IN FINANCE, COACHES, FOR THOSE FOLKS AND DELIVER ASSET PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE. >> WHAT IS AN ASSET PRODUCT? >> ASSET PRODUCT, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. ASSET PRODUCT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS A FAMILY TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. >> IS IT A BASKET OF CASH? >> IT IS NOT. IT IS AND IS NOT. IN OUR ASSETS PROGRAM, ONE OF THE PRIMARY PRODUCTS THERE IS A THING CALLED INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS. AND INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS ARE MATCHED SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE EARNED INCOME IN THEIR HOMES, MAKE LESS THAN 200% OF POVERTY ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE. THEY COMPLETE 10 WEEKS OF COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND THEN ELIGIBLE TO SAVE THEIR OWN MONEY. WHEN THEY REACH $1000, WHICH IS USUALLY THEIR GOAL, IT COULD BE LESS, BUT USUALLY IT IS $1000, WE MATCH THEM FOUR-TO-ONE FOR THE PURCHASE OF A FIRST HOME, TO CAPITALIZE A SMALL BUSINESS OR FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. AND, IN THAT, IN ALL OF THOSE ASSET PURCHASES, FOR INSTANCE, THE SENATOR WAS TALKING ABOUT

THE DIFFICULTY OF DEVELOPING JOBS. WE HAVE HAD 147 BUSINESSES STARTED IN THAT, IN THE LAST THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS. AND, OVER 400 JOBS CREATED IN THAT APPROACH. THE COST HAS BEEN $6700 PER JOB. AND, THAT, ON ANYBODY'S MEASURE, IS A VERY LOW COST OF CREATING THAT. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REALLY HAVING FAMILIES BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT. SO THAT THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO WHO NEEDS FOOD INSTEAD OF BEING IN THE FOOD PANTRIES, BUT THE POINT OF THIS IS THAT IT IS A NETWORK THAT WORKS IN NEW MEXICO. AND IT MEANS THAT WE CENTRALIZE THE MANAGEMENT, MUCH LIKE ROADRUNNER DOES, AND THAT WE TRAIN AND DEVELOP CAPACITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. BUT THE OTHER THING IS, WE PAY THEM TO DO THE WORK. BECAUSE, THE BEST IDEA IN THE WORLD IS JUST A GOOD IDEA THAT HAS NO CAPACITY. >> SO, IS THERE AN EXISTING ORGANIZATION THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PICK UP SOME OF

THESE MISSING LINKS HELPING ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE, SAY, THE CO-OP IN TUCUMCARI, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR SOME OF THESE GRANTS OR TRYING TO GET THE MONEY? >> WELL, THERE IS AND THERE ISN'T. YOU KNOW, WE LACK A LOT OF THAT INSTITUTIONAL KIND OF NETWORK THAT SOME STATES HAVE. YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO MIDWEST, EVERY SMALL TOWN HAS A DAIRY CO-OP OR A GRAIN CO-OP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE DON'T HAVE THAT TRADITION. WE HAVE GROUPS OUT THERE, BUT THEY TYPICALLY ARE MORE CENTERED IN THE MEDIUM TO LARGE TOWNS, IN ROSWELL, PORTALES AND LAS CRUCES AND SILVER CITY. AND, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN BETWEEN THOSE AREAS. SO, I MEET REGULARLY WITH MAYOR'S IN TOWNS THAT HAVE 100 PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE A MAYOR AND A TOWN CLERK AND THAT IS IT. AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS. THERE IS NOT A NONPROFIT LOCATED IN THAT COMMUNITY. I MET WITH THE MAYOR OF ELIDA, AND THEY GAVE ME FOUR THINGS THEY NEEDED, A SENIOR CENTER

AND A FEW OTHER THINGS. I SAID, WELL WE HAVE THESE GRANTS AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THEY SAID, WELL, IT IS JUST ME AND THE CLERK HERE. WE CAN'T MANAGE A BUNCH OF FEDERAL GRANTS. SO THEY REALLY NEED THAT HELP AND TYPICALLY THEY ARE LOOKING TOWARDS THAT LARGE REGIONAL CITY FOR A NONPROFIT OR SOMEBODY THAT IS GOING TO COME TO THEIR AID. >> YOU KNOW -- >> -- ANOTHER INTERESTING BUNCH IN NEW MEXICO HISTORICALLY, THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND A WHILE AGO, AT THE LEGISLATURE WE ALLOWED THEM TO COME TO MUNICIPAL SUBDIVISIONS AND CREATE THEIR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE IS A LOT OUT THERE AND THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE TO BE USED FOR A LOT OF THINGS. >> SOMETIMES IT IS JUST A SMALL THING THAT HELPS A COMMUNITY GET THAT SPARK TO HELP ITSELF. IT REALLY HAS TO START LOCALLY. THE COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES HAVE TO -- BECAUSE, SUSTAINABILITY HAS TO COME FROM THE COMMUNITY. BUT, I WAS INVOLVED WITH A GROUP SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND WE

GAVE SOME REALLY SMALL GRANTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO FORT SUMMER. BUT, A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE IN FORT SUMMER REALLY SEIZED ON THAT MONEY AND MADE IT WORK. THEY THOUGHT OF STRATEGIC USES FOR THAT MONEY AND THEN PULLED TOGETHER THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET A BUSINESS THERE. THEY WERE ABLE TO CREATE JOBS. THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE RENEWED CIVIC PRIDE IN WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO, AS A COMMUNITY, AND IT WAS A THING OF BEAUTY. >> I AGREE THAT THAT IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT PART AND THE CREATE CAPACITY IS AN IMPORTANT PART ALSO SO IT DOES NEED TO BE SUSTAINED BY COMMUNITY AND DOESN'T NEED TO BE DIRECTED BY ANY OF US BUT DOES NEED TO BE DEVELOPED. >> I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING WITH ON THE COLLABORATION LEVEL, IS THERE IS NOT ANY ONE APPROACH THAT WORKS FOR EACH COMMUNITY. IT IS WORKING WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES TO ESTABLISH WHAT APPROACH IS GOING TO WORK FOR THEM, TO ADDRESS HUNGER ISSUES WITHIN THEIR AREA.

I BELIEVE IT IS A DIVERSIFIED APPROACH. NOT ONE APPROACH THAT IS NECESSARILY GOING TO WORK. >> NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, THOUGH, IN TERMS OF RELIEVING HUNGER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX IT. WE HAVE ALL TALKED ABOUT HOW THE PROBLEM ISN'T THAT THEY CAN'T GET DOWN TO THE STOREHOUSE OR THE FOOD DEPOT OR THE FOOD PROJECT, THE PROBLEM IS POVERTY. SO, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO FIX THAT PROBLEM? >> WELL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, HUNGER IS A MAJOR SYMPTOM OF A LARGER PROBLEM WHICH IS POVERTY AND WHICH IS INCOME INEQUALITY. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS REALLY PRIORITIZE OUR TAX AND BUDGET SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IN THIS STATE. IT IS ABOUT CHOICES. WE CAN MAKE CHOICES TO CONTINUE TO CUT AND WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT BUDGET CUTS AROUND HERE. I HEARD YOU TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL CUTS AND HOW IT IMPACTS YOUR PROGRAM AND WE HEARD ABOUT JOBS AND HOW TO

CREATE JOBS. WELL, WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT BUDGET CUTS HAVE CUT THE VERY PROGRAMS THAT ARE HELPING THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE. IT IS CUTTING CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET BACK TO WORK OR STAY EMPLOYED. IT IS CUTTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT BENEFIT THESE FAMILIES AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AS A LARGER ISSUE AND SET PRIORITIES. DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO LET THE SUPER RICH PAY LESS IN TAXES WHILE THE WORKING CLASS PAY MORE? AND THEY ARE THE ONES SUFFERING THE MOST? DO WE WANT CORPORATIONS TO RECEIVE TAX BREAKS OR DO WE WANT TO FUND THESE PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT FAMILIES THAT WOULD GET THEM TO WORK, THAT WOULD HELP PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO FOOD INSECURITY. AND I THINK THAT THE SOLUTION TO ME IS VERY CLEAR. I THINK THAT THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH ALL THE MOVEMENTS GOING AROUND THE COUNTRY IS THAT FOLKS ARE TIRED OF THE WEALTH AND THE TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN OCCURRING WHERE REALLY WE HAVE JUST BEEN SEEING THE WEALTH GUSHING UPWARD AS OPPOSED TO TRICKLING DOWNWARD. >> ARE YOU ON BOARD WITH ALL THAT? >> NOT NECESSARILY.

AT THE STATE LEVEL, I FEEL SPENDING GOT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. AND, YES, WE HAVE HAD TO CUT BUT AS I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE STATE'S BUDGET AND SENATOR SAPIEN IS ON THE SENATE SIDE AND I AM ON THE HOUSE APPROPRIATION, I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE FEELINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT PROGRAMS AGAIN. MAYBE FLAT, BUT IN THIS DAY AND AGE THAT MAY BE A WIN FOR EVERYONE. WHEN YOU SIT ON APPROPRIATIONS, EITHER HOUSE OR SENATE AND YOU COME UP WITH A BILL AND YOU HAVE THE SCHOOL CHILDREN, YOU HAVE THE DAILY WAIVERS, YOU HAVE THE MENTAL ILL, YOU HAVE THE DEAF, YOU HAVE THE BLIND, THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS OUT THERE THAT JUST ONE THING OF MAYBE TAXES IS NOT GOING TO DO IT. NOR IS, I DON'T THINK, BUDGET CUTS. BUT, THE BOTTOM LINE IS TO

FIGURE OUT THE PROPER RELATIONSHIP TO GROW THE ECONOMY, SO THAT WE DO PUT MORE PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND I AM WILLING TO WORK ON THAT PART OF IT, ROLL MY SLEEVES UP AND GET INTO IT. BECAUSE WHEN WE GROW THE ECONOMY, WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE PAYING TAXES, AT WHATEVER LEVEL, THEN, I THINK, THAT IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO ULTIMATELY DIG OUT OF THE HOLE WE ARE IN. >> ONE OF THE STRUGGLES WE HAVE HAD WITH THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS AN INTERIM BUDGET COMMITTEE, IS PRIORITIZATION AND I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE RUN INTO REALLY IS TO LOOK AT IT FROM -- IT IS KIND OF LIKE I DO WHEN I TALK TO MY CLIENTS ABOUT THEIR BUDGETS. THEY ARE IN TONS OF CREDIT CARD DEBT AND THEY WANT TO GET OUT OF IT TOMORROW, BUT IT TOOK THEM FIVE YEARS TO GET IN THE CREDIT CARD DEBT. THEY HAVE TO START LOOKING AT CHALLENGES AS A STATE, SHORT

TERM AND LONG-TERM. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO CUT THE DAY CARE PROGRAMS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE STUDENTS THAT NEED THE MOST CARE. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT AT EARLY CHILDHOOD WE KNOW THAT IS THE BIGGEST IMPACT WE CAN MAKE ON THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. WE CAN'T CUT THE PROGRAMS BUT IF WE DON'T PRIORITIZE THE MONEY BETTER THAN THAT, THE LONG-TERM WILL NEVER TAKE EFFECT. AT THE SAME TIME, IF WE DO CONCENTRATE ON A LONG-TERM APPROACH, PRIORITIZING SOME OF OUR MONEY NOW TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PIECE, I THINK ALICIA IS TOUCHING ON IT WITH THE CHILD CARE SIDE OF THE GAME, IS THAT WE, THEN, I CALL IT BUILD A BETTER PRODUCT. OUR 0 TO FIVE CHILDREN, ONCE THEY HIT K THROUGH 12 ARE BETTER PREPARED TO LEARN, LEARN AT A HIGHER LEVEL, AND AS WE GO THROUGH, AND GRANTED IT IS 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, BUT, WE NOW HAVE A BETTER WORK PRODUCT, A BETTER WORKER IN NEW MEXICO WHICH WILL EXPAND THAT INDUSTRY, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY BRING IN HIGHER WAGES. THAT IS A LONG-TERM APPROACH. SHORT-TERM APPROACH IS KIND OF TOUGH. >> I AM GOING TO ASK YOU A TOUGH QUESTION. IN THE SHORT TERM, CAN WE GET MORE MONEY?

AND WHERE CAN WE GET IT FROM? AS A STATE? IS IT POSSIBLE? >> I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A BIG BUCKET OUT THERE. THE FARMERS MARKET IN CORRALES AND FARMERS MARKET IN BERNALILLO, THEY HAVE HAD NO GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. THEY ARE JUST FARMERS WHO HAVE A CROP, WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER BECAUSE IT IS THE COMMUNITY OF CORRALES, OR THE COMMUNITY OF BERNALILLO. AND THEY SUSTAINED IT AND THEY HAVE GROWN IT. THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT WHERE TO TAKE YOUR EXTRA SQUASH, I THINK IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE IN THAT MIDDLE CLASS AND ABOVE, WHO DON'T REALIZE THAT POVERTY IS NEXT DOOR. POVERTY IS MARY AND JOE WHO LIVE NEXT DOOR LIVING CHECK TO CHECK WHO SHOW UP AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN BERNALILLO, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FEED THEIR KIDS. >> WHICH BRINGS ME TO OUR ORIGINAL POINT ABOUT CORPORATE TAX BREAKS, FOR INSTANCE. THE JOBS SENATOR SAPIEN SAID WERE CREATED BY THE FARMERS MARKET, THE JOBS THAT WERE CREATED BY WHAT ONA WAS REFERRING TO, THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN

TAX BREAKS TO CREATE JOBS IN NEW MEXICO. THEY CREATED JOBS IN NEW MEXICO AND NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY. I WOULD NEVER WANT TO HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE. THAT IS WHY I THINK THE LEGISLATORS ARE IN THOSE POSITIONS, BETWEEN FUNDING A DD WAIVER PROGRAM AND SOMETHING ELSE, BUT, I KNOW THAT YOU CAN MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN MAKING, SAY, OUT OF STATE CORPORATIONS PAY THEIR TAXES ON INCOME PROFITS MADE IN OUR STATE. IT HAS SHOWED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE HERE. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE OUT-OF-STATE CORPORATIONS IN NEW MEXICO, THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE HIGH PROFIT MARGINS WHICH WE HAVE SEEN. PROFITS FOR SOME OF THESE COMPANYS HAVE GROWN IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WHEN WE'RE IN THE GREAT RECESSION, BUT YET WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CHOICE TO CUT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT BENEFIT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. EDUCATION, WE HAVE LARGER CLASSROOMS, WE HAVE FEWER TEACHERS, CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN CUT. TO ME IT IS ABOUT PRIORITIZING YOUR CHOICES. WE DO HAVE VERY CLEAR CHOICES

AND I THINK IT IS INTERESTING FOR FOLKS TO FEEL REALLY GOOD, IT IS REALLY GOOD TO DONATE TO THESE PROGRAMS AND IT HAPPENS A LOT, I KNOW YOU KNOW, AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR TO DONATE TO FOOD PANTRIES AND SUCH. WE WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF NEED. IF WE CAN REALLY GET AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM, WE WOULD HOPE THAT FOOD PANTRIES WOULD ONLY BE A NECESSITY IN TIMES OF CRISIS BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NEW MEXICANS HAVE BEEN IN A TIME OF CRISIS FOR MANY YEARS NOW. >> I MEAN, I THINK GOING BACK TO HUNGER, I THINK THAT AS THE WEALTHIEST NATION IN THE WORLD, ARE WE GOING TO LET THIS SITUATION BE ACCEPTABLE? AND THE ANSWER OF A SOCIETY IS NO. SO, THAT IS A CHOICE WE HAVE TO MAKE. THAT WE ARE GOING TO ATTACK THIS ISSUE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO SEE EROSION OF THE SAFETY NET, WHICH IS HELPING ALL THESE PEOPLE GET THROUGH THE ECONOMIC TOUGH TIMES. AND, THAT HAS BEEN THE COMMITMENT OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, USDA, HOW DO WE ADDRESS IT ON THE SHORT TERM, BUT LONG TERM, HOW, AS A SOCIETY, ARE WE GOING TO SUCCEED ECONOMICALLY,

IF OUR STUDENTS CAN'T GET A PROPER MEAL, IF FAMILIES CAN'T FEED THE KIDS AT THE TABLE, AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT THOSE ARE THE CHOICES WE HAVE TO PUT UP A FOREFRONT. THIS HUNGER ISSUE, YOU KNOW, DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT AS A SOCIETY AS TO WHAT WE WANT TO DO ABOUT ONE OF THE WORST ISSUES OUT THERE AND WE HAVE TO SOLVE IT. AND, ALICIA IS RIGHT, WE HAVE TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND I THINK FAR TOO OFTEN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS THROWING CHOICES OUT TO OUR LEGISLATORS AND SAYING, YOU FIGURE IT OUT. REALLY, AS A COMMUNITY, AND WHAT I AM HEARING HERE TODAY, IS, YOU KNOW THESE SMALL COMMUNITIES, LARGE COMMUNITIES HAVE TO GET TOGETHER AND ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. AND THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE TO DO IT. IT CAN'T BE FORCED UPON THEM AND THEY CAN'T BE MADE TO DO IT, THEY HAVE GOT TO PICK THEMES UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS AND ATTACK IT BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE JUST ISN'T ACCEPTABLE. >> THE BOOTSTRAPS HAVE TO PADDED THOUGH. IN NEW MEXICO, YOU TALKED ABOUT VOLUNTEERS.

I DON'T THINK IN ELIDA THERE ARE VOLUNTEERS. EVERYBODY ABLE TO WORK IS WORKING AND THEY ARE STILL HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING ENDS MEET. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, FOR INSTANCE, THE CORRALES EVENTS THAT HAPPEN EVERY SUNDAY, FABULOUS. I GO THERE OFTEN, BUT THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY PUBLIC POLICY. WE DECIDED THAT WE COULD USE OUR SNAP VOUCHERS AT MARKETS AND THAT WAS A GREAT BOONE FOR THE MARKETS. IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT. IT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THAT. BECAUSE THEY HAD ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD. SO, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE VERY INTERCONNECTED AND YES THEY ARE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM ANSWERS BUT IN RESPECT TO, FOR INSTANCE, THE POINT THAT ALECIA IS RAISING ABOUT CORPORATE TAXES, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DOES IT DISADVANTAGE OUR STATE WHEN LARGE CORPORATIONS ARE OPERATING IN OUR STATE AT NO COST TO THEM, BUT IT ALSO DISADVANTAGES ALL OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. THEY HAVE TO COMPETE AND THEY

HAVE TO PAY THOSE TAXES AND THAT IS REALLY UNFAIR. AND WE NEED TO GET BACK TO A TIME OF FAIRNESS IN OUR SOCIETY AND THINK ABOUT THAT AS A FILTER FOR DECISION MAKING. WHAT IS ECONOMIC JUSTICE? AND AS TERRY IS SAYING, ARE WE REALLY GOING TO ALLOW THE WEALTH GAP IN AMERICA TO BE 97TH IN THE WORLD, BEHIND SUCH COUNTRIES AS CHINA AND IRAN. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT IS UNAMERICAN. >> FURTHERMORE, THE INCOME INEQUALITY IN OUR STATE, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF MILLIONAIRES IN LOS ALAMOS AND WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THE HUGE FOOD INSECURITY PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING IN THE REST OF THE STATE. I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO EVALUATE OUR PRIORITIES AND IT IS GOING TO START WITH THESE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS. >> I AM THINKING, WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM YOUR CLIENTS? WHAT DO THEY NEED? THEY PROBABLY AREN'T SAYING, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A WAL-MART PAY TAXES ON THE PROFITS HERE INSTEAD OF CALCULATING ITS PROFITS -- I AM SURE THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY SAY. WHAT DO THEY WANT? >> THEY WANT FOOD.

THEY WANT FOOD AND THEY NEED JOBS. AND WE CAN BANDY THESE THINGS AROUND LIKE TENNIS BALLS UNTIL WE ARE WEARY BUT ALICIA USED A WORD A MINUTE AGO THAT WE HAVE BEEN BANDYING ABOUT AT THE STOREHOUSE CALLED MOVEMENT, AND UNTIL THERE IS A MOVEMENT WHEN THE PEOPLE SAY, I AM JUST SICK AND TIRED OF THIS, IT HAS GOT TO STOP AND THAT WILL HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER. THEY JUST HAVEN'T -- THEY HAVE SETTLED ON THE ECONOMICS, YOU KNOW. THERE IS A MOVEMENT ABOUT WALL STREET AND BANKERS AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING. WHEN IT GETS AROUND TO HUNGER, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND MORE PEOPLE BY A FACTOR OF 100 INVOLVED IN THAT AND UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, WE MIGHT JUST KEEP ON TALKING. >> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IS THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY LOOKING AT EXISTING SOURCES BUT LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE THOSE SOURCES THAT ARE THERE. BILLIONS OF POUNDS OF FOOD ARE BEING THROWN AWAY EVERYDAY IN AMERICA.

AND, MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS SITTING RIGHT HERE DOING FOOD RECOVERY, AND THEY ARE GOING OUT INTO LOCAL SUPERMARKETS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS AND RECOVERING FOOD THAT IS EXISTING AND ALREADY THERE. ALSO IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. HOW CAN WE LOOK AT BUILDING THAT STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS IN FEEDING PEOPLE THE FOOD THAT IS ALREADY THERE? >> WE TAKE GOVERNMENT OUT OF PLAY. AMERICANS WILL COME TO THE AID OF EACH OTHER. WE JUST HAVE TO EDUCATE THEM ON HOW THEY CAN BE HELPFUL. AND IT IS NOT ALWAYS BY THE DOLLAR, IT IS BY FINDING THOSE RESOURCES THAT ARE ALREADY IN EXISTENCE AND BRINGING THEM TOGETHER. THIS IS PHENOMENAL HOW YOU GUYS CAN RUN THESE ORGANIZATIONS ON THE SHOESTRING BUDGET, BUT IF WE CONCENTRATE ON THE GROUND LEVEL ON OUR COMMUNITIES, EDUCATING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE, TO BE ABLE TO SAY, IF YOU DO HAVE THAT EXTRA SQUASH OR THAT EXTRA PRODUCE, HOW DO WE GET IT IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HELPING THE PEOPLE WITH MOST NEED. THE QUESTION OF MONEY IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE.

>> THERE ARE 50 MILLION AMERICANS HUNGRY. 50 MILLION. THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD A DISEASE THAT AFFECTED 50 MILLION AMERICANS, AND IT CAUSED THE KINDS OF SYMPTOMS THAT HUNGER CAUSES, AND THE KIND OF LONG-TERM DETRIMENT TO HUMAN BEINGS THAT HUNGER CAUSES, THERE WOULD BE A HUGE PUBLIC OUTCRY SAYING, LET'S PUT AN END TO THIS. WE CAN'T HAVE 50 MILLION AMERICANS WITH THIS DISEASE, BUT WE HAVE IT AND WE ARE NOT HEARING THAT OUTCRY AND THAT -- WE HAVE TO. IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE IN THIS COUNTRY TO HAVE 50 MILLION AMERICANS HUNGRY. >> WELL, THE ONE THING WE CAN DO IS EDUCATE FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING TODAY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN NEW MEXICO. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING IN AND SHARING YOUR STORIES WITH US AND WITH OUR VIEWERS. >> THANK YOU. >> BEING PART OF THIS

CONVERSATION IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT. AND, I THINK THE THING THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE ANSWERS ARE COMPLEX BUT THEY ARE WITHIN OUR REACH. >> IF YOUR NEIGHBOR CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, WE SHOULD ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT. AND I THINK THAT IS THE KEY. MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS HUNGER IS ALIVE AND WELL. >> 50 MILLION PEOPLE HUNGRY. WE HAD SEVEN PEOPLE, EIGHT PEOPLE DIE FROM A MELON THING AND THE COUNTRY WENT NUTS. PEOPLE DIED. BUT PEOPLE ARE DYING IN THIS COUNTRY EVERYDAY FROM MALNUTRITION. >> IN THIS STATE WE PROVIDE FIVE MILLION A YEAR THAT GOES TOWARDS FOOD ASSISTANCE. WE KNOW WHERE THE FOOD BANKS ARE AND WE PROBABLY COULD DO A BETTER JOB AT CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THEM. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR WHAT IT MIGHT BE, BUT I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING THERE WE COULD BE DOING. >> WHAT THE CONVERSATION WILL DO COME THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS DEFINITELY DRIVE ME TO PROTECT THOSE PROGRAMS THAT HELP THE NEEDS. >> POLICYMAKERS NEED TO BE BOTH INFORMED AND PRESSURED TO

DO THE RIGHT THING. AND, WE NEED TO ADDRESS OUR TAX STRUCTURE, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, BUT THE TRUTH IS WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO HAVE 300% INCREASE IN CEO SALARIES WHILE WORKERS GET A 4% INCREASE IN THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME. THAT CREATES POVERTY. >> I THINK PRIVATE CITIZENS, IF THEY TAKE THE LEAD, THEN GOVERNMENT CAN COME IN AND PLAY A VERY HELPFUL ROLE BUT, AGAIN, IT HAS TO BE THAT LOCAL COMMUNITY, THAT LOCAL SPARK, LOCAL SPIRIT THAT GETS THE MOVEMENT GOING. >> I THINK ONE GREAT THING PEOPLE COULD DO IS PARTNER WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR AGENCIES THAT ARE ADDRESSING HUNGER AND ENGAGE YOURSELF IN THAT. >> IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO FOOD AND MONEY. THE FOOD IS ALREADY HERE. WE HAVE TO FIND IT. AND WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT FINDING TO A LEVEL THAT GOES BEYOND THAT CAN OF PORK AND BEANS YOU FOUND IN GRANDMA'S CLOSET.

>> DONATIONS ARE GREAT BECAUSE AT MY ORGANIZATION FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE ME, I BUY $3.50 WORTH OF FOOD. THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING IS TO VOLUNTEER AND SEE THE FACE OF HUNGER, BECAUSE YOU WILL BE SURPRISED WHO SHOWS UP AT THE DOOR. IT IS NOT WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK. >> THERE IS SOMETHING THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO IS LISTENING TO THIS CAN DO TO HELP. >> I KNOW AS A PEOPLE THAT WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER AND THAT WE HAVE TO RISE UP TOGETHER AND THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT THAN WE NEED TO HELP EACH OTHER. AND THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT, LET'S GET INVOLVED AND HELP EACH OTHER AND MAKE THE COMMUNITY GREAT. >> JOIN US FOR PUBLIC SQUARE ON THE LAST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH. OUR DECEMBER SHOW WILL BE ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY. TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SQUARE AND FOR MORE INFORMATION GO ON OUR WEBSITE, KNME.ORG/PUBLIC SQUARE. HERE YOU CAN GIVE US FEEDBACK OR SUGGEST TOPICS FOR THE SHOW, ALSO LOOK FOR US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.