Spread holiday cheer this season by packing food for needy families throughout the community. The Roadrunner Food Bank (RRFB) hosts its annual volunteer event for New Mexico staff, students, faculty, family and friends at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26.

UNM staff member Mark Reynolds, who has coordinated volunteers for this event for several years, is leading the effort once again. UNM volunteers help sort and pack food for needy families throughout the community as part of the holiday tradition called “Pay it forward.”

“Each year we are humbled by what the Road Runner Food Bank does every day, month and year,” Reynolds said. “This is an opportunity to take time, appreciate and donate a labor resource that is critical to their operation.”

Roadrunner distributes this food through a statewide network of four smaller food banks, direct service programs, more than 600 emergency food pantries, group homes, low-income day care centers, shelters and hot meal programs. In turn, these organizations provide food and/or meals to nearly 40,000 different people every week.

Shift times include:

  • 9 – 11 a.m.
  • 11 – 2 p.m.
  • 2 – 4 p.m.

What volunteers can expect:

  • Volunteers work in a warehouse near large equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks.
  • Volunteers perform tasks that use their hands.
  • Volunteers should have fingers and arms with dexterity, be able to physically handle, lift and move product and stand for periods of time.
  • Volunteers should be able to follow and accept instructions for volunteer projects.
  • Hair nets, smocks and booties are provided.
  • Comfortable shoes are suggested.
  • Bringing snacks and drinks to be kept in the lobby for breaks are acceptable.
  • No cell phones allowed in work area.

Interested volunteers should email Reynolds to volunteer at: reynolds@unm.edu.

For more than 35 years, RRFB has been committed to solving hunger across New Mexico. Every week, they provide enough food to reach 70,000 hungry people who worry and struggle to put enough food on the table throughout the month.

While the RRFB distributes enough food to feed the city of Santa Fe every week, it still isn’t enough. More than 63 million meals are missing from the plates of hungry people across New Mexico.

Roadrunner Food Bank is located at 5840 Office Blvd NE in Albuquerque.

For more information, visit Roadrunner Food Bank.