Every fall, La Sociedad para las Artes organizes a Hunger Benefit reading for Casa de Peregrinos, an emergency food bank in Las Cruces, New Mexico, that feeds thousands of hungry mouths each year. La Sociedad has raised close to $60,000 for this organization over the 15+ years the benefit has been running.
Previous featured readers have included Juliana Spahr, ZZ Packer, Charles D’Ambrosio, Kevin McIlvoy, Antonya Nelson, Robert Boswell, and Charles Bowden. A silent auction runs congruent with the readings and a lively reception with live music is held afterwards. An annual chili cookoff pits graduate students against faculty in a fierce and tasty competition. The evening is unfailingly a good time, bringing together community-minded people with a passion for literature, art, music and throwing back a few cold ones in a loud, dark bar.
About the Benefit
End Hunger:
According to Casa de Peregrinos, "estimates now suggest that, in this country, 45 million people spend a third of their post-tax income on food and still run out every month. In Southern New Mexico, that figure might even be closer to half for some."
11/15/2014
Saturday, November 15 at 6 p.m.
Elks Lodge
3000 Elks Drive Las Cruces, NM 88005
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Readings by poet Bobby Byrd and novelist Denise Chavez
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Live music by The Deming Fusileers and Barely Legal
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Silent auction of local goodies
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Student vs. Faculty chili cookoff
*All proceeds go to Casa de Peregrinos
Cost: $10 (makes checks payable to Casa de Peregrinos)*
Fight
Hunger!
Questions?
Contact Connie Voisine at cvoisine [at] nmsu.edu
(Be sure to designate your donation to the Hunger Benefit)