LAS CRUCES – For the past two years, Aaliyah Garcia has wanted to volunteer for many different community projects. However, frequently she wasn’t allowed to — because of her age and liability issues.
Watching videos on YouTube recently, she got an idea — she’d do it herself. She stumbled across of video of a family who built and installed a small food pantry in front of their home.
“She called me over one day and said, ‘Mom, what if we do this? They can’t tell me no,’ recalls her mother, Angela Garcia. “And I said, ‘Okay. Let’s do it. But if we’re going to do it, YOU’RE going to do it.’ Originally, we were going to put it in front of our house. But she said, ‘There’s a lot of people who can’t come to our house; they live far away. Let’s put it at Community of Hope.'”
Aaliyah — who everyone calls Gia — attended a meeting with Community of Hope Executive Director that her mother set up for her.
“I first got the call from her mom, introducing the idea, and we talked about how it could benefit people during the times that we’re closed — and even when we’re open,” Martinez said. “We talked about some of the challenges of keeping it stocked and some of the benefits. Angela said she had talked to Gia about that, and what to expect, and Gia really wanted to go forward with it.”
So Gia met with Martinez, they found a spot for the food pantry that would be accessible to anyone who needed it.
“We wanted to find a place that would be accessible to anyone who was coming onto the Community of Hope campus for any of the organizations here,” Martinez said. “Hopefully, people will take what they need, and share what they can — just like Gia says.”
Gia also met with The Home Depot, which agreed to donate all of the supplies and labor to build the small pantry.
“She conducted that meeting, and she was on the radio this morning talking about the project,” Angela said. “I helped set it up, but Gia’s definitely been doing it.”
Mike Malakowski and his wife, Kayla, both work at Home Depot. They volunteered to build the pantry with the supplies the company donated.
“I know Cheryl, Gia’s grandmother,” Malakowski said, shortly before the dedication ceremony on Saturday morning. “She owns The Toy Box, and I’ve done some work for her. So when they approached me about this project, it sounded like a lot of fun. We just finished it up this morning. Now I’m going to bolt it down and level it, and it will be ready to use.”
At a Saturday’s ceremony, Gia’s Pantry was unveiled near the center of the Community of Hope campus. Several community members, including many of Gia’s friends and relatives. They grilled hot dogs as Gia handed out cans of soda to the homeless nearby.
Martinez said Gia’s pantry will help complement the services the partner organizations provide to the city’s homeless.
“It provides for a few items — canned goods, things like that — during the times that we are closed,” Martinez said. “We do have El Caldito open seven days a week, but they’re the only ones able to provide food each day. But, as people get hungry more than once a day, we’re hoping this will provide a solution.”
It also illustrates just how supportive the residents of Las Cruces are of Community of Hope’s mission, Martinez said.
“I think it’s a really good idea,” said Jose Nuñez, who has been homeless in Las Cruces for two years. “On the weekends, when Casa de Peregrinos is closed, it’s going to be a real good thing.”
Martinez said community members interested in donating should consider easily-accessible food items, as well as basic toiletries.
“Canned foods that have an easy, peel-open top, so people don’t need to go buy a can-opener, would be great,” Martinez said. “Packs of tuna, fruit, bottled water, toilet paper — because we have a Port-a-Potty on campus that is used on the weekends when the buildings aren’t open.”
Gia came up with a slogan for her pantry: “Take what you need, share what you can.” The pantry will be unlocked at all times, and donations can be dropped off at any time.
Damien Willis may be reached at 575-541-5468, dawillis@lcsun-news.com or @damienwillis on Twitter.
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