CHILD HUNGER

In 2018, one out of every four New Mexican children experienced food insecurity. During COVID-19, the number increased to one out of every three (162,960 children), and in many rural communities the numbers are as high as one out of every two (Roadrunner Food Bank & Feeding America, 2020). In a state like New Mexico, where poverty and food insecurity has held a strong grip on many families prior to this outbreak, the fight to meet a family’s basic nutritional needs is even more profound.

Read our 2019-2020 Impact Report

The Governor’s Task Force on Child Hunger

experienced food insecurity. During COVID-19, the number increased to one out of every three (162,960 children), and in many rural communities the numbers are as high as one out of every two (Roadrunner Food Bank & Feeding America, 2020). In a state like New Mexico, where poverty and food insecurity has held a strong grip on many families prior to this outbreak, the fight to meet a family’s basic nutritional needs is even more profound.


12,500 low-income children annually will now eat for free because Appleseed eliminated reduced-price school meal payments for all eligible children

During the 2020 legislative session, Appleseed wrote and successfully advocated for a law that eliminated reduced-price lunch payments for children whose families’ income is too high to qualify for free school meals and too low to afford full-priced meals. From now on approximately 12,500 children annually will receive free breakfast and lunch without worry. This also means children will not accumulate meal debt if they eat and their families cannot afford the copays, nor will they go hungry because they can not afford lunch. This effort involved both obtaining $650,000 in funding from the legislature and passing a bill prohibiting the collection of co-pays.


Expanded free breakfast to over 8,000 students annually at low-income middle and high schools
In 2011 New Mexico Appleseed successfully created and advocated for the nation’s first law that required all high poverty elementary schools serve breakfast after the start of the school day. Offering breakfast during the first 10-15 minutes of the school day has proven to be one of the most effective strategies for increasing participation and improving academic and behavioral outcomes.


In 2019 and 2020, New Mexico Appleseed successfully advocated for a regulation expanding that mandate to high poverty middle and high schools. Because we know that hunger doesn't stop when you are in elementary school, this expansion helps middle and high schoolers focus and learn.


Successfully advocated for statewide compliance with the Breakfast After the Bell Law affecting over 116,000 children every day
Through our advocacy work, we ensured strict compliance with the law that requires all the 

Breakfast After the Bell

Projected impact: 63,000 children

  • Appleseed proposed and advocated for the passage of the nation’s first Breakfast After the Bell law, enabling children at high poverty elementary schools to access a nutritious breakfast during the first few minutes of the instructional day. More students are eating breakfast and they are better able to focus on their studies.

Elimination of Reduced Price Co-pays

Projected impact: 10,000 children

  • For children whose families earn one penny more than 135% of the poverty level, current law requires that they cobble together a co-pay to get their breakfast and lunch. By eliminating reduced price co-pays, schools can increase the number of children eating at minimal financial cost.

  • After several years of advocacy, Albuquerque Public Schools eliminated their reduced price co-pays, meaning over 7,000 children will now eat for free. We plan to promote this model at other school districts.

Direct Certification

Projected impact: 60,000 children

  • Appleseed identified and helped acquire a USDA Direct Certification Planning Grant and a USDA Implementation Grant to dramatically improve and bring into federal compliance the process by which children categorically eligible for free meals get access to those free meals. These grants brought nearly $1 million dollars into the state. Appleseed successfully advocated for the state to change from an annual Direct Certification match to a monthly one. Appleseed also ensured the inclusion of children whose families are on TANF and FDPIR. With these changes, children can access meals more quickly and efficiently.

Afterschool and Summer Meals

Projected impact: 8,000 children

  • Appleseed has worked to increase the number of summer food sites and participants since 2009. Appleseed launched the first Summer Food Fellowship, a program designed to increase participation at summer food sites and provide leadership opportunities for disadvantaged high school and college fellows. Appleseed created a short film called “Summer Hunger” to recruit more summer food sites and sponsors.

  • By creating partnerships and local/statewide coalitions, Appleseed has been able to increase the number of after-school meal sites.

    • One example is New Mexico Appleseed’s new partnership with the YMCA, the City of Albuquerque, and Bernalillo County to renovate a city kitchen to expand after-school meal service to as many schools as may need it. This could potentially serve thousands of dinners per day to children at schools and community centers all over the city and county.

Training and Technical Assistance

Appleseed regularly provides training and technical assistance to state agencies, student nutrition directors, school administrators, afterschool providers, local government agencies, and nonprofits on how to implement cost-effective child nutrition programs and create policies to prevent hunger.

Our Goals

Create self-sustaining local and statewide partnerships to end hunger.

  • Change state and school district policies to ensure more children access afterschool meals, summer food, and school breakfast and lunch.

  • Expand the backpack program throughout the state.