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The Las Cruces party on June 10 was at the Las Cruces Convention Center, where the supporters of Casa de Peregrinos joined its devoted team to support those in our community who have hit a rough patch. The work Casa de Peregrinos does to lift people who are struggling is awesome, and Taste of Las Cruces is the organization’s biggest fundraising effort of the year.
With more than 30 local food vendors on site featuring their finest fare, it was a great night for them, but mostly for the more than 600 attendees who had the opportunity to sample the different menu options.
Casa de Peregrinos raised more than $75,000 this year through sponsorships, ticket sales, and auction item sales. Add to that $12,000 in matching funds raised during Matching May, a month in which GECU doubled the amount of each ticket sold. That puts the current total at $87,000 and more contributions are still coming in. Executive Director Lorenzo Alba estimates they will top $90,000.
As part of the festivities, three participating vendors are honored. This year’s winners were New Mexico Vintage Wines for Best Table Décor, NMSU Catering and 1888 Taphouse & Kitchen for People’s Choice, and Luchador Food Truck as Best of Taste of Las Cruces.
The staff at the event also took a moment during the evening to recognize Alba for 15 years of dedicated service to Casa de Peregrinos and the countless lives he has impacted through his leadership and commitment to fighting hunger in our community.
“The success of the event would not have been possible without the incredible support of our community,” said Marco Olvera, director of development at Casa de Peregrinos. “Every sponsor (27 in total), restaurant, volunteer, and attendee played a role in helping Casa de Peregrinos continue its mission of fighting hunger in our region.”
The team is already looking ahead to the 19th Annual Taste of Las Cruces, scheduled for June 10, 2027, at the Las Cruces Convention Center.
“With our 20th anniversary approaching in 2028, we're excited to explore new experiences and opportunities to make the event even more impactful,” Olvera said.
