The heroes of this success

For the 36th year, Taos Feeds Taos gifted local families with a holiday bonanza of food and holiday joy. “COVID-19 changed our method of distributing food to families in

need, because we could not expose our volunteers and clients to the virus. This year — our second year of

providing vouchers instead of food boxes — went smoothly and we were

able to provide food to over 1000 households,” explained TFT board member, Ernestina Cordova.

On the weekend of Dec. 16-17, families lined up at Super Save to redeem their vouchers for a free ham. The vouchers also included $100 in groceries of their choice, which was redeemable at Super Save through Dec. 24.

“I admire what the Taos Feeds Taos team has been doing for so many years, and how many families

and individuals they’ve helped,” said Commissioner Brush. “It was inspiring to see so many volunteers helping

out that cold, cold morning: the Taos Feeds Taos team as well as Super

Save, the National Guard, the LOR Foundation, and more. Among those helping and those being helped, you could feel the joy, gratitude, and connection.”

ಯThe board of Taos Feeds Taos is hardworking,” Weinrobe emphasized. “Each individual takes responsibility

to provide service to those in need in our community, while being good

stewards of the funds our donors contribute.”

And donations truly do come from across the community. In addition

to assistance from many Taos businesses and foundations, shoppers

at venues like Super Save and Ace Hardware generously fed the program’s donation boxes. “If people see our donation boxes, they contribute as they can,” Weinrobe continued.

The changes made with the arrival of the pandemic proved to be

fortuitous moves. “Many recipients expressed their appreciation of being able to choose the food products they need and what works best for their households.”

Assisting TFT has been a long tradition for the New Mexico National Guard (Ranchos de Taos). This year was no exception, as members converged on Super Save to distribute hams, cart heavy loads and generally

assist their neighbors on one of the community’s proudest days.

“Especially during a tough few weeks, it was a great reminder and illustration of how we all can pull

together and help one another. We ECP CNN OCMG C FKǢGTGPEG HQT QWT neighbors and families, and for those in the community we don’t yet know,” Commissioner Burch noted with evident pride.

In addition to Francis Cordova, who today serves as president,

the Executive Board of Taos Feeds Taos includes Louise Gallegos (Vice President); Mike F. Martinez (Treasurer); and Cathy Jeantete Aragon (Secretary). Board members,

in addition to Ernestina Cordova, Judy Weinrobe and Andrea Chavez, Mary Trujillo Mascarenas; Pauline Mondragon; Gloria Salazar and Michael Santistevan.

I am grateful for the friendship of the board and volunteers that helped. They are the heroes of this success. ERNESTINA CORDOVA