Submitted by: Tyleen Caffrey, LMSW, BA, CNP
Faculty, ENMU Social Work Program
Students and faculty from the ENMU Social Work Program teamed up to help feed the Portales community.
For the past four years, the ENMU Social Work Program has answered a need from the Community Services Center of Portales food pantry. Former Program Director, Patricia Saylor initiated this effort when the program halted its service, and she realized the struggle the Community Services Center was having putting food of the table during the holiday season of local families in need.
The initiative is a collaboration of the Social Work Program to include the Phi Alpha Honor Society, Student Association of Social Workers (SASW). All program students receive a classroom incentive to work together to strengthen ties in the community.
The drive was held on Saturday, November 2, at the Walmart in Portales. According Rachel Elbus, ENMU senior and SASW President, “It was truly amazing to see our community rally together to provide food for those in need. To know our hard work is going to allow food to be put on the table for so many individuals and families, that’s what social work is all about and it is so rewarding.”
Stuart Dietz, an ENMU senior and SASW Treasurer, brought a scale to the event and stated, “The food drive raised approximately 2,153 lbs of food and $110 in cash donations that bought additional food items.”
“The community really stepped up and helped make this food drive a success,” said Deborah Chavez, ENMU Title IV-E Field Liaison who also took the lead in coordinating the event.
“The pantry was completely out of food,” said Lourdes Terrazas, Executive Assistant of the Community Services Center of Portales. “Between July and October the Community Services Center of Portales was able to feed 268 individuals. With the increase of homeless in past few years, and the cut of funding such as TANF/SNAP benefits are a few factors which has caused the need for more assistance. The food donated by the ENMU Social Work Program will provide for more than 550 individuals.”
Many of the ENMU Social Work Program students are distance education. Other food drives, and community service projects were held in their local communities.
If you would like to donate to the Community Services Center of Portales food pantry, non-perishable items are accepted Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm.
