THE FOOD PANTRY - In the first quarter of 2009, the number of
people receiving food boxes reached an all-time high of 4,796 people,
up from 3,255 people in 2008. With our ecomony in crisis, we feel
certain that we will see the number of new clients continue to grow.
Clients may come in every two weeks to receive a box containing fresh
vegetables and fruits, canned goods, meats, bread, pastry and other
essential staples to supplement their existing food supplies at home.
The Elderly - The number of elderly citizens utilizing our services continues to
grow .These are our neighbors, living on fixed incomes and their funds
do not always last through the month. We are able to help them with
food boxes, clothing and household items to help make life a little
easier.
The Handicapped - Many of our clients have disabilities which prohibit their ability
to earn a living. They are always welcome to come for food, and many of
them willingly volunteer to help where they can in the preparation of
food boxes.
The Homeless - The homeless population continues to grow and Bienvenidos does what
it can to help them. Mondays through Thursdays they can come to the
pantry for a bag lunch, and clothing. Many of them are transient, just
passing through, but the word spreads quickly as to where they can find
a meal, clothing, a sleeping bag and personal care items.
The Working Poor
- This is a fast-growing segment of our clientele--families with at
least one member in the work force, not making enough money to take
care of all their needs and having to choose between paying utility
bills or putting food on the table. They are always welcome at the
Outreach.
Children - Holiday season
In 2008 Bienvenidos Outreach supplied over 500 children with
Christmas gifts through the efforts of many organizations, churches and
individuals. Also supplied during this season were over 300 complete
turkey or ham family dinners for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Children's Milk Program - This program, funded by a grant from The Buckaroo Ball, is
for families with children. Each family receives a gallon of milk every
time the family comes in to pick up their provisions box. It is our
goal to insure that children start the day with a nutritious meal which
includes milk and hot or cold cereal. We appreciate and thank The Buckaroo Ball for their support of our Milk Program.
Sunday Lunches
- Our Sunday Picnic in the Park program was started in 1995. The City
of Santa Fe graciously permitted us to use Ashbaugh Park for 2 hours
each week to feed those in need with a warm nutritious meal. Over the
years the program has grown and now different churches rotate the
preparation and serving of over 125 meals each Sunday. We have moved the Sunday lunch program to the Salvation Army parking lot where lunch is served between 12:00pm-1:00pm.
Our Brother's Keeper
A group of women from Los Alamos who call themselves "Our Brother's
Keeper" hand-sew sleeping bags, scarves and hats and deliver them to Bienvenidos Outreach
for distribution to the homeless. Our homeless clients rely on these
donations to keep them warm in the evenings. We thank them for their continued support and generosity.
Bienvenidos Outreach, Inc. Mailing Address: PO Box 5873 Santa Fe NM 87502
Physical Location: 1511 Fifth Street Santa Fe NM 87505
