In Dona Ana County, hunger wears many faces. We see it in the worried look of an elderly man whose Social Security check can no longer stretch to cover all of his needs. We see it, too, in the faces of a young single mom who's just lost her job, a recently disabled farmworker, a handicapped dad, a woman living in her car...

Laura
In her seventies and not in the best of health, Laura takes care of four grandchildren. Their mother, divorced and working at a minimum-wage job, helps as much as she can. But her salary can no longer cover the rent, clothe the kids, and feed six people. So, once a month, Laura turns to Casa de Peregrinos for help. Although we've always been here for her, we're finding it harder and harder to find the funds and the food to keep our program going.

Rosemary
For the working poor, it can be a struggle to keep their heads above water. Rosemary knows this all too well: a woman with five children ranging in age from 11 to 20 years, she works for minimum wage in a daycare center. Because her hours continue to be cut, her wages are being cut as well. Even so, she visits Casa de Peregrinos only occasionally; although her need is great, she's relectant to come in because doing so makes her feel guilty.

Her husband of 28 years is disabled due to severe psychological problems and diabetes and therefore cannot work. Rosemary tries to find creative ways to come up with enough money to feed and clothe her family. Recently, she learned that if she pulls the fuse in her fuse box and only connects it again for a few hours in the evening, she pays much less for her electricity. Rosemary wants this tip passed on to others who are struggling.

Still, the bills continue to pile up. The family is on a long list to get into subsidized housing in the future. One daughter is about to graduate from high school, which is joy to Rosemary, since her older three children dropped out of school. Her advice to other working poor is, "Don't give up, and don't be afraid to ask for help."

Geneva
A homeless woman in her middle years, Geneva is one of Casa's "success stories." For many months, Geneva came to Casa for help on Friday mornings. Eventually she came to the notice of a Casa volunteer, who took an interest in her and tried to give Geneva useful (and interesting) food.

One day, the volunteer encountered Geneva as she was about to drive away. Rolling down her window, Geneva told the volunteer that at the end of that week she'd be eligible for a "widow's pension" and would thus be moving from her tent to an apartment...after roughly two years out in the elements.

She expressed heartfelt thanks to the volunteer and to Casa and drove away. As we haven't seen her since, we believe that life got a lot better for Geneva. But we were there when she needed us, just as we are for countless others with stories of their own.