Feed Rio Rancho Kids, New Mexico United team up for fundraiser

New Mexico United and Feed Rio Rancho Kids are partnering to raise funds for the all-volunteer nonprofit organization whose mission is to help alleviate the needs of Rio Rancho children who do not have enough to eat.

For each ticket purchased for United’s match against Oakland on Aug. 23 through this link, $5 will go directly to Feed Rio Rancho Kids. Feed RR Kids prepares weekend snack packs for Rio Rancho school kids who are experiencing food insecurity. The volunteers are driven by a strong belief that “In Rio Rancho, no child should go to bed hungry.”

A project of Sandoval County Federation of Democratic Women and the Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation, Feed Rio Rancho Kids began in 2019. Volunteers deliver snack packs through the schools on Fridays to provide food for students in need over the weekend.

Karen Schafer, of the Sandoval County Federation of Democratic Women, said the group keeps the schools served confidential and works with social workers for privacy, so even volunteers don’t know the identity of the students.

From May through December of last year, the group provided 1,500 snack packs to Rio Rancho students. Volunteers also provided new winter coats and 10 new backpacks filled with school supplies.

Many students in public schools live in food-insecure situations. During the week they receive breakfast and lunch at school but on weekends they may have little or no food available. FRRK aims to alleviate this by providing nutritious snack packs for the weekends. A snack pack is a one-gallon Ziplock bag filled with items such as canned ravioli, mac-n-cheese, tuna kits, fruit cups and more.

Once a month, volunteers meet at UUWC in the green room to assemble a supply of snack packs. Then on Fridays, the packs are delivered to partner schools that have identified students in need. Funding to purchase the food comes from contributions of volunteers.

To donate to FRRK, click here.