Casa de Peregrinos to hold 24-hour hunger strike in Las Cruces

Casa de Peregrinos, a Las Cruces food pantry, began a 24-hour hunger strike Thursday to protest cuts to federal nutrition assistance programs, according to KVIA.

The pantry said 18,000 people in New Mexico lost SNAP benefits. During the strike, Casa de Peregrinos is accepting donations, with all proceeds directed toward feeding children, families and seniors across southern New Mexico.

Marco Olvera, director of development at Casa de Peregrinos, said the action goes beyond abstaining from food for a single day. "Our Hunger Strike is about more than going without food for a day," Olvera said, according to KVIA. "It's about standing with our neighbors who face difficult choices every day and raising awareness about the reality of hunger in our community."

Community members, Casa de Peregrinos employees and Director Lorenzo Alba Jr. participated in the strike in Doña Ana County. This marks the eighth year the pantry has organized the event, according to KVIA.