SOME MUCH NEEDED HELP COMING TO NEW MEXICO AND STATES ACROSS THE REST OF THE U-S FROM THE U-S AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT. LINES AT FOOD BANKS STATEWIDE HAVE GROWN SINCE FEDERAL CUTS TO THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM LAST NOVEMBER. NOW THE USDA IS BUYING 126-POINT-4 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF FOOD TO SEND TO FOOD BANKS AND SHELTERS NATIONWIDE.
SONYA WARWICK WITH ROADRUNNER FOOD BANK IN ALBUQUERQUE TELLS US THEY'VE SEEN MORE PEOPLE ON SNAP BENEFITS TURNING TO THEM SINCE THE CUTS TOOK EFFECT. SHE SAYS THEY WERE ALREADY TURNING TO THE FOOD BANK TO COVER WHAT BENEFITS DIDN'T COVER THROUGH THE MONTH. SHE SAYS SNAP BENEFITS LAST CLIENTS ABOUT 2-POINT-3 WEEKS.
WARWICK SAYS ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF ROADRUNNER'S CLIENTS ARE ON SNAP. SHE SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW YET WHEN THE USDA FOOD SHIPMENTS WILL START.
