Local veterans serve Taos community during COVID-19

In this time of uncertainty, a local nonprofit has been quietly serving the Taos community – highlighting pressing needs that COVID-19 has made even more apparent.

Veterans and military family members have been hard at work growing food to help address the growing food insecurity issue in Taos County.

VetCorps is an AmeriCorps program based out of Taos, which has veterans and military family members serve at a local farm (La Finca Militar) for six months. Their mission is to feed the local community while learning skills and techniques to reintegrate into civilian life.

Not Forgotten Outreach Inc. (NFO) is a local nonprofit that is spearheading the project, in partnership with the USDA, Serve New Mexico and the McCune Foundation.

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, VetCorps and NFO have dedicated their resources to growing vegetables and fresh produce for local Taos schools. VetCorps members have been using a hydroponics setup to grow lettuce throughout the winter and spring seasons.

Additionally, members are currently preparing 3 acres of agricultural land, a large portion of which will be used to grow produce. As of the beginning of March, VetCorps has donated all its lettuce grown to local schools.

While making it a priority to feed the community, NFO took proactive steps to ensure the safety of the community, along with keeping the donated food safe. Immediately following the New Mexico governor’s first address regarding COVID-19, NFO limited the amount of people allowed onsite at La Finca Militar, closing to all except essential staff and VetCorps members.

Additionally, NFO staff implemented aggressive standard operating procedures regarding cleaning, physical distance and socially isolating. Proving adaptable to the changing situation, NFO has revised these policies five times.

COVID-19 has highlighted how Taos County has a great need for locally grown food. The vast majority of food in town is shipped in from other areas and during the pandemic local stores have seen shortages of many types of food. The need for local food security is critical in Taos County.

NFO has been addressing this need and feels well prepared to further its involvement in the local food system through programs like VetCorps. With its 28-acre farm and experience, NFO is well positioned to be a great steward to address local food insecurity.

VetCorps members have succeeded in serving local veterans, along with local school children, in these challenging times. VetCorps members receive a stipend for their efforts, along with an education award upon completing their service term through AmeriCorps.

NFO offers members certifications in food safety and is currently pursuing other certification opportunities for VetCorps members through higher education outlets. For more information, along with when NFO will be bringing on more members, visit notforgottenoutreach.org/vetcorps. Matt Cogorno studied environmental and agricultural studies at the University of California-Berkeley before serving in AmeriCorps NCCC, where he connected with NFO. He has served as NFO’s program director since October 2019.