Food resources receive additional money

Deputy Editor

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Three senior citizen food sources and the Eastern New Mexico Food Bank received additional money Tuesday from Curry County for the upcoming fiscal years.

Commissioner Tim Ashley voted against each increase, after saying that a tenet of Christianity is to feed the poor.

Ashley’s comment came after commissioners’ inquiries into a request from the Director of Curry Residents Senior Meals Association Cherisse Perez for a $15,000 increase in addition to the annual $1,843 they already receive from the county government.

Ashley asked Perez if the association received support from the “faith-based community.” Perez said it did not.

“It seems maybe it would be good to talk to the faith-based community there,” Ashley told Perez. “It is one of the tenets of Christianity to support the poor.”

The additional money, Perez said, would help the association buy specialized food trays they have to use for home deliveries. The food, she said, has to stay at a safe holding temperature while they deliver to 125 seniors each day, which can take two hours.

“The (request) is for the new fiscal year coming up,” Perez said after the meeting. “We have enough in our budget to serve the people we have now … (The requested increase is) how much it would be to be able to serve more people.”

Perez said the specialized trays could seal food to hold heat, and that only one company sells them.

“It’s not like we can shop around for a cheaper price,” Perez said. “We deliver 125 a day, and in a two-hour period that food has to (stay warm).”

Commission Chairman Ben McDaniel recommended Perez also seek additional funding from Clovis.

Commissioner Wendell Bostwick asked Perez what qualifications recipients of the meals have to meet. According to Perez, recipients must be older than 60, live within city limits and be homebound. The non-profit association only receives donations, she said.

When it came to a vote, Ashley was the only commissioner to oppose the $5,000 increase, along with increase requests from the Eastern New Mexico Food Bank, Melrose Senior Center and the Village of Grady Senior Center.

Dianna Hernandez, executive director of the Eastern New Mexico Food Bank, requested $150 for a total of $5,000 for their upcoming fiscal year; Karie Woods of the Melrose Senior Center requested an increase of $500 for an annual total of $2,343 from the county; and Leona Powell from the Village of Grady Senior Center requested a $500 increase from the county for a yearly total of $3,300.

“I’m concerned about where our budget is right now,” Ashley said after the meeting. “I’m concerned about increasing what we pay out to them, because if you increase one, how do you justify telling someone else you can’t do that?”

Ashley said he believes the faith-based communities would be a source senior meal sites can “garner support, especially when it comes to feeding people,” and did not believe his statement conflicted with his actions.

“The scripture doesn’t say for the government to feed the poor; that’s an individual responsibility,” he said. “We’ve seen a trend of government taking over social responsibilities that used to be what the church was for. I think (the church) has been pushed aside somewhat from the government stepping into that role saying, ‘We’ll do it,’ and I think that’s a detriment to the faith community.”

During each discussion, a disgruntled elderly woman made interjections towards the board, saying “You’re rich,” and “We’re starving,” and was eventually escorted out of the room by Curry County Sheriff Wesley Waller and Undersherif Mike Reeves.

“How do you tell someone you can’t eat today?” Powell asked during her financial request for Grady’s senior center. “We provide (food) for them. We’re asking for $3,500; you’ve been giving us $2,800. Seniors have pride. They do not want someone to say, ‘No, you can’t have this.’ They need this.”

Powell said the increase would help pay for mileage, food, and could also aid Grady’s senior center staff in transporting seniors to the doctor.

Curry County resident Jose Griego stated his support for all of the senior centers and food bank in front of the commission Tuesday as well.

“I only know one thing,” Griego said. “We have a lot of people we serve (at Fellowship Hall). One or two dollars makes a lot of difference for a senior citizen. I know some people that only have one meal a day, and they get that at the senior citizen’s center. I have received a nutritious meal there, and I support it.”