To accommodate a growing demand during the state-mandated shutdown of all public schools in New Mexico, Las Cruces Public Schools added sites for district-wide breakfast and lunch pickup. Additional resources were also identified for families who need assistance while precautions are taken to reduce exposure to the global COVID-19 outbreak. Meal distribution sites are open to all residents 18 years of age and younger who are enrolled in public, private or charter schools.
Beginning Tuesday, 19 schools within the LCPS district will have breakfast and lunch available simultaneously from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with two exceptions: Picacho Middle School and Desert Hills Elementary will have breakfast available from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesday only and will then move to the 10:30 to 1 p.m. distribution time. All meals are prepared to grab and go, in compliance with state and federal health guidelines to reduce the risk of exposure.
Schools that will be open for meal pickup include:
- Alameda Elementary
- Central Elementary
- Cesar Chavez Elementary
- Columbia Elementary
- Conlee Elementary
- Desert Hills Elementary
- Doña Ana Elementary
- Hermosa Heights Elementary
- Hillrise Elementary
- Loma Heights Elementary
- Lynn Middle School
- MacArthur Elementary
- Mesa Middle School
- Mesilla Elementary
- Mesilla Park Elementary
- Picacho Middle School
- Tombaugh Elementary
- University Hills Elementary
- Valley View Elementary
Direction from the New Mexico Public Education Department and Children, Youth and Families Department requires school-aged children to be present to receive a meal.
“This is an ever-changing situation,” said Dr. Karen Trujillo, Superintendent for Las Cruces Public Schools. “We are working to coordinate an efficient system and communicating that plan to our students and families.”
Trujillo encouraged people to visit the district’s website, www.lcps.net and its social media pages for current, trusted news and information. The district’s official Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/LCPublicSchools and on Twitter, @LCPSnet.
Families and Youth, Inc. will have meal service available at their Las Cruces headquarters, 1320 S. Solano. Breakfast is available between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. and lunch can be picked up between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. To maximize efficient delivery to the greatest number of families, the Doña Ana Community Resource Center and the Frank O’Brien Papen Community Center will no longer serve as distribution sites. Beginning Tuesday, FYI will coordinate pickup meals for all students at the following locations. For staffing purposes, these sites will operate on a breakfast schedule of 8 to 9 a.m. and a lunch schedule of noon to 1 p.m.:
- Preciado Park, New Mexico State University
- Branigan Library
- East Mesa Community Center
- East Mesa Splash Pad
- Radium Springs Community Resource Center
- Las Cruces High School