By KRWG News
New Mexico – The New Mexico Human Services Department is organizing a food drive that runs through Friday to benefit the border area near Columbus.
The Luna County community sits on the U.S. border with Mexico.
State officials say 350 children who are United States citizens live across the border in Palomas, Mexico, and attend school on the U.S. side in Columbus. When classes ended for the summer, many lost out on their only regular meal of the day.
Authorities blame drug violence in Mexico that has prompted some men to abandon their families.
Donated food is being picked up and taken to the Roadrunner Food Bank in Albuquerque and the Community Action Agency in Las Cruces.
From there, it will be distributed in Columbus.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.