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IVF clinic bombing should be a security wakeup call for fertility centers, experts say; Illinois is first state to restrict federal access to autism-related data; Virginia ranks in top 10 for lowest rates of deaths on the job; Food security researchers in 20 countries thought they had U.S. funding. Then Trump took office.

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Congress debates Medicaid cuts, FBI pledges to investigate missing Indigenous people, Illinois pushes back on federal autism data plan, and deadly bombing in California is investigated as domestic terrorism.

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New Mexico's acequia irrigation system is a model of democratic governance, buying a house in rural America will get harder under the Trump administration's draft 2026 budget, and physicians and medical clinics serving rural America are becoming a rarity.

New Mexico's food bank volunteers provide millions of meals

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Monday, April 21, 2025   

More than 6,000 volunteers who support New Mexico's Roadrunner Food Bank are being recognized during National Volunteer Week, which starts today.

Barbara Guenther, manager of volunteer programs for Roadrunner Food Bank, said the organization relies on unpaid community members to assist with things like sorting, packing and distributing food. She noted last year alone, they provided about 8 million meals across the state.

"Our volunteers donated 55,547 hours," Guenther pointed out. "It's the equivalent of about $1.5 million worth of work that those volunteers contribute to support the food bank."

According to AmeriCorps, a federal agency for national service and volunteerism, nearly 76 million people volunteered in America in 2023. Guenther added Roadrunner is always grateful for more because 150 to 400 volunteers often are needed for a single day food distribution event.

Guenther believes pitching in to support neighbors can serve as a reminder of your own good fortune when you are loading up your cart at the grocery store.

"Not everybody has that ability to do that and that recognition that, oh my gosh, you've just made this person's day," Guenther emphasized. "We have volunteers who say, 'It's all about just helping people.'"

About 75% of Roadrunner's volunteers work side-by-side in the Albuquerque warehouse. Guenther added many come weekly to meet up with friends they have met through the food bank.

"I had a great volunteer one time say, 'You know, when we volunteer here, we don't care about politics or religion, or who you voted for or what your values are. The one thing that we all value here is that everyone deserves food to eat and no one should be hungry,'" Guenther recounted.

Roadrunner hopes to expand volunteer opportunities in the southern part of the state this year. Among countries, the U.S. has the highest portion of its population actively volunteering, at nearly 42%, according to the nonprofit Volunteer FDIP.

Disclosure: Roadrunner Food Bank contributes to our fund for reporting on Children's Issues, Community Issues and Volunteering, Hunger/Food/Nutrition, and Poverty Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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