The Fight Against Hunger: A Bright Spot of Hope in Carlsbad Schools

By R. Gabriel Villalobos

In 2012, local woman Carol Worley noticed something heartbreaking: students were going to school hungry, and it was left up to some teachers to feed them at school. Worley decided she could do something more. She found a way to feed hungry kids without kicking up too much of a fuss.

What began with eight students at a single school has blossomed into a community-powered lifeline. Packs for Hunger is a program that has been serving roughly 400 children each week across all 17 schools in the Carlsbad and Loving districts, as well as some homeschooled children.

A longtime volunteer, Neal Appel, narrated the history and progress of an effort that now has over a decade of momentum behind it. According to Neal, after Carol and her husband, Wayne, launched an effort to quietly feed food-insecure students at one school, a meeting with the school principal instantly doubled their volume.

The early days involved selling peach cobblers to raise funds. When Wayne encouraged Carol to devise a sustainable plan, her initial solution was straightforward. “Well, I’m gonna take money out of our personal account for it.” He quickly clarified that wasn’t what he meant, but the couple’s personal commitment set the tone.

The program is simple. It’s anonymous and designed to remove barriers. School counselors identify children in need—whether from a teacher’s observation, a neighbor’s concern, or a student’s own request—and instantly enroll them. The program receives only a number that denotes the number of backpacks that needed that week.

“We don’t actually know who is getting our assistance, and we don’t really want to know,” Neal said. “If the child is hungry, then they can be put on the program.”

The impact, however, is tangible. Neal recalled a story Carol would tell, a rare glimpse behind the curtain of anonymity. A young boy, struggling with behavior and grades, asked a counselor for “one of those packs.” When asked why, he explained his parents had left him with his grandmother, who lived on a fixed income and often had to choose between rent and food.

“They put him on the program,” Neal said. “Like a month, two months later, his grades came up, and his attitude was better.” When the counselor asked about things at home, the boy simply said, “Oh, me and grandma, we eat good now.”

The program is entirely volunteer-run and avoids government funding, preserving its flexibility. All donations go directly to food. This community-funded model (“of the community, by the community, and for the community,” as the volunteer puts it) faced a challenge with the passing of founder Carol Worley, whose deep community ties naturally attracted support.

“If she went out and she spent $10,000 on food for a week, she’d come back and find a check on her desk,” Neal said. “When she passed, that sort of stopped. We’ve been trying to rebuild that fundraising mechanism.”

Some support has come from local Lions, Rotary clubs, and businesses, but mostly it’s from caring individuals. The work continues every Thursday, with morning and evening packing shifts that can assemble 200 bags in under an hour with enough helpers.

Neal acknowledges that preconceptions about need can be a barrier, recalling an early moment of doubt when seeing a nice vehicle pick up a Christmas food box. A stern talk from Carol reshaped his perspective.

“She said, ‘You don’t really know anything about that individual,’” the volunteer recounted. Carol’s guiding principle was clear: “Look, if we’re feeding 400 children and 10% aren’t in dire need, we’re still helping 360 who do.”

For those inspired to help, the need is constant: volunteers for weekly packing sessions and financial donations to keep shelves stocked. In a community where need often rises as the ability to donate tightens, this quiet network of backpacks offers consistent hope, one anonymous, nourishing bag at a time.

Anyone interested can call Sarah Worley at 575-499-7137, and donations can be sent to Packs for Hunger, PO. Box 1414, Carlsbad, NM 88221.

In this season of giving, when the community is reminded of its own good fortune, Neal, a man who has accepted the challenge to eliminate child hunger in the community, shared his parting thoughts. Neal whispered, “Carlsbad is an amazing community. People here are so wonderful, so generous.”