Many ways to help those in need during the holidays

Every year, the Las Cruces Bulletin publishes a series of stories on ways to help those in need in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County. The series will include many nonprofits that would welcome your donations of money, food, clothing and other items, and also your time as a volunteer.

• U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots of Doña Ana County collects new, unwrapped toys for boys and girls ages 0-14 in 150-plus donation boxes countywide beginning Nov. 1. Most needed: soccer balls, basketballs, games, art sets, jewelry making kits, Barbie dolls, and other toys for ages 8 and up, and cash to buy toys. Coordinated by Patty Groth and El Perro Diablo Marine Corps League Detachment #478 of Las Cruces, partnering with Las Cruces, Gadsden, Hatch school districts. Contact Patty Groth, 575-202-6185, and U.S. Marine (ret.) Joe Montoya, 575-571-7728. Email las.cruces.nm@toysfortots.org. Visit las-cruces-nm.toysfortots.org and Las Cruces Toys for Tots on Facebook. Mail donations to Toys for Tots, P.O. Box 14002, Las Cruces, NM 88013. Jack and Peggy Petrowsky started Las Cruces Toys for Tots in 1998, with toys for 65 children. It provided more than 18,000 items (14,631 toys/stocking stuffers, 3,634 new books) to 5,671 children countywide in 2022.
• 29^th annual Las Cruces Coats for Kids needs new/gently used coats for children ages birth to 5th grade, sizes infant to adult XL. Take coats, mail or drop off cash donations: Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico (CAA), 3880 Foothills Road, Suite A, Las Cruces, NM 88011; Drop off coats at CAA; 101 Gold radio, 101 Perkins Drive; Comet Cleaners, 2001 E. Lohman Ave., 2497 N. Main St., 555 Utah Ave.; U.S. Post Office: 310 E. Union Ave. in Mesilla Park; Firestone Complete Auto Care, 311 S. Main St.; Holy Family American National Catholic Church, 702 Parker Road; Santa Rosa de Lima Church, 5035 Holsome Road; St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church, 100 S. Espina St.; Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1327 N. Miranda St.; Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 1240 S. Espina St.; Our Lady of Health Catholic Church, 1178 N. Mesquite St.; St Albert the Great Newman Center, 2615 S. Solano Drive; Our Lady of Purification Church, 5525 Cristo Rey St., Doña Ana; Basilica of San Albino, 2280 Calle de Principal, Mesilla. Call Alycia Jameson at 575-621-4612. Every cash donation is doubled by Anderson Foundation. Visit www.lascrucescoatsforkids.com and www.facebook.com/lascrucescoatsforkids. Coats for Kids has provided 60,000+ coats in the past 28 years.
• Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, needs shoebox donations for children worldwide struggling with terrorism, poverty, famine, disease. No candy, toothpaste, liquids or toys that represent war. The drop-off center is Grace Covenant Church, 3111 N. Main St. Donations accepted 3-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 15; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Nov. 14, 16, 18; 1-3 p.m. Friday, Sunday, Nov. 17, 19; 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Nov. 20. To donate and learn how to pack a shoebox, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ. Contact Stephanie Muir at occsouthwestnm@gmail.com.
• Tresco, Inc. provides job placement services to people with disabilities and needs donations for Thanksgiving food baskets and Christmas toys for less fortunate families it serves. Cash donations of any amount, food and toys are welcome. $75 provides a family Thanksgiving basket. $150 provides Christmas toys for a family. $225 provides both. Donations requested by Wednesday, Nov. 15. Take donations to Tresco, 1800 Copper Loop, or contact Stacie Allen at 575-528-2206, sallen@trescoinc.org. Mail donations to Tresco, Inc. 1800 Copper Loop, Las Cruces, NM 88005 c/o Stacie Allen. Visit sub.trescoinc.org.
• Salvation Army Las Cruces Corps needs canned/pre-packaged food, frozen turkeys, toys. Deliver to 1590 California Ave. or call 527-524-1044. Send donations to Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1423, Las Cruces, NM 88004. Emergency services for families in need: food boxes handed out Thursdays beginning at 8 a.m. until all boxes are gone; used clothing, utilities, rental assistance: 8-10 a.m. Wednesdays. ID and utility bill required to prove Doña Ana County residency. Volunteer for holiday bell ringing (now through Sunday, Dec. 24) at 1590 E. California Ave., contact Capt. Michael Evans at 575-524-4713 and michael.evans@usw.salvationarmy.org. Angel Tree program needs donations of gifts for low-income children; trees at Old Navy, Mesilla Valley Mall, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Farmers Insurance, Rudy’s Bar-B-Q, Rehab Hospital of Southern New Mexico and White Sands Credit Union; contact Capt. Noel Evans at 575-524-4713 and noel.evans@usw.salvationarmy.org. Main location and thrift store, 220 E. Idaho Ave., need donations of new and gently used items; drop off or call 575-524-1590 for pick up. To volunteer, call 575-524-4713. Visit lascruces.salvationarmy.org and the Salvation Army Las Cruces Corps and www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyofLasCruces. Toy Drive Saturday, Dec. 2, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., arrive at the old K-Mart parking lot, 1900 Bataan Memorial East, by 10:30 a.m.; bring at least one boy and one girl gift valued at $10 or more each; gifts also accepted at Rudy’s Bar-B-Q, 1020 N. Telshor Blvd.

• La Casa, Inc., a domestic violence organization, needs non-perishable food items, coats, gifts for teens and children of all ages, household items, furniture, gift cards in any amount, toiletries and cleaning supplies. Take items to 800 S. Walnut St. in Las Cruces or 325 First St. in Anthony, New Mexico, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Mail cash donations to La Casa, Inc., P.O. Box 2463, Las Cruces, N.M. 88004. Donate online at lacasainc.org/donate. Volunteers are also needed. Call 575-526-2819. Visit La Casa Thrift Store, 812 Spruce Ave., open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Donations are welcome. Visit lacasainc.org/thrift-store. La Casa, Inc. provides emergency shelter, case management, legal advocacy, transitional housing and other 24/7 supports to those affected by domestic violence. In 2022, La Casa served more than 1,800 adults and children. La Casa’s 32^nd annual Holiday Bazaar: Friday-Sunday, Dec. 1-3 (Friday: 4:30-7:30 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m), Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Ave., 100-plus vendors; tickets: $7 per day or $15 for all three days; visit lacasainc.org/holiday-bazaar. Pick a card from the Angel Tree and help provide gifts for those served by La Casa. Holiday volunteers needed; apply at lacasainc.org/volunteer-form or contact Gloria Carreras at gloriac@lacasainc.org.
• Las Cruces Public Schools’ Project Link Homeless Education program serves about 900 temporarily or permanently homeless students and families each school year. It needs donations of blankets, new winter coats (teenage male, female sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL; sizes 5t-16 for boys, girls); warm clothing, warmups with long sleeves, beanies, gloves, socks, underwear (all sizes: boys, girls, juniors); diapers (sizes 1-4); full- sized shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, toothpaste, feminine products, laundry soap, wipes; bath towels, washcloths, snack bags. Take items to Project Link office at Valley View Elementary, 915 E. California St. Mail donation checks, made out to MKV Project Link, to 505 S. Main St., Suite 249, Las Cruces, NM 88001 ATTN: Finance Department. Contact Ray Banegas, 575-527-6688 and rabanegas@lcps.net; Ashley Cortez, Karla Solis Holguin, Margarita Solis and Juliette Paez-Pearcy at 575-527-6660.
• Project Linusneeds new, washable, handmade quilts, afghans, fleece blankets to give to local children who are ill, traumatized or otherwise in need; blanket-making materials, postage stamps, cash donations, gift cards to Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts. Drop off fabric, yarn, other donations at Be Sew Creative (formerly Bernina Sewing and Design Center), 1601 E. Lohman Ave.; Joann Fabrics, 1711 E. University Ave.; Threadbear fabric store, 2204B S. Main St. Project Linus will have a booth at the La Casa Bazaar. Mail donations to Susan Stoltzfus, P.O. Box 116, Mesilla Park, NM 88047. Contact Stoltzfus at 575-526-3695 and sgstolt13@gmail.com. Visit www.projectlinus.org and on Facebook.
• Children’s Reading Alliance is focused on child literacy. Its First Teacher/Primer Maestro countywide parent support program distributes thousands of children's books into local households at no cost. Donations of new/gently used books for ages birth-8 are welcome, especially bilingual books. Cash donations are welcome. Donate at www.childrensreadingalliance.org. Send donation checks to Children’s Reading Alliance, 3880 Foothills Road, Las Cruces, NM 88011. Call 575-522-3713 or email info@cralc.org.
• Mesilla Valley Community of Hope: People experiencing homelessness need new or gently used coats, blankets, socks, gloves, tents, towels, shampoo, soap, toiletries. Mail cash donations to MVCH, P.O. Box 16526, Las Cruces, NM 88004. Donate online at www.mvcommunityofhope.org. Call 575-523-2219 or email hope@zianet.com. MVCH, 999 W. Amador Ave. 2021-22. In FY 2022-23, MVCH served 7,258 clients, provided shelter to 266 people in Camp Hope tent city, provided housing to 972 people, including 130 children. It served 449 veterans in 2022-23, and 421 veterans in 2021-22.
• Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico began in 1965 and serves Doña Ana and four other southwest New Mexico counties, providing services to help families facing adversities, including Coats for Kids of Las Cruces, youth entrepreneurship (Kids Can), child nutrition programs, small business development. Contact Mark Hohnstreiter, 575-527-8799, markh@caasnm.org. Mail donations to CAASNM, 3880 Foothills Road, Suite A, Las Cruces, NM 88011. Donate at www.caasnm.org