CNM Partners with United Way and Bocadillos to Hand Out Food Bags

Thanks to a grant from the United Way of Central New Mexico, and with the help of Bocadillos, a local Albuquerque take-out restaurant, CNM has handed out 90 food bags over the past three weeks to students who’ve applied for CARES Act funding and are currently facing food insecurity. 

“Food has been one of the most important needs for some of our students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and we wanted to find a way to help,” says Clint Wells, the Executive Director of the CNM Foundation.

So far the food boxes handed out have reached more than 300 family members in need. The program will run for another three weeks and 90 more bags will be distributed.

Bocadillos, which is located in the Wells Fargo building at Lomas Blvd and 3rd St., is the principal distribution site and also does all the food purchasing. The restaurant is run by Marie Yniguez and her partner Karla Arvizu.

Each week Marie and her staff shop for ingredients that allow recipients to cook several meals throughout the week. They then store the food at the restaurant and hand it out.

“I just believe in helping people,” says Marie, who’s been featured on several cooking shows including Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Chopped. “We have the capability to help and want to give back any way we can.”