Southern New Mexico Giving Day is April 21 for CdP food bank

Southern New Mexico Giving Day

Friday, April 21, is Southern New Mexico Giving Day for Casa de Peregrinos (CdP) emergency food program, which serves all of Doña Ana County.

CdP is seeking donations and also asking donors and supports to “Share and share alike,” the foodbank said in its April 2023 newsletter.

“Online days of giving are successful because of our networks,” said CdP, asking supporters to “use your social media networks: post on Facebook, tweet about Southern New Mexico Giving Day and share your love for your particular passion, whether it’s education, health care, animals or the arts. Ask others to do the same.”

CdP is also asking for “fundraising champions” for their support.

Hatch food pantry

“CdP has long sought to expand its services in rural communities, as the poverty is dire, full-service grocery stores are few and far between and our rural pantries have very limited services,” CdP said.

In November 2022, Hatch Valley Public Schools (HVPS) approached CdP about using one of its vacant buildings for a permanent pantry in the north valley, CdP said. The building will be open at more convenient times than CdP mobile pantries and, with refrigerators and freezers on site, will provide more food in each distribution. The foodbank has completed a memorandum of understanding with HVPS and renovations to the building are underway, with a spring opening date projected.

The project will create a permanent site for food distribution in Hatch and residents of the county’s north valley, CdP said, with nine hours each week of client services that will include electronic sign-in and drive-up service and access to auxiliary services like testing and vaccinations and information from other social services organizations.

This program will enhance the operation of CdP’s Rural Food Initiative (RFI), which it has conducted in collaboration with county, community organizations and Roadrunner Food Bank since 2011, CdP said. RFI provides a monthly distribution of approximately 50 pounds of food, improved knowledge of food security resources and increased social connections for seniors and low-income families in rural areas throughout the county.

George Miller Community Wall

With 25 years as a CdP board member and board chair, George Miller was a cornerstone of the Casa de Peregrinos community, the newsletter said.

Along with U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, Miller “played a key role in securing financing for constructing the present CdP building,” the nonprofit said, and in the developing CdP’s mobile food pantries and its endowment.

“Nothing could fully recognize his gifts to us,” CdP said, “but, in partial recognition of his service, CdP is naming the main lobby wall in its new headquarters the George W. Miller Community Wall.”

The wall will be the centerpiece of CdP’s new lobby in the building now under construction on west Picacho Avenue, and will contain a mural “creating an inspiring visual representation of the mission and history of CdP.” It also will include plaques with donor names and a photo and biography of Miller.

To buy a plaque for yourself or family or in memory of a loved one, contact Bianca at 575-259-3438.

Contact CdP at 575-523-5542. Donate online at www.southernnewmexicogivingday.org.