Casa de Peregrinos (CdP) Emergency Food Program celebrated the groundbreaking of it’s new building, located at the old Horse N Hound facility, 991 W. Amador, on Thursday, March 31.
New Mexico legislators, Las Cruces City Council, city officials, and members of the Casa de Peregrinos building committee and board of directors are scheduled to take part in the ceremony.
“We’ve dreamed of this for years as we’ve struggled with overcrowding and inadequate food storage,” said Lorenzo Alba, Jr., CdP executive director. “We’ve hoped, planned, and designed. We’ve enlisted the energy and dedication of hundreds of people. We’ve received the support of our city and our state elected officials. And finally, Casa de Peregrinos has reached the final stage of its journey to create a space that fully addresses the need for ‘food for today, hope for tomorrow.’”
The City of Las Cruces bought the building for CdP’s use in 2020, with renovation funding provided by the city and the State of New Mexico Capital Improvement Program over four years. The building is 12,000 square feet and provides more space to share with community groups. The larger facility will also allow room for client waiting and interview areas, designated areas for assembly and distribution of carts, food storage, a drive-up window for pre-ordered carts, and a demonstration kitchen. It will include solar panels, and green landscaping, and incorporate artwork in the public areas through the “Art in Public Places” program of the City of Las Cruces.
“This is a community project in every sense. It is the collaborative effort of a non-profit, city, and state government, local community members, business partners, and this generous community. It will benefit the most vulnerable of our people and will allow us to serve them better. It provides a space for growth and collaboration, and it is synergy unsurpassed,” Alba said.
CDP provides food help to Las Cruces and Doña Ana County families who may be experiencing financial emergencies. The CDP office is located at the Community of Hope, 999 W. Amador Ave. Each distribution includes staple foods such as beans, rice, canned goods, produce, and meat and dairy products. Special packages can be assembled for homeless clients or others lacking cooking and refrigeration facilities. It also operates pantries in senior centers, rural areas, and college campuses. In 2021, over 30,000 individuals benefitted from 4.2 million meals distributed through its programs.
