By Vanessa Dabovich
Las Cruces, NM – The Leadership Las Cruces Class of 2011 of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, the Las Cruces Farmers & Crafts Market, and Casa de Peregrinos are joining together to stuffa truck full of needed items for at risk people and families in the county.
Leadership Las Cruces each year commits to doing a single community service project as a way of reflecting back the full role of community leaders. This year, class participants toured the Casa de Peregrinos facilities and chose the organization for their project.
Lorenzo Alba says he is grateful they were chosen and is always impressed with action from the community.
Alba-"I know this community always steps up for these things and I have been very impressed since I got here for how the community steps up for these events. We are in an economic crisis, but to see this kind of need to this degree is a little bit mind boggling to be honest."
Alba says aside from canned food the drive will accept cereals, flour, beans, rice, oatmeal and pastas and any dry goods.
According to census numbers the poverty rate in Dona Ana County is around %25. In 2010, Casa De Peregrinos served around 10,000 families. Alba says he only sees that number increasing.
The stuff the truck drive will be at the Las Cruces Farmers Market on the downtown mall this Saturday from 8:30am to 12:30pm. For more information visit CasadePeregrinos.org.