Sophie Klaus

Click here to view photos from the Gala!

Our fourth annual gala fundraiser was an unforgettable evening!

We’re are beyond grateful to everyone who came out to support this year’s Gala in the Garden: Gather & Grow. Your energy and generosity turned the night into a true celebration of community. Thank you for supporting our mission to cultivate food security, self-sufficiency, sustainability in Grant County.

Thank you to all the incredible people and groups that helped make this event possible:

We truly could not have done this without your support!

This year’s event was presented in loving memory of two special people, Alex Olsen and Martyn Pearson, who touched the lives of many here in Silver City. They were heavily involved in our community, whether it was through their work at Gila Hike and Bike, coaching swim teams, or teaching culinary skills to Aldo students at The Commons. During the program, those close to Alex and Martyn shared memories of them and paid tribute to the lasting impact they made in our community.

Executive Director Iris Nolasco shared, “We all know the power of food in our lives—sometimes as the centerpiece of celebration, and too often as a resource that is scarce in our own communities. Alex understood this. Her touchpoints with The Commons included teaching culinary classes to Aldo Leopold students and hosting family movie nights. She brought together her love of food, her passion for teaching, and her gift for building community.

That spirit lives on in our mission at The Commons: ‘to cultivate food security, self-sufficiency, and sustainability in Grant County.’ This year, as we ‘Gather & Grow’ our programs and services, we dedicate the naming of our kitchen space to Alex and her beloved partner, Martyn. In their honor, we will continue cultivating a place of belonging, empowerment, and well-being.”

We’re excited to have Josie Ross of Kneeling Nun Mercantile teach Master Food Preservation Workshops once a month at The Commons! These classes will demonstrate safe canning techniques and how to reuse food scraps to reduce kitchen waste. Canning food is a valuable skill that supports self-sufficiency, reduces food waste, and helps build a well-stocked pantry for year-round food security.

Join us for our next class, Apple Orchard in a Jar: Boiling Water Canning 101 on Monday, November 10th from 3-6pm. Learn how to make apple pie filling and how to safely can it for later use. Plus, participants will be able to take their own jar of filling home the next day! Be on the lookout for future classes!

The 4th Annual Gala in the Garden is a fundraising event to help support the growth of all our programs and address food security issues in our communities!

You can help make a difference by joining us on September 27th from 6-10 pm and participating in our fundraising activities!

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now — available online and in our office. Advance purchase only.
✨ Our gala has sold out three years in a row, so don’t wait — grab your tickets today! 

#galainthegarden25 #gatherngrow #TheCommonsGC

Starting September 6th, we will no longer offer a mobile pantry in Silver City. This change comes due to the success of the Choose Your Own (CYO). The CYO will be available during regular pantry hours and will fully replace the mobile pantry.

The Choose Your Own Pantry will be open as follows:

• Every first Saturday of the month
• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Limited ready-made boxes will be available for those with mobility issues.