Our Valentine? A Beautiful, Down-But-Not-Out Store in Rural New Mexico.
How’s this for a personal ad? Beloved, nonprofit store and food hub in rural New Mexico, seeking supporters.
In a beautiful corner of the high desert, El Morro Feed and Seed is on the brink of closing. Supply chain issues have disrupted deliveries. Food insecurity—a problem that’s upended communities around the country—is a constant threat. But store manager and executive director Stephanie Grenadier believes in the power of a little love—and in the might of her customers, of course. So she’s not going down without a fight.
For now, that means raising funds and awareness to keep her doors open so that the store can continue to support other local businesses, from pig ranchers and Navajo soap-makers to Zuni bread bakers and groceries and pet food retailers. When El Morro is a little more stable, Grenadier’s longer-term plan is to purchase two used trucks—one to manage the store’s own deliveries and the other to serve as a food truck/communal kitchen for value-added items. Our grant will be used on advertising to help Grenadier reach people who aren’t close enough to shop at El Morro, but whose hearts are with her in New Mexico. We all know how central stores can be to supportive, strong communities. So, El Morro, be ours?