Wal-Mart donates truck to food bank

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Roadrunner Food Bank added another refrigerator truck to its fleet thanks to Wal-Mart.

Officials say transportation is key to getting food to the needy.

The new truck is worth $85,000. It was filled with 12 pallets of food products and fresh apples for the food bank.

President and CEO of Roadrunner Food Bank Melody Wattenburger said it couldn't have come at a better time.

"The USDA recently announced the fact that 49 million Americans are struggling with hunger," Wattenburger said. "49 million Americans that is more than have ever been hungry in all the time they've been keeping records on hunger."

Nationwide Wal-Mart is providing $32 million in donations.

"This donation is being made to help one in six New Mexicans currently fighting hunger," Pedro Andrade with Wal-Mart said.

90 percent of food banks across the country report increased demand from first time users of food assistance programs.