Charity organizations see greater need

Posted at: 11/19/2009 8:18 PM
By: Eyewitness News 4

With more New Mexicans out of a job these days, many people are having to ask for help for the first time in their lives.

Many may not know about all the organizations that help people who have fallen on hard times.

Here's a look at one in Albuquerque that's making a big difference.

They come from different places, with different life stories, but one thing they all have in commin now is they rely on St. Martin's Hospitality Center near 3rd and Mountain to get by.

The center works with Roadrunner Food Bank to help feed hundreds of hungry people a day, and that number continues to grow.

St. Martin's Director Linda Fuller said, "The numbers have steadily increased in summer. Normally, the numbers will go down because the weather is nice, or they leave state to find jobs. This year, the numbers did not go down, they actually increased."

Lately, more people in situations similar to Joseph Garcia, who is currently homeless, have been coming in for help.

"I have a job, and this is gonna be a few weeks to do this, and all I have to do is wait for that," Garcia said. "And once that kicks in, I'll have money."

Garcia says he never thought he'd have to ask for help, and encourages others not to be afraid.

Garcia said, " I was always a person that had a roof over my head, and the thing I should've never said was never say never...you know what I mean? That's hard to do when you've got it."

Saturday is the Eyewitness News 4 Holiday Food Drive.

To help out, you can drop off non-perishable food at ABQ Uptown from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Donations will go to the Roadrunner Food Bank.

We will also be broadcasting live from the food drive from 4-5 p.m.

Print Story