Food pantry takes shape in Chaparral to fight hunger

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$1.9M facility to boost food access in growing community

CHAPARRAL – A new food pantry is in the works in Chaparral to combat hunger.  

Officials broke ground Oct. 11 on the pantry at 190 County Line Drive near the Betty McKnight Community Center. The pantry will focus on feeding families from both the Doña Ana County and Otero County sides of Chaparral, located close to the Texas state line. It will be the community’s first permanent pantry.

Former District 53 State Rep. Willie Madrid spearheaded the project when he proposed the food pantry in early 2024. State Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena joined in, and both helped provide $1.3 million in funding through the Legislature’s capital outlay process.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Madrid said he observed how well schools would address food necessity for students and parents. 

“There were nuns from a Chaparral church doing it (providing food) out of St. Thomas More Church parking lot for the last 12 to 15 years. That’s when I decided that was enough but it’s young and the old that are getting the mix of this,” Madrid said.

Higher rates of hunger

In Doña Ana County, 16.4% of people were food insecure in 2022, the most-recent data available from Feeding America. The rate was about the same in Otero County. That means residents experience high uncertainty about where or when they’ll get their next meal. Advocates have said they believe the rates of hunger are actually much higher in the rural and border communities, like Chaparral and Sunland Park, than the countywide numbers show. 

Nationwide, the rate was 13.5% the same year.

Madrid said his major concern is about the elderly not receiving enough benefits. He added they may not be qualified to receive assistance.

According to the Food Research and Action Center, children who experience hunger are two to four times more likely to face individual health problems. The children are also prone to struggling academically. Food insecure children entering school show significantly slower development in reading and math compared to their peers. 

Madrid proposed the idea of a food pantry to Casa de Peregrinos, a major pantry in Las Cruces that also serves outlying areas, as a way to combat hunger in Chaparral. Lorenzo Alba Jr., executive director of Casa de Peregrinos agreed with Madrid’s opinion for the need of a food pantry, and both pushed for the project. 

Alba said the whole reason the project was “pushed across the finish line” was because he asked Doña Ana County representatives what they would like to see for the project come to fruition, and in return they provided the remainder of the funds to complete the project.

According to Doña Ana County Project Manager Justin Weaver said the estimated total cost for the project is $1.92 million for design and construction.

He added that the design was funded by Doña Ana County General Funds in the amount of $164,358.45, and $1.3 million will go towards building efforts from the 2024 state appropriation.

The facility will be owned by the county and Doña Ana County will oversee design and construction of the building.

Moving dirt

Weaver said Nine Degrees Architecture and Design Inc. will design the building. It will consist of a 1,633-square-foot warehouse and feature a walk-in freezer, walk-in cooler, and large storage shelving. 

The building will include an 800-square-foot office space, including an intake room, lobby and restrooms. The facility will include a covered drive-up lane for food pick-up. 

“We are hoping to have the warehouse open for distribution by the end of January 2026; the entire facility will be open by February 2026,” Weaver said. 

Alba said dirt removal was expected to start by the end of February. He said they now need to focus on supplying food to the facility once it’s up and running.

“I don’t think we need to go after any more capital outlay. I think what we need to go after is to just bring more food,” Alba said. “Our intention is to go to Rep. Sarah Silva and ask for some assistance with that and ask other representatives in the proximity if they can help find some additional food for the southern part of the county, which in essence is the poorest part of the county.” 

Alba added that the Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico is a food bank partner, meaning they will help supply the food available at the food pantry. 

“We know what the need is there, and we want to supply that,” Alba said. 

Alba and Madrid agreed that Chaparral is a growing community, and this is a small step in the right direction to help families in poverty. 

Chaparral’s population totaled about 16,500 in the 2020 U.S. Census. However, Madrid believes the population is much larger than the official numbers.

The growth of El Paso is creeping north toward the New Mexico state line, and many people who work in that city are looking for homes in Chaparral and other southern Doña Ana County communities.

Madrid, who left office in January after losing a re-election bid in last year’s primary election, has said because of the continued growth from El Paso and within Chaparral, he hopes lawmakers from both Doña Ana and Otero will continue supporting infrastructure like more food pantries.

Congressman says pantries ‘critical’ in NM 

Congressman Gabe Vasquez, whose district covers much of Southern New Mexico, has been a proponent of food security infrastructure in New Mexico. He secured $300,000 for the renovation of a food pantry in Hatch, and he attended the groundbreaking for the Chaparral food pantry in October. 

“We are thrilled that Casa de Peregrinos is serving Southern New Mexico through its efforts in Chaparral and Hatch — communities located at the southern and northern ends of Doña Ana County,” Vasquez said. “The vastness of our state and the scarcity of food pantries make this work even more critical.”

Food bank officials saw an increase in the numbers of people able to get assistance within weeks of opening the permanent Hatch pantry, something they attribute to the added infrastructure.

Vasquez said he wants families to have access to the resources they need. 

“I believe it’s essential for all community leaders to experience this collaboration in action — it’s a model of resilience and compassion that strengthens our region as a whole,” he said. 

Vasquez and Madrid hope that Chaparral residents will accept any help with open arms. 

Madrid said he has donated and given out resources at past food drives where families, mostly elderly, were appreciative of the food. 

Vasquez agreed. 

“I understand that accepting help can be difficult, especially for those who’ve spent their lives being self-reliant, but seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness,” he said. “These resources are here because you’ve earned them, and by embracing them, you continue to contribute your invaluable wisdom and presence to our community.” 

Vasquez added that Chaparral does not only face the challenge of food scarcity, but it also faces challenges accessing resources when they are available. 

In addition, Vasquez added that seniors bear a large burden of food insecurity.

He noted a study titled “Spotlight on Senior Health: Adverse Health Outcomes of Food Insecure Older Americans” highlights the risk of chronic health conditions among food-insecure individuals that are seniors. 

“Hunger and limited access to nutritious food deeply affect their quality of life and overall well-being,” Vasquez added.