Day of Caring 2025: Filling Pantries, Fueling Hope
This year’s Day of Caring brought our community together with one clear mission: Fill the Pantry. Rooted in the reality that food insecurity continues to impact thousands of families across North Central New Mexico, the 2025 event turned compassion into action through a region-wide food drive, a hands-on resource fair, and an eye-opening ALICE Simulation.
A Community Food Drive That Made an Impact
Fifteen workplace teams stepped up in a big way, hosting food drives that collected nearly 3,200 pounds of food for eight local nonprofits. Organizations like The Storehouse, St. Felix Pantry, Family Promise, and Catholic Charities each received roughly 400 pounds of food to help stock their shelves during a time when so many families are stretched thin. It was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when workplaces rally behind a shared purpose.
Strengthening Connections Through the Resource Fair
The Day of Caring Resource Fair brought community partners, service providers, and UWNCNM programs together under one roof. By connecting face-to-face, teams strengthened relationships and lifted awareness about the services available to help families stay stable, supported, and secure.
Spotlight in the Media
Day of Caring also received special media attention, including an NM Living segment with Trish Marquez and Ashley Martinez-Brown, and a story from KRQE highlighting the energy and compassion that filled the day.
Walking in ALICE’s Shoes
One of the most impactful moments came through the ALICE Simulation, where participants navigated the kinds of challenges that working families face every single day. The exercise offered a meaningful look into the difficult choices many of our neighbors must make, sparking empathy and motivating continued community engagement.
A Conversation on Hunger in Our Community
UWNCNM CEO Rodney Prunty joined Jason Riggs of Roadrunner Food Bank for a thoughtful conversation on hunger in New Mexico. Their discussion underscored an important truth: lasting change requires collaboration. When nonprofits, workplaces, volunteers, and community members work together, we become a stronger and more resilient region.