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Mother Hubbard's Cupboards
County searching for funding for Gallup Community
Pantry
By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The county government is searching for $25,000 to help
out the Gallup Community Pantry.
Jim Harlin, director of the organization that provides food to low-income
families in this area, has asked the county commission for some financial
assistance to make up for the loss of $60,000 that had been vetoed in
this year's state budget by Gov. Bill Richardson.
On Wednesday, County Manager Tom Trujillo said that he thought the county
would be able to find some money within its budget to help out Harlin's
organization. The county commission will be asked to approve a grant to
the pantry at its next meeting on April 18.
"I'm not saying we will be able to come up with the entire $25,000
but if he needs some emergency funds, I think we will be able to help
him out," Trujillo said.
Harlin is looking for $25,000 from the county and another $25,000 from
the city to provide the funding that will enable the pantry to make use
of a new semi-truck that the organization has acquired.
This truck, said Harlin, will allow the pantry to go to places like the
Navajo Agricultural Products Industries in the Farmington area and pick
up produce that it will be able to distribute to needy families in this
area.
That use is expected to cost the pantry an extra $70,000 or so a year,
but on the good side, he said, is the fact that the truck will greatly
expand the amount of produce and other foods that the pantry will be able
to provide.
Both county and city officials said that the community pantry has shown
in the past that it can have a major effect on the quality of life of
low-income residents of this area.
Gallup Mayor Bob Rosebrough said the city will consider Harlin's request
when he brings it before them.
"The city gave him $50,000 last year and we were told that that would
be a one-time request," Rosebrough said, adding that he was sure
that if Harlin could prove a need, the city council would consider his
request.
The city has set aside $50,000 this year to help outside organizations
and is now accepting applications for portions of that money.
"If he can show a need," said Rosebrough, "he could get
a share of that money."
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Thursday
April 6, 2006
Selected Stories:
Mother Hubbard's Cupboards;
County searching for funding for Gallup Community Pantry
Grandmother's arrest prompts elderly Diné
to seek meth education
New dispatch center taking shape; Opening
targeted for April 25
City of Gallup pumps up support for
funding of local fitness center
Deaths
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