Volunteers put together the snack packs each month at the Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation

Thank you for visiting the Feed Rio Rancho Kids (FRRK) section on our website.

Our organization was founded in 2019 by Karen Schafer and Kitty Perez, two concerned citizens who believe that in our country no child should go to bed hungry.  We prepare weekend snack packs for Rio Rancho school kids who are living with food scarcity.

We are proud to serve the Colinas del Norte Elementary School and the Desert Program of Rio Rancho Public Schools which consists of Enchanted Hills Elementary School, Eagle Ridge Middle School, and Lincoln Elementary School.  We are currently delivering 200 packets each month during the school year at a cost of approximately $10.00 per packet.  The goal for each monthly assembly day is now 200 packets.

We have two major

partners who support the program in a variety of ways:  The Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation (UUWC) and the Democratic Party of Sandoval County (DPSC).  Our partnership with UUWC is the backbone

 of our success.  UUWC provides space for storage of our food, space for our monthly assembly days, access to the church whenever we need it to deliver or pick-up food, and financial management.  In addition, many of our volunteers and donors are UUWC members.

DPSC is instrumental in helping us get the word out about FRRK activities.  Many Democrats have signed up for monthly contributions of both money and supplies. 

How can you be a part of this community outreach program?  If you wish to receive our email notices of activities, contact any of the coordinators listed below. We would be pleased to welcome you as one of our amazing volunteers.  If you are pinched for time, and would prefer to donate money so we can do your shopping, here are the instructions to do so:

https://uuwestside.org/index.php/feed-the-kids-rio-rancho/.  Be sure toto scroll down to “Feed RR Kids,” after you enter the amount of your donation.  Checks should be made payable to “UU Westside”, marked “Feed RR Kids” and mailed to Karen Schafer, 4800 Palmas Altas Dr. SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124.

If you have questions, contact any one of our coordinators, Kitty Perez, kitty.perez639@gmail.com, Karen Schafer, karenjan44@gmail.com, Emily Seiler, seilerem@yahoo.com or Emily Seiler, seilerem57@gmail.com.

*The Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation provides space for storage of the food and for assembling the packets. Feed Rio Rancho Kids is led by volunteers.  All funds donated go for the purchase of the contents of the packets.

Once a month volunteers meet at UUWC in the green room to assemble a supply of snack packs. Then on Fridays, the packs are delivered to partner schools that have identified students in need. Funding to purchase the food comes from the generous contributions of volunteers. The Sandoval County Federation of Democratic Women is also an active partner in this venture and now UUWC is proud to be involved.

• FRRK distributes 55 snack packs weekly at a cost of approximately $9.00 per pack.  Over the most recent semester that amounts to 825 packs or a cost of approximately $7,425.  Of course, that is covered not only with cash contributions but also with food donated by volunteers.
• The most needed item is almost always cans of Beef Ravioli as the cheapest is $1.00 per can.
• The assembly day sees between 12 and 16 volunteers who work to assemble 200 packs in one hour

If you’d like to help

Help assemble packs. This takes place on a Tuesday morning starting at 9 am. Actual dates are posted on the UUWC calendar.

If you would like to contribute food items like the ones pictured below, please feel free to bring them to the Conference room any Sunday of the month.

If you’d like to help deliver, contact Kitty Perez, kityperez639@gmail.com.

Make a cash contribution to help purchase food. Checks should be made out to UUWC and mailed to Karen Schafer, 4800 Palmas Altas Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

You can donate through this website via Pay Pal. Please make sure to use the drop-down menu or make a note that you wish these funds to be allotted for Feed the Kids Rio Rancho.