For the 17th year, KOB-TV partnered with Roadrunner Food Bank for the annual KOB 4 Holiday Food Drive. This year was an exciting time for the Albuquerque Job Corps Center (AJCC) because they were able to team up with multiple agencies and participate with the collection and sorting of non-perishable food donations on November 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Students from AJCC collected food from staff members during the entire month of November and wer excited to contribute to this exciting event.

During the Holiday Food Drive, the students learned that for every dollar someone donates, the food bank is able to provide five meals. Representatives from the Roadrunner Food Bank also told the students that 40% of the people they serve in New Mexico are children under the age of 18 who do not have enough meals at home to grow, thrive, and learn. Every donated food drive item likely helped a child in a home and every gift helped provide an important meal to a child. Upon hearing this news, the students knew that they had an important part of helping other students like themselves.

As a national, primarily residential, career development program, Job Corps’ mission is to:

1. Attract eligible young adults.
2. Involve them in a career development services system which begins prior to enrollment and continues through post-center services.
3. Assist them in acquiring the skills they need to achieve their career goals and live independently which includes various community service opportunities such as the Food Bank.
4. Support them in entering and remaining in meaningful jobs or further education.

Learning how to volunteer helps students in their daily growth as solid individuals in our community which transfers over to the Center because students return with a sense of pride. Students will continue to work with the Roadrunner Food Bank for many years to come.