History
In October 2012, Social Work Services, a program under both the Counseling Center and Campus Health Center at NMSU, began operations of the NMSU Food Pantry. With the help of Christian Challenge, who hosted the Food Pantry in their building on University Avenue for the first year of operations, we started providing non-perishable food to NMSU students, staff, and faculty. We sought to make access to the pantry as easy and respectful as possible, requiring only a current NMSU ID to receive assistance, and training all volunteers in food safety and client privacy. Hoping to incorporate a name that would better represent the spirit of NMSU, we hosted a naming contest and asked the NMSU community to submit ideas for a new name. The top proposals were voted on, and NMSU voted to name the pantry the Aggie Cupboard.
Mission
The Mission of the Aggie Cupboard is to provide free supplementary food assistance to the NMSU community, including Las Cruces and DACC students, faculty, and staff. We strive to create an atmosphere of care, concern, and support for those who may be struggling with food insecurity. The Aggie Cupboard works to educate on the prevalence of food insecurity and hunger experienced by the NMSU community.
Type of food provided
We provide non-refrigerated nutritious food that typically includes staples such as protein, vegetables, soups, beans, rice, pasta and sauce. We sometimes have the ability to provide fruit, cereal, snacks, and beverages.
We make referrals to other community food resources as needed.
Vision
We envision a campus community free from hunger and fully able to be successful at NMSU. We desire to see students completely able to pursue academic success free from the worry of hunger. We believe that the NMSU community and the larger Las Cruces community already possess the resources and generosity necessary to support each other in times of need, and seek to mobilize that potential.
We recognize that New Mexico ranks high among the states in the US with the most food insecurity, among children and the general population, and that the demographics of our NMSU community reflect those of New Mexico in many ways. As the state’s land grant institution, NMSU has a proud history of making higher education accessible to all. We endeavor to continue that work through our efforts.
Contact us
aggiecupboard@nmsu.edu or call 575-646-7636
