The giving season

Every year, the Las Cruces Bulletin publicizes ways to help those in need in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County. In this issue, we highlight local food banks offering food for those in need and opportunities to assist in their work. Additional information can be found online at NMFoodBanks.org.

• Casa de Peregrinos Emergency Food Program is one of southern New Mexico’s largest food pantries, serving Las Cruces and Doña Ana County. Services include distribution of supplemental groceries in Las Cruces at the flagship pantry, Hatch pantry and 10 surrounding rural communities through the mobile food program. The food pantry also serves seniors and unhoused people. Donate to Hope for the Holidays, presented by Nusenda Credit Union, at CasaDePeregrinos.org. Donate by mail to or in person at 999 W Amador Ave., Bldg. 1, Las Cruces, 88005. Email cdplc@casadeperegrinos.org for more information. Hours are 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. A current ID and proof of address are needed to get food. Donations accepted 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. CdP is always looking for volunteers. Email volco@casadeperegrinos.org for more details. CdP has distributed more than 15 million meals over the past five years. CdP was founded in 1979 by La Mesa residents and Holy Cross Catholic Church parishioners.
  
  
• Aggie Cupboard is a free service, started in 2012, that distributes food to NMSU students, staff and faculty; present current NMSU ID to qualify. Food distribution: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, or email aggiecupboard@nmsu.edu for appointment. Take food donations to 906 Agriculture Way (formerly Gregg Street) on the NMSU campus, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, or e-mail for appointment. Needed are canned chicken and tuna, peanut butter, soup, canned fruit and vegetables, cereal, evaporated milk, cooking oil, toiletries. Call 575-646-7636. Online donations accepted at mas.nmsu.edu/project/6947 and Aggie Cupboard at NMSU on Facebook.
  
  
• Roadrunner Food Bank provides food to hundreds of partners in 24 New Mexico counties, including Doña Ana County. In New Mexico, one in five children, one in seven people overall, is at risk of experiencing hunger. Cash donations help Roadrunner source, acquire and distribute food. In December, gifts are doubled up to $110,000 thanks to the Abram and Ray Kaplan Foundation, Jackalope and Smith's Food and Drug stores. To donate, call 505-349-8909 or visit rrfb.org/match. Volunteers are needed for monthly food distributions in southern New Mexico year-round; visit rrfb.org/volunteer for more information or rrfb.org/cervis to register. For food assistance, call 575-523-4390 or visit rrfb.org/find-food to find a nearby distribution site. We also help people apply for SNAP (food stamps) and other public benefits, call 844-684-6268 or email snap@rrfb.org. Roadrunner is New Mexico’s largest hunger-relief organization. Last year, it provided more than 46 million pounds of food (38 million meals) to more than 388,000 children, adults and seniors through a statewide network of hunger-relief partners. Visit rrfb.org or email info@rrfb.org for more ways to get involved.