UNM's Lobo Food Drive Raises $7,500 and 3,247 Food Items for Roadrunner Food Bank

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  Published in Food and Wine on Monday, November 10th 2025 at 15:34 GMT by KOB 4

Lobo Food Drive Drums Up Support for Roadrunner Food Bank

By the New Mexico Daily
Published: 2024-08-07

1. Overview

In a powerful display of campus‑wide solidarity, the University of New Mexico’s (UNM) student body, faculty, and staff launched the Lobo Food Drive this spring, raising more than $7,500 in donations and collecting over 3,000 food items for the Roadrunner Food Bank. The initiative, coordinated by the UNM Office of Community Engagement and the UNM Food Service Department, aimed to bridge food insecurity in Albuquerque’s underserved neighborhoods while fostering a culture of generosity among Lobos.

2. Roadrunner Food Bank – A Local Lifeline

The Roadrunner Food Bank (RFB), founded in 1994, serves over 20,000 families across Albuquerque and surrounding communities. According to the bank’s annual report, 30% of its clients are children and 15% are seniors. The RFB partners with local grocery stores, churches, and nonprofits to redistribute surplus food and provide nutrition education.

Source: Roadrunner Food Bank Annual Report 2023

Key services include: - 24/7 food pantry with over 2,000 items stocked daily. - Nutrition workshops for parents and teens. - School‑based food programs delivering meals to 12 elementary schools.

3. The Lobo Food Drive – Planning and Launch

3.1. Mobilizing the Campus

The drive was spearheaded by Student Government Association (SGA) President Maya Hernandez and UNM Food Service Director Alan Thompson. By integrating a digital donation portal (via UNM’s LobosGiving platform) and setting up physical collection points in the Student Union, Civic Center, and Luna’s Café, the initiative reached every corner of campus.

Link to SGA’s official announcement: SGA Launches Lobo Food Drive

3.2. Key Dates

The two‑month window allowed for a steady flow of donations, culminating in the final distribution event where collected items were loaded onto trucks and delivered to the RFB’s central hub.

4. Quantifying the Impact

These figures translate to roughly 12 meals per dollar, an impressive efficiency for a food‑only drive. Each donated item was logged and verified against RFB’s inventory needs, ensuring that surplus produce and canned goods were utilized effectively.

5. Community and Partner Involvement

5.1. Local Businesses

Several Albuquerque restaurants and grocery chains—Mendota Market, Biscoff Bakery, and Coco’s Café—donated fresh produce and prepared a special “Lobo Meal Pack” of non-perishables. These collaborations not only amplified the donation volume but also raised brand awareness for the RFB.

Press release: Local Businesses Join Lobo Food Drive

5.2. National NGOs

The Feeding America network recognized UNM’s effort as a model for higher‑education institutions. An adjunct professor from UNM’s School of Public Health spearheaded a data‑collection partnership to analyze the nutritional quality of donations.

6. Lessons Learned & Challenges

The initiative’s success hinged on robust communication channels and a clear, data‑driven strategy that kept participants informed and motivated.

7. Future Directions

Encouraged by this year’s outcomes, the UNM Office of Community Engagement plans to:

1. Extend the drive to a year‑long program, with quarterly “Food‑for‑Food” exchanges between campus dining services and the RFB.
2. Launch a sustainability audit of the food supply chain to reduce waste.
3. Integrate a digital “Meal‑Mapping” tool that visualizes food distribution hotspots across Albuquerque, guiding future donation drives.

8. Conclusion

The Lobo Food Drive exemplifies how academic institutions can mobilize collective action to address systemic issues like food insecurity. By partnering with the Roadrunner Food Bank, UNM not only supplied immediate relief to vulnerable families but also strengthened community ties and set a benchmark for future drives. The ripple effect—spanning campus, local businesses, and non‑profits—highlights the transformative power of coordinated philanthropy.

References

1. Roadrunner Food Bank Annual Report 2023 – https://www.roadrunnerfoodbank.org/annual-report-2023
2. SGA Launches Lobo Food Drive – https://www.unm.edu/sga/food-drive-launch
3. Local Businesses Join Lobo Food Drive – https://www.kob.com/news/local-businesses-join-lobo-food-drive/
4. LobosGiving Donation Portal – https://www.unm.edu/lobosgiving

Note: All URLs were accessed on 2025‑11‑10 and are included to provide readers with direct access to source material.