By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
Rio Rancho firefighters and St. Felix Pantry are teaming up for the first time ever, launching a monthlong food and school supply drive that runs through Aug. 7.
The partnership came together fast. Pantry president and CEO Tim Sheehan said he reached out to Fire Chief James Wenzel after watching Rio Rancho police run a similar drive every November — and Wenzel signed on immediately.
“I met with the chief and he said, absolutely. We’re off and running,” Sheehan said.
The need is real: St. Felix Pantry serves more than 600 families every week, Sheehan said, with roughly 60% coming from elsewhere in Sandoval County beyond Rio Rancho itself. Nonperishable donations — canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, cereal — go straight into that weekly distribution, while backpacks and school supplies are set aside for kids heading back to class in August.
RRFR’s Matt Guevara said the department wanted in because of the pantry’s track record. “They do outstanding work,” Guevara said. “We wanted to be a part of that.”
More details
- St. Felix Pantry also runs a weekend snack program with nine Rio Rancho Public Schools, sending kids home with easy, ready-to-eat food every Thursday — a response, Sheehan said, to families reporting kids go without food over the weekend.
- Donations can be dropped off during normal business hours at any collection site — see list below.
- Every donation helps, regardless of size, the department said.
By the numbers
- 600+ families served weekly by St. Felix Pantry
- 60% of pantry guests come from outside Rio Rancho, elsewhere in Sandoval County
- 9 RRPS schools participating in the weekend snack program
- 1 month: length of the food and supply drive (July 7–Aug. 7)
Drop off locations, July 7–Aug. 7:
- 2810 Southern Blvd.
- 1450 Cherry Road
- 1650 Riverside Drive
- 5103 Santa Fe Hills Blvd.
- 3125 Mariposa Parkway
- 641 Rockaway Blvd.
- Fire and Rescue Administration: 1526 Stephanie Road