APS Food Drive Feeds Kids in Need

Hundreds turned out Saturday for Albuquerque Public Schools' food drive benefiting its McKinney-Vento Program despite rain.

Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Philanthropy

Photograph of plain brown cardboard donation boxes filled with canned goods on a wet school yard under an overcast sky, with a mesa horizon in the distance. — Albuquerque Public Schools held its fourth annual food drive Saturday, November 14, benefiting its McKinney-Vento Program for students experiencing homelessness despite rain. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Albuquerque Public Schools hosted its 4th annual food drive on Saturday, November 14, 2026, benefiting the APS McKinney-Vento Program. Organizers collected non-perishable items to feed kids in need, and hundreds of people turned out despite rain.

Why it matters

The McKinney-Vento Program supports children and youth experiencing homelessness or in foster care, and the drive helps meet their basic food needs in Albuquerque. Community participation of this scale shows local support for students who face housing and food insecurity.

The event marked the 4th annual food drive, with hundreds of attendees turning out despite rain. Total pounds or items collected were not disclosed, and no year-over-year comparison was provided.

The players

Albuquerque Public Schools (APS)

Albuquerque Public Schools is the largest school district in New Mexico, serving students across the Albuquerque metropolitan area.

McKinney-Vento Program

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures children experiencing homelessness have access to education, and APS runs a program under it to support eligible students.

The details

Organizers collected non-perishable food items on Saturday to feed students in need through the APS McKinney-Vento Program. All high schoolers enrolled in APS schools were invited to take part in the drive.

Saturday, November 14, 2026: APS food drive held in Albuquerque.

Philanthropy Context

The drive channels community donations toward students covered by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the federal law requiring school districts to keep homeless children enrolled and supported. Local charitable efforts like this one supplement district-run programs that carry out that federal mandate.

Residents who want to help can donate non-perishable food to APS community drives like this one. Families and students who need support can contact their school's McKinney-Vento liaison for available resources.

The takeaway

Community food drives help fill gaps for students facing homelessness, and small donations of non-perishable food can make a direct difference for local families.