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El Caldito Soup Kitchen

Hot Noonday Meals

999 West Amador Avenue
Las Cruces, NM 88005
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2833
Las Cruces, NM 88006
PH: (575) 525-3831
FX: (575) 525-3831
Email: elcaldito@mvcommunityofhope.org
Website: www.mvcommunityofhope.org

Mission Statement

El Caldito Soup Kitchen provides a complete, nourishing meal using available provisions, to all who come to our door.

Our purpose is to prepare and serve food and meals free-of-charge to individuals, children and families regardless of race, color, sex, age, handicap, religion or national origin.

History of El Caldito Soup Kitchen

El Caldito Soup Kitchen was started in January, 1984 by Joanne and Nelson Holden at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and was called St. Andrew’s Soup Kitchen. By the end of the following month they had fed eighty-nine people; at the end of the year that number had risen to three thousand and nine hundred persons served.

On July 26, 1993 the soup kitchen incorporated and renamed itself El Caldito (The Little Cauldron) Soup Kitchen, and began serving hot lunches Monday through Thursday. Within weeks the Gleaning Committee was organized to help procure food and other needed items.

On March 1, 1998 El Caldito moved to the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope campus on West Amador Avenue. In 1999 we increased lunch service to include Fridays, and also began to provide dinners for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other special occasions. The first Veterans’ Appreciation Dinner to honor our veterans was initiated in April, 2004.

Today, it is estimated that El Caldito serves 72,000 hungry people a year.

El Caldito Soup Kitchen Services

El Caldito Soup Kitchen provides many services to help our community including

  • Serve the best, nutritious, hot meals possible

  • Contribute food to other non-profit food providers

  • Deliver meals to assist the Red Cross Emergency Service

  • Collect donated clothing items to help non-profit clothing banks

  • Prepare 100 Christmas food baskets with Knights of Columbus Gamboa Council

  • Collaborate with judicial court and other community service programs

  • Assist New Mexico State University and community college internship programs

Clients and Referrals

El Caldito Soup Kitchen provides a complete, nourishing meal using available provisions to all who come to our door. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or any other way.

The Community of Hope provides support through a myriad of services to help people get back on their feet and off the streets. In addition, our case managers provide people with referrals to other agencies where they can obtain help, such as the Veteran’s Administration, the Social Security Administration, mental health providers, and local income support centers.

Volunteers and Community Support

Our volunteers come from various sources including churches, organizations, and individuals. Community support in the form of monetary contributions and food donations is obtained from local merchants, banks, churches, and other organizations.

Board of Directors

Gabe Chavez, President

Gabe Anaya, Vice-President

Ruth Anderson, Secretary

Sonnie Wheeler, Treasurer

Betty Tomei, Grants Coordinator

Lynn Black, Member

Diane Door, Member

Dan Farren, Member

Tom Mackin, Member

Becky McNair, Member

Larry Ramirez, Member

Dan Sandoval, Member

Martha Sharp, Member

Manuel Turrey, Member

Donna Wood, Member

Yolanda Dimas, Kitchen Manager

Funding Sources

Funding for El Caldito Soup Kitchen comes from

  • State, county and city grants

  • Empty Bowls annual fundraiser

  • Local merchants

  • Churches and faith-based organizations

  • Private donations

Accomplishments//Goals Achieved

El Caldito Soup Kitchen is proud of the goals it has achieved since its founding over twenty years ago. Among our accomplishments are

  • Extending our service from one day a week to five days a week

  • Serving dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas days

  • Recognizing our veterans with an Appreciation Dinner

  • Giving out Christmas food baskets

  • Providing food to help other area food pantrys and food banks

  • Supplying take-out food items

  • Being a source for donated clothing

Vision//New Goals

El Caldito Soup Kitchen is working towards extending its hot lunch service to seven days a week.