History
Casa De Peregrinos
House of Pilgrims
Casa de Peregrinos was organized in La Mesa in 1979. It was to provide a homeless shelter and cooperative activities such as a cooperative garden, a food bank and a clothing bank. Founders were Manuela Moreno of Las Cruces, a third grade teacher at Holy Cross school, Rosario Rodriguez of La Mesa; Lucy Martinez of Mesilla Park, and Alphonso de Los Santos of La Mesa. They started incorporation in April 1979 with all they had, $3000.00 and a vision they founded Casa De Peregrinos. It was incorporated in June 1979.
In 1982 Sister Marsha Carrigan, a family counselor for the catholic diocese of El Paso saw that there was a greater need for food by needy families. Her research showed that there was no consistent food source for the poor.
So the first Advisory Committee was established chaired by Sister Marsha Carrigan and included Manuela Moreno, Isaac Bencomo, Ray Carlson, Marvin and Virginia Maragos, Lois Stungis, Felipe Villescas and Isabel Romero.
To concentrate on food distribution Casa De Peregrinos moved to Our Lady of Guadalupe church in Tortugas and later moved to Holy Cross Parish.
In October 1982, it was realized that there was need to hire someone to coordinate the food programs with the help of the Las Cruces Diocese, Isabel Romero was hired as office and volunteer manager and Sister Rose Kidd to find food sources and doing bookkeeping.
In April 1983, the Logo was developed and adopted and the revised By Laws were accepted. The Advisory Committees became a governing Board of Directors and held its first Board Meeting in May.
Casa de Peregrinos is an emergency food service program. Each applicant is screened to determine eligibility, assisted with food and if applicable referred to other existing community resources. Casa de Peregrinos developed other food pantries in Doña Ana County.
In August 1983, the Board of Directors voted to reach out to other faiths and organizations for support and volunteers. Under the name Concerned Churches of Las Cruces, Casa de Peregrinos became an autonomous organization and was designated as an interdenominational food program.
In September 1984, Casa de Peregrinos outgrew the Holy Cross facilities and moved to the Downtown Mall, Calvary Chapel Building with Holy Cross paying the rent.
In August 1987, we moved to 825 Spruce after receiving IRS exempt status. We had to change the amount of food given to meet cost. Increased home visits were made on selected families who had come for help many times. We found that problems were greater than the client described them in the interview sessions.
After receiving funding from federal, state and local entities and completion of our new facility on the Community of Hope campus, at 999 W. Amador Suite F we moved into our permanent facility in December 2005.
Since our founding we have given over a million food boxes to half a million people. There is room for all.
Todos somos Peregrinos.
Servir a La Humanidad es La Mejor Obra de La Vida.
