Albuquerque Public Schools
APS Activities Holding Push to 'Drive Out Hunger'
Nov. 16 effort will aid unhoused students with non-perishable food.
Students from throughout Albuquerque Public Schools joined together in 2023 to help young people in need.
On Nov. 16, they’re doing it again.
APS Activities is sponsoring a Drive Out Hunger effort on behalf of students who are unhoused, hoping to fill a large truck with non-perishable items that can be stored at Albuquerque Public Schools’ McKinney Vento Warehouse in Southeast Albuquerque. The facility is a central clearinghouse for aid to less fortunate students throughout the city and serves every school in the district.
"Last year our students filled up a small box truck and were able to keep their shelves stocked into early spring,” said Leslie Coe, Activities manager for the district. “The truth is that McKinney Vento can always use food donations because it services over 4,000 students throughout the district, but they especially need help in the winter.”
The event will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at City Center, the district’s main administration building, 6400 Uptown Blvd.
A variety of food items are needed this year, including cheese or peanut butter crackers, beef jerky, applesauce, pudding, fruit cups, granola and cereal bars, single-serve soups, ramen noodles, packaged nuts and trail mix.
But other items are valued as well: fruit snacks, pasta, peanut butter, Pop Tarts and individual packets of oatmeal, rice, beans and even plastic utensils.
Last year’s event was a success despite pouring rain, but Coe said she hopes to double last year’s donations. Students from throughout the district will be on hand to help do the heavy lifting.
“Additionally we have community partners who will be here throughout the day to help and some will even be giving away surprises to those making donations,” Coe said. “With the help of our community we can help a lot of our APS students for a very long time."