New Mexico Lions Clubs Launch Second Statewide Food Drive to Fight Local Hunger

EDGEWOOD N.M. — Volunteers in yellow vests will be stationed outside grocery stores across the state Saturday, Sept. 12, as New Mexico Lions Clubs host their second annual statewide food drive to support local food banks and pantries.

The statewide initiative is organized to help restock local emergency food supplies in communities served by active Lions Clubs. Organizers hope to build on the success of last year’s inaugural drive, which gathered nearly 10,000 food items and more than $8,000 in cash donations.

The effort targets high rates of food insecurity across the state. According to Feeding America, a national nonprofit hunger-relief organization, 1 in 6 adults in New Mexico does not have enough food to support their families, and 1 in 4 children faces daily hunger.

“Our motto is We Serve and we do so in any way we can,” said Joel Edwards, district governor for Lions District 40. “New Mexico has a large need for assistance in fighting hunger and one of our international Lions goals is to carry that fight to our local communities.”

All donations collected during the drive will remain local to assist pantries within participating communities.

New Mexico’s clubs are part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service organization, with more than 1.4 million members and 50,000 clubs across more than 200 countries.

More information about the event and local club participation is available at lionsnewmexico.org.