SANTA FE, NM — Sandia Area Federal Credit Union is proud to announce a new partnership with The Food Depot to support access to nutritious, no-cost food for families in need across Northern New Mexico, with initiatives that include the sponsorship of the Food Mobile program.

Food insecurity remains a significant challenge across New Mexico, with more than 350,000 individuals experiencing food insecurity statewide. Across Northern New Mexico, The Food Depot serves more than 43,000 people each year across nine counties, many of whom face barriers such as limited transportation, rising food costs, and lack of nearby grocery options.

To help meet this need, The Food Depot operates the Food Mobile program visiting communities in Northern New Mexico through twenty-one distributions per month. In fiscal year 2025, the Food Mobile program distributed 914,253 pounds of food and more than 761,000 meals. The program has two Food Mobile trailers—state-of-the-art refrigerated trucks that deliver fresh, healthy food directly into communities where access is limited.

"The Food Depot prioritizes choice and dignity for New Mexico's families," said Jill Dixon, Executive Director of The Food Depot. "The Food Mobile provides over 30 options to clients at sites, and the program is expanding. Access to fresh, culturally-relevant food at this scale is only possible through strong partnerships with community-centered businesses like Sandia Area."

In total, The Food Depot serves a nine-county region across Northern New Mexico, including Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Taos, Los Alamos, San Miguel, Mora, Colfax, Union, and Harding counties. Through its network of partner agencies, mobile food distributions, no-cost market, and innovative programs like the Food Mobile and Diaper Depot, they are making a real impact in the lives of Northern New Mexico families.

"Our mission is to strengthen the financial well-being of our members while also supporting the overall vitality of the communities we serve," said Kevin Todd, President and CEO of Sandia Area Federal Credit Union. "Our partnership with The Food Depot reflects our commitment to investing in the long-term health and stability of Northern New Mexico communities by helping improve access to food and other essential resources."

Through Sandia Area's support, the Food Mobile will continue to serve as a critical resource across the region, distributing fresh produce, dairy products, protein, and pantry staples to individuals and families. The Food Depot's broader network includes more than 150 distribution sites and provides millions of pounds of food each year, helping ensure consistent, reliable access to essential nutrition.

About Sandia Area Federal Credit Union

Sandia Area, named New Mexico's #1 credit union for three consecutive years, was founded in 1956 as a member-owned full-service financial institution and has since grown to serve more than 70,000 members throughout the thriving cities of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales and Santa Fe as well as the counties of Bernalillo, Cibola, Torrance, and Valencia. Sandia Area, New Mexico's fourth largest credit union with assets totaling more than $1.4 billion, helps members thrive by offering members access to high-quality banking, loans, investment services, business banking and lending, and more. Sandia Area is dedicated to the well-being of our members, our community, and our environment.

About The Food Depot

The Food Depot is Northern New Mexico's food bank, working to create healthy, hunger-free communities by providing no-cost, nutritious food and support services across nine counties. Through innovative programs and a strong network of community partners, The Food Depot serves tens of thousands of individuals each year.