Kirtland volunteers help feed those in need Published Dec. 29, 2014 By Lee Ross Kirtland Nucleus Dec. 25, 2014 -- 1st Lt. Brent Danner and a group of 13 from Kirtland can honestly say they've done something to fight hunger in the state and to increase good will in the community. Danner sent out a call for volunteers to work at the Roadrunner Food Bank, and more than a dozen people drove to the warehouse, which is north of the Century Rio 24 movie theater. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work on a drizzly afternoon on Dec. 17. Danner is president of the Kirtland Company Grade Officers Council. Doing volunteer work is part of the council's charter. He also works at Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate and six civilian volunteers came from that organization. "I try to do this quarterly," he said. "And the food bank can accommodate large groups. The warehouse is huge." The warehouse is 155,000 square feet. It has to be big enough for the food bank to distribute food and/or meals to about 70,000 people all over New Mexico every week, according to Matt Young, the communications coordinator for the food bank. Roadrunner Food Bank sends out about 28 million pounds of food each year. Volunteers help the food bank load pallets to fill shipping orders for four smaller food banks and the more than 600 food distribution programs throughout the state that the food bank works. Officials at the food bank estimate that, without volunteers, it would take an additional 41 full time employees to help process that food. "More than half of the labor that goes into the warehouse comes from you, our volunteers," Young said. Cathe Hartline, the food bank's lead volunteer supervisor, said food is a lifeline for many families. She quoted information from the organization Feeding America that says, in New Mexico, roughly one in three kids don't have enough to eat. The state ranks lowest in the country for childhood food security. Hartline added that volunteers, like the ones from Kirtland, make her job worthwhile. "You get to work with people that want to help," she said. "What more could you ask for than to work with people who are giving?" For more information about the Roadrunner Food Bank, go to rrfb.org.