BIENVENIDOS OUTREACH INC

ONCE AGAIN WE SAW INCREASES IN OUR KEY PROGRAM, THE FOOD BOX PROGRAM, AT BIENVENIDOS WOUTREACH. IN THIS PROGRAM, WE GAVE OUT 13828 FOOD BOXES IN FY 24-25 VS 11,958 FOR FY 23-24, AND A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF LUNCHES HANDED OUT IN OUR LUNCH BAGS FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAM (18,297 FOR FY 24-25 VS 15,854 IN FY 23-24). OF THESE CLIENTS, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 593 FAMILIES (1,559 PEOPLE WHO APPLIED FOR ASSISTANCE WITH US FOR THE FIRST TIME AND 209 NEW PEOPLE ADDED TO EXISTING CLIENTS' FAMILIES). THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FOOD BOX PARTICIPANTS THIS YEAR WAS 1,735 FAMILIES (4,497 PEOPLE). THE INCREASE IN FOOD BOXES CAN PARTIALLY BE ATTRIBUTED TO MORE SINGLE-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS THAN IN THE PAST, PEOPLE LOSING SNAP BENEFITS, AND NEW FAMILIES NEEDING ASSISTANCE WITH FOOD, CLOTHING AND OTHER ITEMS NEEDED TO EXIST. ALSO, A CONSIDERATION IS OUR EFFORTS IN WORKING WITH MANY MORE SOCIAL AGENCIES AND NON-PROFITS WHICH HELPED US SPREAD THE WORD OF OUR SERVICES.PRIVATE & RETAIL FOOD DONATIONS HAVE INCREASED, BUT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 35-40% OF THE DONATED FOOD FROM STORES IS NOT IN THE BEST CONDITION TO DONATE TO PEOPLE, AND, WITH THE COST OF FOOD CONTINUING TO RISE, WE ARE SEEING LESS AVAILABLE DONATED FOOD FROM ALL OUR MAJOR SUPERMARKET DONORS AS THEIR BUYERS CONTINUE TO CUT BACK ON THEIR INVENTORIES. WE CONTINUE TO PURCHASE FOOD FROM LOCAL FARMERS THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR OUR SPECIAL FOOD BOXES THAT CONTAIN HEALTHY FOODS FOR MEDICALLY-CHALLENGED PEOPLE, CHILDREN AND SENIORS IN OUR CARE. MONETARY DONATIONS WERE THE BEST WE'VE EVER SEEN BUT WE ARE SEEING A SLOW-DOWN IN THESE DONATIONS ENTERING OUR NEW FISCAL YEAR. OUR OUT OF POCKET FOOD PURCHASES WENT FROM A MONTHLY COST OOF $1,200 TO $5,000. WE ARE ACTIVELY ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY BY INCREASING OUR OUTREACH TO CHURCHES, SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA, INCLUDING SOME OUTREACH TO ORGANIZATIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF NEW MEXICO WHO HAVE HEARD OF OUR WORK.WE HAD A DECREASE IN CLOTHING ROOM VISITS (6,656 VISITS IN FY 24-25 VS 7,745 IN FY 23-24) AS WE HAD TO CLOSE FOR A TIME TO RE-MODEL THE CLOTHING AREA TO MAKE IT MORE USER FRENDLY. WE DID, HOWEVER, OPEN UP FOR EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS.OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN PROVIDED 669 CHILDREN WITH 1,338 GIFTS (2 GIFTS EACH).OUR PET PROGRAM AND DOOR DASH PROGRAMS ARE STILL AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS. ON AVERAGE, 14 CLIENTS PER MONTH RECEIVE DOOR DASH SERVICE AND WE PREPARED 5,424 PET FOOD PACKAGES FOR OUR CLIENTS (UP FROM 4,247 PACKAGES IN FY 23-24).OUR NEWER PROGRAM, GARDENS-FOR-ALL IS A HUGE SUCCESS, AND WE NOW HAVE OVER 600 UNITS OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE RECEIVING REQUESTS FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES FOR ADVICE ON HOW THEY CAN START SUCH A PROGRAM.WE ALSO OPENED OUR FIRST OFF-SITE FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN THE VILLAGE OF ELDORADO, LOCATED IN SANTA FE COUNTY. THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT APPROACHED US TO OPEN A DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT GET INTO THE CITY FOR HELPAS THEY FOUND THAT OUR MODEL OF DISTRIBUTION FIT PERFECTLY INTO THEIR PLANS. WE HELP NOT ONLY PEOPLE IN ELDORADO, BUT ALSO IN OTHER SMALL VILLAGES SPREAD OUT OVER THE COUNTY. IF THIS PROVES SUCCESSFUL, WE MAY OPEN OTHER DISTRIBUTION CENTERS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COURNTY TOO.VOLUNTEER STAFFING IS AT ABOUT 60 REGULAR VOLUNTEERS AND WE'VE ADDED 5 MORE VOLUNTEERS IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. PAID STAFF IS NOW AT 5 PEOPLE AS WE INCREASE OUR PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.