A Guide to Calling Your Legislators
Right now Kids Cook!’s funding has been ended by the federal government. Kids Cook! has survived funding changes to our program in the past, but only with the help and support of our community. The good news is, New Mexico state legislature has decided to hold a special session to address various problems created by the new federal budget. But we still need you to call and make sure our legislators understand that people want a replacement for SNAP-Education that will saves Kids Cook! from future disaster. It only takes a few minutes, and it makes a big difference. Continue reading for a description of how to prepare and what to expect.
Before the Call
Now is the time to contact your New Mexico state House and Senate members ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session. You can find your representatives here.
Take a few minutes to look up each legislator’s committees and recent votes, especially in Health, Education, and Appropriations.
Jot down one or two personal points about why Kids Cook! matters to your family, school, or neighborhood.
Sit somewhere quiet, have water nearby, and be ready to share your full name and address so staff can verify you are a constituent.
During the Call
Be concise, polite, and specific about what you want done in the 2026 session.
It is normal to speak with staff. Thank them and ask for your message to be logged and shared with the legislator.
If you reach voicemail, leave a clear message with your name, address, phone number, and your concrete request.
Script:
““Hi, my name is [your name]. I live at [street address, city] and I am a constituent. I am calling about Kids Cook!, a long-standing classroom cooking and nutrition program in Albuquerque that lost core federal funding when SNAP-Education ended.
For nearly 25 years, Kids Cook! has helped tens of thousands of Albuquerque students and families build practical skills, try new foods, and bring healthy routines home. When programs like this lose support, children and classrooms feel it.
As we head into the 2026 Legislative Session, I am asking [Senator/Representative Last Name] to support a state-level solution that replaces SNAP-Education funding and keeps Kids Cook! in schools. Will [he/she/they] commit to:
Co-sponsoring legislation that creates a state replacement for SNAP-Ed;
Voting yes in committee and on the floor; and
Publicly supporting continued school-based cooking and nutrition education?
Can you tell me what actions [Sen./Rep. Last Name] plans to take in the 2026 session to protect programs like Kids Cook!?”
After the Call
Consider following up by posting on social media about Kids Cook! and tagging our senators.
If you left a voicemail, send a follow-up email to their office after calling, consider calling back in a few days if you don’t get any response from their office.
The more phone calls made, the more likely we are to see positive results! Ask your friends and family to join you in calling their legislators in support of Kids Cook!
If Kids Cook! impacted your life when you were in school, share your story with us.