Casa de Peregrinos, a Las Cruces Food Pantry, accepted $32,000 from the Walmart Foundation to buy a new refrigerator unit for their flagship pantry location on Amador Avenue. The new 11x17 foot unit is expected to be installed and operational in early January.
“Our partnership with Walmart is vitally important to us,” said Lorenzo Alba, Executive Director of Casa de Peregrinos. “This grant from the Walmart Foundation and the help of local Walmart stores donating food helps us take the mission of Casa de Peregrinos to a whole new level.”
The new refrigerator will mean that Casa de Peregrinos won’t have to turn down large donations of fresh food. The food pantry will be able to increase the amount of food donations and rescued food it’s able to accept and distribute to families in need in Dona Ana County.
“We’re excited that we can continue to support Casa de Peregrinos and the important work it does to feed families in Dona Ana County,” said Walmart Market Manager Carolyn Kazmi “Las Cruces Walmart stores have already made a commitment to help serve those in need by partnering with food pantries to donate food, this grant helps expand that commitment to local families.”
The food rescue program has grown substantially since it launched in March, 2014. Earlier this year, Casa de Peregrinos bought and began operating its first refrigerated food truck, using another grant from the Walmart Foundation. The new truck has allowed Casa de Peregrinos to increase the amount of fresh and frozen food it rescues and distributes.
“Before we got the refrigerated truck, we were able to rescue more than 280,000 pounds of food annually,” said Alba. “Now that we’re operating with the truck, we’re on pace to rescue about 500,000 pounds of food this year. We expect that the addition of the refrigerator unit will increase our ability to rescue and distribute even more food to the families we serve.”
Through the food rescue program, donations, and partnerships with food banks, Casa de Peregrinos is on track to distribute 2 million pounds of food to families in Dona Ana County this year.