Rio Grande Presbyterian celebrates 70 years of service on West Side

For 70 years, Rio Grande Presbyterian Church has held open its door and generated a prolific and long-standing food bank, earning itself a reputation as “the friendliest church in Albuquerque,” at least to some in the homeless community, Pastor Linda Roberts-Baca said with a chuckle. “It is a nice commendation. I tell my congregation, ‘you couldn’t have a better reputation,’” she said. “New members are always welcome!”

Her church, with about 60 congregants, is celebrating “70 Years of Serving ABQ’s Westside as a place of hospitality, celebrating God’s love and welcoming others no matter their race, gender, social status, or nationality,” the announcement of the celebration reads.

Today from 1 to 4 p.m., the church will host an open house, complete with $1 hot dogs and fry bread, raffle items and music. Several community service providers will have information tables.

The Native American Charter Academy will host an information table and face painting.

And the church, located at 600 Coors NW, four blocks south of Interstate 40, will also provide information on its food bank, the Rio Grande Food Project.

“We started it and in the mid90s, then it became a nonprofit. In 2016, we provided 1 million pounds of food,” Roberts-Baca said. “It’s probably the largest food program of any church in the state. We distribute about seven tons of food each week.”

The volunteer-run project now supplies a week’s-worth of food to anyone who shows up to the pantry’s monthly distribution.

“Anybody who shows up can receive a week worth of food once a month, all they need is an ID and kid’s birth certificates,” Roberts-Baca said. “When you are struggling that is such a relief.”

She said the church also grows a fertile garden.

“On good years, it will yield a ton of vegetable, literally one ton, which often gets donated to the food project,” she said.

On Sunday, the church will celebrate its 70th anniversary with a visit from some of the its previous 13 pastors, special music and a puppet show.