JUNE 2024

Greetings Tony,

“It is the month of June, the month of leaves and roses,

when pleasant sights salute the eyes

and pleasant scents the noses.”

~ Nathaniel Parker Willis

Save the Date...

The summer Volunteer Appreciation Party will be held on Sunday, July 21st at ReUnity Resources. Next month's Halo Headlines will have all the details. We're looking forward to celebrating with all of our intrepid volunteers.

June is Pride Month and Kitchen Angels and Kitchenality will be supporting our community in Pride festivities again this year. Come show your support on Saturday, June 29th at the Pride Parade. For more information on various Pride events during the month of June, click here.

Four Seasons Santa Fe has selected Kitchen Angels as its 2024 nonprofit partner.

The Bar will donate 25% of its sales to Kitchen Angels on Thursday June 13, from 4:00 until 7:00 PM. Come stop in for cocktails and food during "Angel Hour." It's an easy way to support Kitchen Angels and unwind in a beautiful location.

We Need Volunteers (especially drivers)!

With Memorial Day weekend behind us, summer is now in full swing which means weddings, road trips, family vacations, and lots of travel. It also means scheduling challenges for Kitchen Angels. Regular and substitute delivery drivers are in particularly short supply this summer. Combined with an increase in client enrollment, we're feeling the strain and staff have been filling in more and more when volunteer vacancies can't be filled.

Please help us put the word out. Tell your friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors the satisfaction you feel by volunteering for Kitchen Angels and the important role we all play in keeping our homebound neighbors fed and cared for. Call or email Crystal Hena (505.471.7780 x 202) for more information.

Do you have an apricot tree with fruit to harvest? Kitchen Angels volunteer, Ron Wieneke, will come to your home and pick fruit from your tree to then give to Kitchen Angels. Ron processes the fruit, which is used in baked goods for our homebound clients.

If you have extra apricots you'd like to donate to our clients, please contact Crystal Hena at 505.471.7780 x 202 and she can put you in contact with Ron.

"It's been such a blessing for me. All the people who have come and delivered have been lovely and beautiful; it was so nice to see my angel every day. Thank you for helping me with my journey towards healing."  ~ Claudia H

"Please let Chef know the new salads are awesome!" ~ Lois P

"I so appreciate what you've done, your services [during my knee surgery recovery] have been a lifesaver." ~ Alex R

"Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything you do for all of us." ~ Dorothy C

"I love your food, being able to have it delivered has changed my life." ~ Sarah G

"Kitchen Angels is a lifesaver and a blessing. I couldn’t do it without you – I can’t drive, I can’t cook; recovery is going slow and taking longer than anticipated. My heart is full; blessings to you all." ~ Christie M

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Kitchen Angels delivery drivers are the volunteers who typically have the most face-to-face contact with our clients. And while we regularly share comments and stories from clients about the impact of our program or their interactions with delivery drivers, we don't always stop to reflect on the impact clients have on drivers or the many small ways our drivers help clients beyond simply delivering meals.

Delivery driver Patricia Veech started volunteering with Kitchen Angels last year and it has become an important part of her life.

"As a recently retired mental health therapist, I volunteer as a delivery driver with Kitchen Angels in order to feel a sense of connection and belonging in our beautiful community. I have really enjoyed getting to know the other volunteers and the folks that I deliver meals to every Friday. Seeing the other volunteer drivers pull up to the building to collect the meals and watching them drive off to all corners of the city, gives me that wonderful feeling of being a part of something much larger than myself. The clients never fail to express their gratitude for the organization. Many of them regularly remark that they do not know what they would do without the service. My weekly route is now an activity that I look forward to with anticipation every week. It has been more enriching than I ever could have imagined."

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We want to hear from our delivery drivers about your experiences as a driver and how clients may have had an impact on you. Send your thoughts or stories to info@kitchenangels.org. Please let us know if we can use your name. Use the words "Driver Stories" in the subject line.

United Way Of North Central New Mexico (UWNCNM) has created a new Donor Group called Retire United. Any donor to United Way is welcome to join. Participants are given opportunities to connect with peers and community members through volunteering and networking events, access to educational and social opportunities to learn about issues that are important to you and our community, and the chance to make a difference for future generations in New Mexico.

The Santa Fe chapter meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 10:00 AM. Kitchen Angels volunteers are especially invited on Wednesday, June 26 at Tribes Coffee House. You can tell others about the important work we do and all the volunteer opportunities available at Kitchen Angels.

Please RSVP to Abby Bordner, Santa Fe Area Director, at (505) 919-9153 or abby.bordner@uwncnm.org.

June is when we welcome the arrival of warm weather and kids everywhere celebrate the end of school. But did you know that June is also National Fresh Fruit & Vegetable month? With a nod to both Pride and fresh fruits and vegetables, Kitchen Angels reminds you to eat food of every color of the rainbow – this month and every month!

The whole idea of “eating the rainbow” comes from the fact that plants which contain different pigments, or phytonutrients, have a variety of health benefits. By varying the colors of the food you eat, you get a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.  

BBC Food has a fabulous list of colorful and nutritious recipes to inspire you to eat a rainbow of foods. This Avocado Salad is just the thing for lunch once fresh tomatoes start showing up at the farmer's market!

As Kitchen Angels builds our spring/summer meal rotation, we always keep an eye on the colors presented in each meal. Not only is is pleasing to the eye, but it's also delicious and nutritious. For example, one of the new meals we have planned for our clients is orange-glazed fish or chicken, jeweled rice pilaf, steamed green beans, and beet/orange/jicama salad.

And don't forget your father figures on June 16th, when we celebrate the dads, grandfathers, and all those who stepped up as positive male role models for us. Even if barbeque is on the menu, you can still "eat the rainbow" by including delicious side dishes to accompany the meal. Eating Well has provided us with a collection of 18 Quick & Easy Sides for your Father's Day BBQ, all of which are colorful and good for you. Number four on the list is "Roasted Kalettes," aka kale sprouts. They are halfway between a Brussels Sprout and Baby Kale.

It's an exciting day when you discover a new vegetable!

KITCHENALITY

June is definitely the beginning of the picnic season. Between Father's Day on June 16 and tailgate dining at the opening of the Santa Fe Opera on June 28, as well as all of the summer before us, there are a million reasons to head outdoors for a picnic with family and friends.

And Kitchenality has all the things you'll need.

Come check out our latest picnic supplies, barbeque tools, and everything else you might need for your summertime entertaining. And remember, we're always looking for donations.

Store hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM and Saturdays, 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

You can always follow KITCHENALITY on Facebook and Instagram.

Kitchen Angels Recipe Box

We had quite a few requests for William's Frito Pie recipe that was served at the volunteer appreciation luncheons. Of course, you can cut corners and save time by purchasing canned beans and red chile, but you can always tell when it's made from scratch.

William's Frito Pie

Red Chile

• 1 can diced tomatoes (14 oz)
• 1 can roasted red bell peppers, diced (14 oz)
• 1-2 arbol chile Pods, seeds removed
• ½ tsp salt

Add all ingredients to a pot and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and puree. Strain through a mesh.

Ground Beef

• 1 pound ground chuck
• ½ tsp garlic, granulated 
• ½ tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp oregano
• ½ tsp salt

Brown ground beef, then add spices and cook a few minutes more until no pink remains. Drain grease.

Beans

• 1 pound dry pinto beans, soaked overnight (or canned beans, drained & rinsed)
• 1 tsp coriander, ground
• 1 tsp cumin, ground
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cups water

Soak beans overnight, then drain. Add soaked beans to pot with water and herbs & spices. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 hours.

Other Ingredients

• Fritos
• Lettuce, shredded
• Tomatoes, diced
• Cheese, shredded
• Onion, diced

To assemble, place Fritos on the bottom of the bowl, then add meat, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onion and cheese. Top with the red chile sauce.

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If you'd like to contribute a recipe, send your selection to info@kitchenangels.org by the 15th of the month to be considered for inclusion in the next month's Halo Headlines. Use the word "Recipe" in the subject line and tell us your name, how long you've been volunteering with Kitchen Angels, and what your volunteer job is. If it's a "borrowed" recipe, give credit. If you have a photo, send it along.

We're always looking for volunteers. If you or someone you know is interested in a regular shift or to be placed on our substitute volunteer list, please contact Crystal Hena, Volunteer Coordinator.

Here are the latest opportunities:

Continuing Education

Just a few of the bands you can see for free this summer: (from left to right)

AbbaQuerque, Sunny War, Polish Ambassador, Las Cafeteras, Diggable Planets

Have you heard about all the free music happening in Santa Fe this summer?! At last count, there were 56 free outdoor movies and concerts scheduled. The music scene in Santa Fe is officially on FIRE in 2024!

Events will be held on the Plaza, at the Railyard, Fort Marcy Magers Field, Swan Park, and ReUnity Resources. Visit Lensic 360 for the full line up of free concerts.

Why has the Santa Fe music scene exploded recently? It's all thanks to the Lensic Performing Arts Center's new initiative, called Lensic 360, which aims to host shows at other stages around the state. Our promoter friends Jamie Lenfestey and Tim Franke took the helm at Lensic 360 as program director and associate director, respectively. We couldn't be happier about the wide range of music we get to enjoy this summer, and encourage everyone to get out there and soak it all in.

Here's the musical lineup of shows happening at ReUnity Resources:

• June 8 – Oliver Hazard
• June 22 – Sunny War
• June 29 – Joe West’s Psych Fest
• July 13 – Team Everything: In Season
• July 27 – Lyla June
• August 3 – Mariachi Euforia & Lara Manzanares

Community Connections

Santa Fe Oil Stop chose Kitchen Angels as its selected nonprofit for the month of May. Customers were asked to donate $1 to our organization at the end of each transaction. Many thanks to the kind folks at Oil Stop for their generous donation.

Kitchen Angels staffed an information table at the Christus St. Vincent 5K Walk for a HUG community event in May. The funds raised went to support the HUGS program (High Utilizer Group Services) for individuals who utilize emergency services frequently. We hope the event was successful for the St. Vincent Hospital Foundation!

Thank You

Kitchen Angels is very happy to welcome some of our newest volunteers. Since our client numbers are increasing, we need more volunteers cooking meals and delivering them to clients.

Please help us welcome the newest kitchen volunteers: Kathleen & Thomas Herriges, Katherine Ramirez, Tim Paine, Debbie Tapia, Lynne Collins-Paine, Sophie Frankel, Tamika Gordon, Catherine Babbitt, and Beckon Duel.

A warm welcome goes out to our new volunteer delivery drivers: Neil Clay, Jennifer Doughty, Marin Koentopf, and Katherine Ramirez.

Kitchen Angels prides itself in being an open and friendly place to volunteer. If you see a new face, reach out and let them know you're glad to work with them. Many thanks to our new recruits. We hope you experience the positive effects of working to end hunger within a team of such caring individuals.