We’ve recently received a few questions about the availability of food donation programs in the Carlsbad area. We have so many faith-based and charitable organizations who have set up an excellent system to help those in need. Thank you to the United Way of Eddy County for helping put together this list. The United Way now has a food distribution program on the second Friday of the month at Epworth United Methodist (1406 W. Blodgett).
Calvary Assembly of God (2107 W. Church) provides hot meals on Monday evenings at 6 p.m. and food distribution on the third Saturday of the month.
The Terri Able Community Kitchen (402 S. Alameda) is providing take-out meals Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to noon
Abundant Harvest/Oasis Christian Church (802 S. Main Street) does food distribution from 9-11 a.m. every Tuesday.
Faith Hope & Love (933 N. Canal Street) has ready to eat meals and pantry staples. Hours are limited and by appointment only. Please call (575) 941-2022.
Packs for Hunger, under the direction of Carol Worley, continues to provide food for the weekend for children enrolled in its program. Please call central office to get more information about this program.
The Southeast New Mexico Community Action Corporation’s Senior Meal Site has continued to deliver food to homebound seniors and through drive-thru meal pickup. The New Mexico Aging & Long Term Services Department also has a program or seniors for adults. Please call 1-800-432-2080 for more information.
The Carlsbad Municipal School system, of course, has also been continuing to feed our children and done an incredible job adapting to a variety of new challenges. We’re fortunate to have so many generous organizations who have stepped up, especially over the past few months.
New Mexico Human Services Secretary David Scrase and the state’s Children, Youth and Families Department Secretary Brian Blalock provided an update Wednesday on a variety of issues related to COVID-19 modeling and the state’s gating criteria, but one of the most important parts of the presentation was related to behavioral health.
New Mexico was facing a serious behavioral health crisis even before the COVID shutdown. Scrase now predicted a 15 to 20 percent increase in behavioral health needs in New Mexico coming, and Blalock pointed out that the state has the highest rate of suicide in the country. This is a tragedy well worthy of our focus.
It was also observed that more than twice as many people as usual have reported anxiety in a national survey. The behavioral health component of this issue is just as important as the physical health component, and a subject on which we can hopefully all work together.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway