LOCAL

Here are the free meal distribution sites for LCPS, FYI and Roadrunner Food Bank

From Staff Reports
Las Cruces Sun-News
Two rows of vehicles circle the parking lot at Pichacho Middle School, Monday March 16, 2020, as parents wait to get free lunch for their students.

Las Cruces Public Schools is offering free meals for students during the state-mandated shutdown of all public schools in New Mexico.

Meal distribution sites are open to all residents 18 years of age and younger who are enrolled in public, private or charter schools.  

Beginning Tuesday, 19 schools within the LCPS district will have breakfast and lunch available simultaneously from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with two exceptions: Picacho Middle School and Desert Hills Elementary will have breakfast available from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesday only and will then move to the 10:30 to 1 p.m. distribution time.

 All meals are prepared to grab and go, in compliance with state and federal health guidelines to reduce the risk of exposure. 

Schools that will be open for meal pickup include: 

  • Alameda Elementary  
  • Central Elementary  
  • Cesar Chavez Elementary 
  • Columbia Elementary 
  • Conlee Elementary 
  • Desert Hills Elementary 
  • Doña Ana Elementary  
  • Hermosa Heights Elementary 
  • Hillrise Elementary 
  • Loma Heights Elementary 
  • Lynn Middle School 
  • MacArthur Elementary 
  • Mesa Middle School 
  • Mesilla Elementary 
  • Mesilla Park Elementary 
  • Picacho Middle School 
  • Tombaugh Elementary 
  • University Hills Elementary  
  • Valley View Elementary  

Direction from the New Mexico Public Education Department and Children, Youth and Families Department requires school-aged children to be present to receive a meal.  

“This is an ever-changing situation,” said Karen Trujillo, Superintendent for Las Cruces Public Schools. “We are working to coordinate an efficient system and communicating that plan to our students and families.”

FYI

Families and Youth, Inc. will have meal service available at their Las Cruces headquarters, 1320 S. Solano. Breakfast is available between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. and lunch can be picked up between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.

Beginning Tuesday, FYI will coordinate pickup meals for all students at the following locations. For staffing purposes, these sites will operate on a breakfast schedule of 8 to 9 a.m. and a lunch schedule of noon to 1 p.m.:  

  • Preciado Park, New Mexico State University  
  • Branigan Library  
  • East Mesa Community Center 
  • East Mesa Splash Pad 
  • Radium Springs Community Resource Center 
  • Las Cruces High School  

Roadrunner Food Bank

Roadrunner Food Bank will continue its regular services at each of its distribution centers. These distributions are not open to the public, only for the student families that attend that school.

Also, the distribution for Columbia will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church on Elks Dr.

  • March 18: Mesa Middle School, 7225 N. Jornada Rd. 
  • March 27: Alameda Elementary School, 1325 N. Alameda Dr. 
  • March 30: Columbia Elementary School  (distribution at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2900 Elks Drive) 
  • April 1 : Lynn Middle School , 950 S. Walnut Dr. 

The Game I and II

Marci Dickerson, owner of The Game Sports Bar and Grill on Espina Street as well as The Game II on Northrise Drive, announced Saturday that both restaurants would offer their children's menu items for $2 while the public schools are closed.

As of Monday, donors had paid for more than 3,000 meals for kids. 

The meals are available for pickup or dine-in at either The Game (2605 S Espina St.) or The Game II (4131 Northrise Dr.). Donations can be made at either location or by sending a text message to 575-644-0778.