SW New Mexico News

The City of Las Cruces is set to receive the 2025 Audrey Nelson Award at the National Community Development Association (NCDA) conference in Washington, DC. This recognition comes for its contribution to expanding the Casa de Peregrinos Food Pantry using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The award ceremony will take place on February 7, 2025.

Named after Audrey Nelson, the first Deputy Executive Secretary of NCDA, the award acknowledges outstanding use of CDBG funds to address the needs of low- and moderate-income families and communities. The expansion project transformed Casa de Peregrinos from a small food pantry established in 1979 into a significant resource within the Community of Hope campus in Las Cruces.

Natalie Green, Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Administrator, expressed her gratitude: “What an honor to receive the 2025 Audrey Nelson Award for our Food Pantry that is a lifeline for thousands of people across our County.” She emphasized the collaborative efforts made by community partners to support vulnerable populations.

Casa de Peregrinos expanded from its original 4,000 square foot space to a 12,212 square foot facility. The construction began in 2022 and concluded a year later. The expansion has allowed for increased services, including drive-up options and educational facilities for nutritious meal preparation.

The city utilized $350,000 in CDBG grant funds alongside nearly $4 million from the New Mexico State Legislature and $3.75 million from the Telshor Facility Fund to complete this project. This strategic funding enabled service improvements that immediately benefited 14 percent more clients and facilitated over one million additional pounds of food distribution.

Other cities recognized with awards include Tuscaloosa, Detroit, Pasco County (FL), Orlando (FL), Columbus Consolidated Government, and Albuquerque (NM).