Helping Seniors Get Food & Benefits During COVID-19

With COVID-19, now, more than ever, seniors need help in getting food. Adelante’s community resources are here for them. You may know that we serve meals to seniors at several senior centers in Doña Ana County, near Las Cruces. Like many food services, we had to switch gears because of Coronavirus. We want to ensure seniors get the food they need while keeping everyone safe.

Food To-Go for Doña Ana County Seniors

Adelante operates the meal service at six senior centers in Doña Ana County. We are still delivering to the homes of seniors and people with disabilities who qualify for that service. Meal service at the centers themselves have switched to to-go boxes that seniors pick up at the centers instead of dining in. Most importantly, we are following CDC recommended guidelines to keep our staff and clients safe. It makes us proud to help a vulnerable population stay fed and healthy during this time!

During COVID-19, it's important seniors have meals. Here a senior man is getting a to-go meal from one of Adelante's Senior Meal service staff members. She is wearing a mask and gloves. The meal is in a to-go container in a plastic bag. — *Adelante is continuing to provide food for seniors during COVID, but now they are to-go options. (This picture was taken before the mask mandate, but our staff was already wearing masks and gloves.*

Benefits Connection Center Can Help Seniors Across NM

In addition to food shortages, many seniors and people with disabilities are having financial struggles due to COVID-19. Adelante’s Benefits Connection Center can help people figure out if they qualify for SNAP (formerly known as “food stamps”) or other public benefits like help paying for prescriptions or utilities. This service is free for seniors and people with disabilities in New Mexico.

Our hours are currently from 8:00 a.m-5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. First, Adelante can help you see if you qualify for benefits, what you qualify for, and the amounts of each benefit you are eligible to receive. Second, The Benefits Connection Center team can help you enroll or re-enroll in those benefits. Help is just a phone call away. If you live in the Albuquerque metro area, call 505.273.5222. Anywhere else in New Mexico, you can reach the Benefits Connection Center toll-free at 1.844.266.2236.

Storehouse NM Food Pantry

Another resource for food in the Albuquerque metro area is the Storehouse food pantry. The Storehouse is still open under limited hours during COVID-19. Check their website for updates and a monthly calendar. https://storehousenm.org/home/need-food/

If you know of someone who may need these services, please share this info with them! Adelante is here to be a resource to our community. Helping people with disabilities, seniors, and people with disadvantages get the food they need is just one of those resources.