6 ways to help homeless, needy residents in Las Cruces as wintry weather sets in
LAS CRUCES - Residents across Las Cruces felt autumn's deepening chill Monday night and Tuesday morning when the first freeze of the season struck.
For many people, the cold — which dipped down to 20 degrees at the New Mexico State University campus — was a tolerable inconvenience. They covered their plants, brought their pets inside, set their thermostats to a comfortable temperature and tossed an extra couple of blankets on the bed.
But for people with fewer resources, the harsh freeze is the first in a string of many to be survived this autumn and winter. Some people may have homes but lack adequate heating, blankets and coats. Others lack both homes and winter clothing.
Several local organizations that help out homeless individuals and families collect donations year-round. But, as the weather turns, they especially feel the need for donations of blankets, sleeping bags, coats, gloves and hats, among other items.
Here are six opportunities to help residents in need:
1. Mesilla Valley Community of Hope
The nonprofit Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, 999 W. Amador Ave., serves about 90 homeless people per day. It also oversees Camp Hope, a tent city on the campus that's now housing about 40 people.
Nicole Martinez, executive director of MVCH, said people living in Camp Hope fared OK on Monday.
"We made sure everyone had enough of what they needed," she said. "They were pretty cold."
But the organization is low on winter supplies, which it doles out to both Camp Hope residents and other homeless residents not living in the tent city. The group did buy some sleeping bags on Tuesday but is looking for other donations.
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"We haven't had a whole lot of those donations yet," she said. "We found ourselves without a lot of the items we need. We still have a lot of people in need and that are cold."
Needed donations include tents, tarps, sleeping bags, gloves, hats, hand-warmers (small, self-heating packets often found in a store's camping section); blankets and coats. Anyone interested in donating can drop off items from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday or 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at MVCH's main office, 999 W. Amador Ave.
Or, after hours, donations may be dropped off at Camp Hope, adjacent to the main office.
MVCH also has received donations recently from people who ordered items online and had them shipped to the nonprofit directly.
2. Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission Clothing Room
The Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission Clothing Room serves as a source of clothing and blankets for homeless residents and residents who aren't homeless but are still in need.
Wylene Saunders, manager of the clothing room, said donations of blankets, coats and other winter clothing for all ages and sizes — including hats, gloves and scarves — are needed. Packets of cloth men's work gloves go a long ways, as do hand-warmers and foot-warmers, she said. And, of course, sleeping bags are needed. Used items that are in good condition are perfectly acceptable, she said.
"People living on the street would love a sleeping bag," she said.
The clothing room also accepts donations of toiletries.
Items can be donated at the clothing room, 1416 S. Solano Drive, during operating hours. It is open from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays. Saunders encouraged anyone needing items to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing time.
Outside of the clothing room's hours, people can drop off donations 24-7 at the Gospel Rescue Mission, on Amador St. at 1050 W. Amador Ave., Las Cruces. Saunders said the organization is also seeking volunteers.
For information, call Saunders at 575-642-9619.
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3. Hair studio coat exchange
Colour Bar & Hair Studio is hosting a Layers of Kindness coat exchange event on Saturday, Nov. 17.
Residents are asked to bring gently used coats to donate or to exchange for all ages — infants, kids, teens, women and men. If someone does not have a coat to exchange, they are welcome to pick out a coat of their choice.
Thee coats can be brought to the Colour Bar & Hair Studio, 200 S. Solano Drive, Suite 4.
For info, contact Veva, the owner and host of the event, at 575-647-0500.
4. NMSU drive to benefit homeless veterans
The Military and Veterans Programs at New Mexico State University is collecting donations for an upcoming resources fair to benefit veterans.
The donations will benefit Homeless Veterans Stand Down event, slated for Friday, Nov. 16, at VFW Post 10124, 709 S. Valley Drive.
The event will provide information about access to health care, mental-health screening, substance abuse counseling, social and legal services. It also will provide haircuts and winter clothing for homeless veterans.
The Military and Veterans Programs at New Mexico State University is asking for the following items to be donated: soap, shampoo, toilet paper, hygiene products, winter clothes, blankets, baby products and water; monetary donations are also accepted.
Items can dropped off at Military and Veterans Programs office in Corbett Center Student Union, Room 244. For info, contact emz0724@nmsu.edu.
5. Coats for Kids
The 24th annual Las Cruces Coats for Kids drive is underway throughout the city. Since its inception in 1995, the project has given away 50,000 coats to needy children throughout three school districts in Doña Ana County.
New or gently used coats for ages birth to fifth grade are being sought. A number of coat dropoff points can be found throughout Las Cruces, including:
- Las Cruces Public Schools Administration Building, 505 S. Main St, Las Cruces - 575-527-5800
- Loma Heights Elementary School, 1600 E. Madrid Ave. - 575-527-9546
- 101 Gold, 101 Perkins Drive, Las Cruces - 575-527-1111
- Comet Cleaners:
- 2001 East Lohman Avenue, Las Cruces - 575-523-6768
- 2497 North Main Street, Las Cruces - 575-526-9511
- 555 Utah Avenue, Las Cruces - 575-524-1539
- D2 Designs, 101 Perkins Dr. Ste. B., Las Cruces - 575-541-0202
- US Bank
- 277 East Amador Avenue, Las Cruces - 575-636-6706
- 901 East University Avenue, Las Cruces - 575-524-0033
- 3790 East Lohman Ave. – Las Cruces - 575-522-9660
The coat drive runs through Friday, Nov. 30. For info, visit http://lascrucescoatsforkids.com/
6. Project Link
Project Link was established in 1992 to serve the educational needs of homeless children in the Las Cruces Public Schools.
A school liaison works with schools in the district to identify homeless families with children. The organization can refer students and families to other resources in the community.
And it offers families help with school supplies and other needs.
For info, call 575-527-5913.
Diana Alba Soular may be reached at 575-541-5443, dalba@lcsun-news.com or @AlbaSoular on Twitter.
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