Year’s End – Making Our Communities Better

With the community’s generous help, Community Against Violence (CAV) expects to provide holiday gifts to over 500 Angel Tree children this Christmas! (Special thanks to Jim Schlarbaum, who ensures Santa goes where needed most – for the past seven years he has visited the children in CAV’s emergency shelter and transitional housing programs and given them a personal visit and gift from Santa!)

With the New Year coming, many of us are making year-end 2019 donations or planning charitable giving for 2020. CAV deeply appreciates you who have continued to support CAV’s essential community services and plan to do so again in the coming year.

There are many great organizations in northern New Mexico serving people who are struggling – with homelessness, addiction, violence, poverty, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), grief and loss, and other chronic or short-term challenges. You can help by donating food, money, or volunteering. You can also contact organizations to help with “wish list” items – like linens; personal hygiene, cleaning, or office supplies; or help with repairs and maintenance.

Northern NM has one of the highest rates of children living in poverty and with food insecurity. Here are some organizations helping individuals and families with hunger:

  • The Shared Table (ElPueblitoUMC.org) distributes food every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the year at El Pueblito United Methodist Church in El Prado from 11:00am-12:00pm and the Talpa Community Center, same days, 2:00-3:00pm. (The distribution scheduled on the 4th Wednesday in December moved to Monday 12/23.)
  • St. James Episcopal Church Food Pantry (StJamesTaos.org) distributes bags of food every Thursday of the year, beginning at 12:30-4:00pm.
  • Carson, Chamisal, Pe?asco/Picuris, and Questa also have food pantries. Find contact information at TheFoodDepot.org.
  • Taos Feeds Taos (TaosFeedsTaos.org) provide holiday food baskets to over 1100 families in need.
  • CAV, Taos Men’s Shelter, DreamTree Project, and Heart of Taos are shelter programs also providing food to their residents/clients. (Special thanks to wonderful Mountain Home Health employees who, once again, are doing a food drive for CAV’s shelter and client food program!)

The DreamTree Project (DreamTreeProject.org) offers emergency shelter (ages 12-17), transitional apartments (ages 16-24), resources and have additional housing resources for adults and families. The Taos Men’s Shelter (TaosMensShelter.org) provides an overnight haven for men who are homeless. Community Against Violence, CAV (TaosCAV.org) offers services, emergency shelter, and transitional housing for children and adults who have experienced the trauma of domestic/sexual violence and child abuse. Heart of Taos (HeartofTaos.org) offers emergency shelter for women who are homeless.

Northern NM struggles with high rates of people with addictions. Inside Out (RecoveryInsideOut.org) offers peer support, therapy groups, job development, and referrals and assistance to people struggling with substance use issues and PTSD. Rio Grande Treatment Program (RioGrandeATP.org) offers outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment and support services. Golden Willow Retreat (GoldenWillowRetreat.com) offering support and services to people dealing with grief, loss, and recovery issues.

Not Forgotten Outreach (NotForgottenOutreach.org) provides support and services to military, veterans, and their families. EnSue?os Y Los Angelitos Development Center (ELADC.org) provides services to children and adults with special needs, and their families. Bridges Project for Education (BridgesProject.org) provides college counseling and support programs for teens and adults.

Building your personal traditions to include charitable giving, to these or other worthy causes, improves our lives and communities. By each of us giving our time and resources, together we produce results that are bigger, more meaningful and effective than anything we could possibly do alone.

Malinda Williams is the executive director of Community Against Violence (CAV) which offers FREE confidential support and assistance for child and adult survivors of sexual and domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and child/elder abuse; community and school violence prevention programs; re-education groups for people using power and control in their relationships; counseling; shelter; transitional housing; and community thrift store. To talk with someone or get information on services, call CAV’s 24-hour hotline at 575-758-9888. TaosCAV.org