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The proposed state budget includes $20 million over the next three years for efforts to keep college students enrolled. Some of that money could be used to address high rates of housing and food insecurity among students in New Mexico, which far surpass national averages.

The Legislative Finance Committee said earlier this week that new federal policies — like tariffs and federal funding cuts — would have an outsized effect on New Mexicans, and could increase the cost of groceries in a state that already has a higher than average amount of food insecurity.

Despite some progress like free, universal school meals, Native communities suffer disproportionate levels of food insecurity

A new study on the basic needs of New Mexico college students shows that more than half struggle with food and housing insecurity.

The new school year is just getting started, but families can still take advantage of a new federal program to support students K-12 during the summer who may otherwise rely on meals at school and eliminate the burden of families having to stretch their grocery budgets.

Kids in juvenile detention facilities miss out on a lot going on in their communities and families. That includes grandma’s cooking. A program in Albuquerque is trying to mend that by bringing culturally relevant foods to a youth detention center. It’s not about teaching them how to cook, necessarily, but to help them maintain a relationship to their cultural heritage and learn about food as medicine.

49 million people across the country rely on food assistance or about 1 in 6 folks and local food banks are reporting increased demand. As inflation and the return to pre-pandemic levels of federal SNAP benefits mean people cannot make ends meet. The University of New Mexico is also working to ensure its students have access to food during this holiday season.

Rachel Roybal-Rogers has been honored by the non-profit School Nutrition Association for her work promoting healthier meals for students.

In New Mexico, one in five children face hunger, making the state second in the nation for food insecurity in youth. That’s coupled with the fact that the state has seen persistent dismal education rankings and outcomes for students. However, this week/recently the federal government unveiled new grants and funding to bolster our children’s health so they can perform well in school.

U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján and Representative Melanie Stansbury were in Santa Fe Tuesday to address legislators. They both highlighted how they have helped the state at the federal level and urged lawmakers to work on those same issues at home.