ABQ Times

Food insecurity remains a pressing issue at The University of New Mexico (UNM), affecting various segments of the community, including students, graduates, faculty, and staff. Kathryn Coakley, PhD, a public health researcher and assistant professor at UNM's College of Population Health, highlights that this challenge is linked to other basic needs like housing and medical services.

“It is important to recognize that food insecurity does not exist in a vacuum. Students experiencing food insecurity are also very likely to experience problems with meeting other basic needs, such as housing, medical services and access to reliable transportation,” stated Coakley.

Certain groups face higher risks of food insecurity: people of color, sexual and gender minorities, single-parent households, individuals with disabilities or chronic conditions, seniors, and rural residents. Despite recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing a slight decrease in food insecurity in New Mexico, Coakley warns against complacency: “Just because our numbers are now on par with national estimates does not mean food insecurity is not still a problem in New Mexico.”

The Lobo Food Pantry at the UNM Student Union Building serves as an essential resource for addressing these challenges. With over 27,000 students at UNM, its impact extends across communities in New Mexico.

Coakley underscores the need for sustainable solutions beyond campus pantries: “We are now interested in working with universities and community partners to develop and implement strategies beyond campus food pantries to address food insecurity.”

The College of Population Health is co-sponsoring the Food Justice Workshop on January 17th, 2025. This event will bring together local community advocates and researchers from UNM alongside social service partners like Presbyterian Healthcare Services and the Healthy Here Coalition. Special guest Mariana Chilton from Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health will also participate.

Additional resources for those facing food insecurity include Roadrunner Food Bank's Food Finder Map and SNAP assistance; The Food Depot's distribution across Northern New Mexico; Rio Grande Food Project's weekly distributions; Meals on Wheels New Mexico's delivery services; and UNM Food & Distribution Sites.