Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Schumacher Grant seeks donations, volunteers for pet food aid bags
After distributing more than 1,500 pet food aid bags last year, the Schumacher Grant has set a goal of 3,000 bags for 2026 and is asking the community to help with pet food donations and volunteer time.
The Schumacher Grant is partnering with Casa de Peregrinos for this year’s drive. Donations can be made through the Schumacher Grant’s Amazon Wish List, and volunteers are needed to sort donations, assemble aid bags and help distribute them.
“Last year, people donated pet food, volunteered their time and helped us distribute more than 1,500 bags,” Dr. Kyle Schumacher said. “I’m grateful for that support. This year our goal is to reach 3,000 bags, and we’re asking the community to help us get there.”
The Schumacher Grant began in 2024 when Schumacher Veterinary Clinic provided free vaccinations for pets at Camp Hope. The program later expanded to include dog and cat aid bags, spay and neuter assistance and essential veterinary care.
The Schumacher Grant has since helped clients served by several community organizations, including La Casa, La Clínica de Familia, La Piñon and The Salvation Army. The Schumacher Grant Donor Advised Endowed Fund is housed at the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico and supports animal welfare, access to veterinary care and education throughout Southern New Mexico.
How to Help
Donate: Purchase pet food and supplies through the Schumacher Grant’s Amazon Wish List:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5X0O79N56HVQ
Volunteer: Tuesdays and Thursdays, Aug. 11 through Oct. 1, from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
Location: Casa de Peregrinos, 999 W. Amador Ave., Las Cruces
Volunteer opportunities: Sort donations, assemble pet food aid bags and help distribute bags.
Volunteer sign-up:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14SD_w1mrIJHbl07-0N6OnUAwNns5UjM8mBRAMU0TXwI/edit?usp=sharing
College receives funds for STEM initiatives
Doña Ana Community College has received nearly $500,000 to enhance STEM programming and STEM careers.
The college was awarded $494,815 by the U.S. National Science Foundation to enhance STEM education which will prepare students for the workforce in STEM-related fields. The grant funds will support the college’s Development and Excellence through Learning Technology Acceleration Project. Funding will be used to strengthen student success in lower-level math leading to innovative and technological skills when they enter the workforce.
The college will use AI as a tool to implement and support student development and improve faculty expertise in novel approaches to math instruction. This project reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities for students who want to pursue STEM degrees.
DACC is one of about 20 colleges across the nation to be awarded the grant. Funds are available beginning this fall until 2029.
Black Box Theatre brings live music
Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Main St. in downtown Las Cruces, continues with its second live musical performance of beautiful acoustic music in the three-concert “For the Love of the Black Box Acoustic Music Series” series with a 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, performance by Bob Hull and Chris Sanders, including “stunning guitar and great tunes,” said Sanders, who is organized the concerts. Nationally known and locally beloved guitar and mandolin virtuosos Tim May of Nashville and Steve Smith of Las Cruces will be featured,” she said. Visit desertnight.com.
The series’ third and final concert is at 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 13: Singer/songwriter Bree Gordon of Chicago; “Room to Roam” trio, comprised of Bob Hull, Laura Humphreys and Kelly Hoskins; and bluegrass and country touring artists Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin. Visit breegordon.com and wilmaring.com.
Tickets are $20 per concert. While tickets will be available at the door, reservations are recommended and can be made by calling BBT at 575-523-1223 after Aug. 9. Seats will be reserved with a credit card, but payment will be made at the door. A portion of each ticket sale will benefit Mesilla Valley Community of Hope’s "Tents to Rents" fundraising campaign. Visit tentstorents.org and mvcommunityofhope.org.
Opening reception for Americans and the Holocaust
New Mexico State University’s Zuhl Library will host an opening reception for Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and American Library Association that examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s.
The NMSU Library was selected as one of 50 U.S. libraries to present the touring version of the Americans and the Holocaust special exhibition between 2024-2026. This traveling exhibition is based on the special exhibition of the same name at the Museum in Washington, D.C.
The library’s reception will be hosted by Dean of the Library Kevin Comerford, who will provide remarks. Guests are encouraged to tour the exhibition following remarks. Light refreshments will be served, and all ages are welcome.
Americans and the Holocaust will be on display at Zuhl Library from Monday, Aug. 24 to Friday, Sept. 25. A series of related special events will be held each Thursday afternoon during the exhibition period. Admission is free.
No parking permit is required after 4:30 p.m. You may park in any regular faculty/staff, commuter student, or visitor parking space. Lots #45 and #17 are the nearest parking lots to Zuhl Library; these lots are found on Breeland Drive off Stewart Street, northeast of the library near the Corbett Center Student Union. A campus parking map is available online.
WHEN:
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 27, 2026
WHERE:
NMSU Zuhl Library, 3rd floor (2911 McFie Circle, Las Cruces, NM 88003)
WHO:
Americans and the Holocaust: A Traveling Exhibition for Libraries is made possible by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association.
CONTACT:
For more information about Americans and the Holocaust and a calendar of related public programs at Zuhl Library, call (575) 646-7711 or visit https://library.nmsu.edu/holocaustexhibition2026.html.
To learn more about the exhibition, visit https://exhibitions.ushmm.org/americans-and-the-holocaust/main?ala
Classic silent film at Fountain Theater
The Mesilla Valley Film Society will present Murnau’s classic film “Faust” (1926) at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at the historic Fountain Theater 2469 Calle de Guadalupe in Old Mesilla.
The film will be accompanied by live music provided by The Invincible Czars, a professional Austin-based group of musicians, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the film.
The five “Czars” will play this new electrifying soundtrack live on violin, electric guitar, flute, clarinets, glockenspiel, keyboard, and drums. The style includes classical motifs in the style of Russian composers as well as heavy metal elements, and bossa nova.
For more information and tickets go to mesillavalleyfilm.org.
