Casa de Peregrinos breaks ground on new building

“Thousands of people have done this work,” Casa de Peregrinos (CdP) Executive Director Lorenzo Alba said March 31 as the emergency food program broke ground on its new building at 991 W. Amador Ave.

“This is the most generous community you could ever live in,” said Alba, who is in his 11^th year leading CdP. The work the nonprofit has done since it was begun by four people from Holy Cross Catholic Church in 1979 is about “people taking care of people,” Alba said.

“The work CdP has done and will continue to do is vital to our communities,” said state Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena, D-Doña Ana.

The nonprofit “is an important spoke in the wheel” of the services for people struggling with homelessness and others in need provided by Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, said state Sen. Carrie Hamblen, D-Doña Ana, who is also president and CEO of the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce.

Others attending the groundbreaking included Mayor Pro Tempore Kasandra Gandara and City Councilor Tessa Abeyta; City Manager Ifo Pili, Assistant City Manager Eric Enriquez and Las Cruces Fire Department Mobile Integrated Health Coordinator Paul Ford; state Sen. Jeff Steinborn and state Rep. Nathan Small, both D-Doña Ana; Doña Ana Arts Council Executive Director Greg Smith; and former city councilor and Las Cruces Bulletin business editor and 2022 candidate for U.S. Congress Gabe Vasquez.

The City of Las Cruces bought the building for CdP's use in 2020, with renovation funding provided by the city and the state of New Mexico. The building is 12,000 square feet and provides more space to share with community groups, CdP said.

More than 30,000 people benefitted from 4.2 million meals distributed through CdP programs in 2021.

Visit www.casadeperegrinos.org.