St. Felix Pantry in Rio Rancho, the only food pantry in Sandoval County that offers weekly food access to anyone, regardless of income, is launching a raffle for a donated HVAC system as it works to keep up with rising demand and falling donations.
Addressing Food Shortages
Inside the pantry, shelves that are normally packed high with food are starting to thin out. President and CEO Tim Sheahan said, “This time of year it’s getting low. You think we have a lot here, but this stuff will all be gone within a couple of days.” The pantry serves more than 600 families each week and is open for food pickups Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
To help replenish supplies, St. Felix Pantry is raffling off a $25,000 Carrier HVAC system donated by Affordable Service Plumbing and Heating. Raffle tickets cost $40 each, and all proceeds will go directly toward buying food for local families. Tickets can be purchased in person at St. Felix Pantry.
So far this year, the pantry has distributed more than 1 million pounds of food. Sheahan said, “I will never turn a guest away. They have smiles on their faces. They’re so happy to be here and get that food.” Organizers say the raffle could provide much-needed support at a time when food prices remain high and community need continues to grow.
Tickets are on sale now through Aug. 21, and the winner will be announced Aug. 22. Sheahan said, “This is a great time for us to fill our shelves because they’re empty.”
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
