By Mike Cook
There are many nonprofits and charitable organizations in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County that provide care and support for those in need every day of the year.
As we approach the holidays, “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time,” as Charles Dickens said in his classic 1843 novella, “A Christmas Carol.”
As this Bulletin series concludes, we provide current information on food banks and how you can help
- Casa de Peregrinos emergency food program helps food-insecure families in Doña Ana County. Donate to “Hope for the Holidays” online at www.casadeperegrinos.org or mail/take donations to Casa de Peregrinos, 999 W. Amador Ave. Suite F. Las Cruces, N.M. 88005. (Thanksgiving food drive continues until Wednesday, Nov. 9). Call 575-523-5542, email cdplascruces@gmail.com. Donations: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; food assistance: 9-11 a.m./1-3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Bring ID and recent proof of address for food assistance. Volunteers are needed. $50 provides 300 meals, $100 feeds an average family for a month. Since 2019 CdP has provided 11.4 million meals to more than 30,000 annual clients. Casa de Peregrinos provides food at 28 county locations, including Las Cruces pantry, 13 mobile food pantries; provided 4.22 million meals (2020: 3.934 million, 2019: 2 million), 41,479 food baskets (2020: 52,079, 2019: 39,710). CdP’s 2022 Hunger Strike fundraiser raised $75,000 (2021: $51,000, 2020: $31,000). CdP was founded in 1979 by La Mesa, N.M. residents, and Holy Cross Catholic Church parishioners.
- Aggie Cupboard is a free service that distributes food to NMSU/Doña Ana Community College students, staff, faculty in Las Cruces; 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. Food donations: Take to 906 Gregg St., NMSU, 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Tuesday, 1-3 p.m. Thursday, 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, email aggiecupboard@nmsu.edu. Donate online at https://mas.nmsu.edu/project/6947, Aggie Cupboard at NMSU on Facebook. Aggie Cupboard began in 2012. It distributed 10,180 pounds of food in spring 2021, 2,280 in summer 2021. Pete’s Pantry mobile food pantry distributed 26,000 pounds of food, February-July 2021.
- Roadrunner Food Bank, New Mexico’s largest hunger-relief organization, provides food to hundreds of partners in 16 counties around the state, including food distribution sites in Doña Ana County. In New Mexico, one in five children and one in eight people overall is at risk of experiencing hunger. One of the best ways to help is through financial contributions. Donations of funds help Roadrunner source, acquire and distribute food. In December, gifts are doubled thanks to, AmeriHealth Caritas, the Abram and Ray Kaplan Foundation and Smith's Food and Drug Stores, with matches up to $135,000. To donate, call 505-349-8909 or give online at www.rrfb.org/match. Volunteers are also needed for outreach in southern New Mexico. To learn more about these opportunities, email volunteer@rrfb.org. For food assistance, call 575-523-4390 or visit www.rrfb.org/find-food. We can also help people in need apply for SNAP (food stamps) and other public benefits. Call 844-684-6268 or email snap@rrfb.org. Roadrunner provides essential food to tens of thousands of children, adults and seniors every week through a statewide network of hunger-relief partners. Visit www.rrfb.org or email info@rrfb.org for more information.
Visit www.nmfoodbanks.org.
