City of Las Cruces allocates $3.75 million for new food bank building
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico - The Las Cruces City Council on Monday afternoon approved almost $4 million toward the construction of a new building for the local non-profit, Casa de Peregrinos.
“I want to remind everybody that this is not a Casa de Peregrinos project or a city of Las Cruces project," said Lorenzo Alba, who has been executive director of the food bank for a decade. "This is a community project.”
The money will go toward a new 13,000 square foot facility will be closer to Amador Avenue on the property of the former Horse N Hound Feed N Supply, which was recently acquired by the city. The new space is estimated to cost about $7 million.
“We’re pretty cramped," admitted Renea Gutierrez, who works in program support. "We make do with what we have because we're used to a limited space."
Gutierrez told ABC-7 that 30 volunteers share the 4,000 square foot building in west Las Cruces. The food bank also has also rented two refrigerated trucks to hold food because there's not enough space inside.
According to data from Casa De Peregrinos, New Mexico has the second worst rate of hunger among seniors and the third worst rate of hunger among children.
“What we do is serve a community that has a high poverty level," said Alba. "Many people suffer from food insecurity. "
"Sometimes we don't have food," said Teresa Holguin. "That's why we come over here."
"It's a wonderful feeling to be able to cook for your family," said Katie St. Louis-Pigrum, who picked up food with her husband and two daughters. She said the young family lived in a hotel room before getting help from the Community of Hope.
According to the city presentation, the food bank's food distribution since its creation has increased more than nine-fold: From 500,000 pounds a year in 2003 to 4.7 million pounds a year in 2021.
The $3.75 million comes from the Telshor Fund, which was established to help with healthcare-related needs in the city. In recent years, the city allocated money from the fund for helping migrants as well as Covid-19 relief.
