History and Current Impact

Old photo on left

Then…1989

In the summer of 1989, Rio Grande Presbyterian Church members were challenged by their pastor to feed hungry New Mexicans. The original vision was to provide emergency food to the neighborhood around the church. That vision quickly expanded to establish an independent food pantry for the west side of the city. By December, the Rio Grande Food Project officially opened and distributed its first food boxes.

Seed money from the Bicentennial Fund of the Presbyterian Church USA served as the catalyst and helped provide funding for the first year. Donations from church members, other congregations, and community grants were also used to purchase food.  Members of the church congregation personally distributed 2,000 pounds of food to our first guests, and we will forever be grateful to the members and leadership of the Rio Grande Presbyterian Church for giving us our start. 

Rio Grande Food Project is now an independent, 501c 3 social profit, has been in continuous operation for 33 years, is the largest food pantry on Albuquerque’s westside, and offers our guests more than just food!

Photos on right of Food Pantry, left of garden & right of Community Hub