Donation supported distribution of more than 500 food boxes as demand rises amid SNAP uncertainty

Organ Mountain News report

SUNLAND PARK - Project Jupiter donated $50,000 to Casa de Peregrinos during a pop-up food pantry Friday at the Sunland Park Sports Complex, helping the organization respond to rising food insecurity across Doña Ana County.

Project Jupiter, a proposed AI data center development in Santa Teresa, has drawn public scrutiny over environmental impacts, water usage and transparency. The project has also been the subject of criticism related to county-approved economic development incentives and remains the focus of a pending lawsuit challenging those approvals.

Casa de Peregrinos, the county’s largest local food pantry organization, said the donation supported the distribution of more than 500 boxes of fresh produce and other food items at the Dec. 5 event. The pantry has seen a significant increase in demand in recent months, which officials attribute in part to pauses and uncertainty surrounding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

Typically, Casa de Peregrinos serves about 3,800 to 4,000 households each month at its main food pantry in Las Cruces. In October, that number increased to roughly 4,500 to 5,000 food distributions. The organization also distributes about 1,000 food baskets monthly through its mobile pantries and its Hatch location.

“It is a blessing for us to partner with Project Jupiter, our food bank, Roadrunner Food Bank and the City of Sunland Park for these pop-up pantries,” said Executive Director Lorenzo Alba Jr. “In the southern part of the county, the need is vast, and this will certainly add some relief.”

Alba said the funding will allow Casa de Peregrinos to host additional pop-up pantries in Sunland Park, which has one of the highest poverty rates in Doña Ana County.

Casa de Peregrinos partnered with Roadrunner Food Bank and the City of Sunland Park to host the event, which included volunteers, local leaders and families receiving food assistance.

“This is a great way for Project Jupiter to show that they’re going to be community-oriented,” Alba told KFOX14 during the event. “They didn’t just choose this community for that project, but also for the people.”