Tents to Rents surpasses $110,000 in 2023 fundraising campaign

Mesilla Valley Community of Hope’s (MVCH) Tents to Rents campaign has raised more than $500,000 since MVCH Executive Director Nicole Martinez began the campaign in 2016. This year, Tents to Rents raised a record-setting $110,000, and it is still collecting donations. The money will be used to move residents of MVCH’s Camp Hope tent city into their own apartments, and to pay other Camp Hope operating expenses. “It’s absolutely outstanding that we have such a giving community,” said state Sen. Carrie Hamblen of Las Cruces, who was the emcee for the Tents to Rents thank you celebration held Oct. 4 at Salud! de Mesilla. Hamblen is the former MVCH board chair and long-time MVCH supporter. She raised more than $1,500 and was this year’s top individual fundraiser for Tents to Rents. Hamblen and other fundraising partners and sponsors – including the Las Cruces Bulletin – were recognized at the celebration. Good Sam’s Housing Helpers was recognized as 2023’s top fundraiser for Tents to Rents at more than $21,100. Marci Dickerson and Friends raised more than $6,200, Of the Same Ilk: more than $5,100, Unitarian Universalist Church: more than $5,000, St. Andrews Episcopal Church: more than $4,000, Hearts for Hope: more than $1,900, Temple Beth El: almost $1,700, Doña Ana Community College President Monica Torres: $1,350 and Nigel Holman: almost $1,300. New Mexico State University’s Office of Experiential Learning raised almost $4,500 with its Color Run 5K fundraiser for the 2023 Tents to Rents campaign, and the Hops for Hope pub crawl that raised almost $1,500, with support from The Game, Little Toad Creek, Ice Box Brewing Company and Spotted Dog Brewery. Martinez has tripled the $700,000 budget she began with when she became MVCH executive director more than 10 years ago, state Sen. Carrie Hamblen of Las Cruces said Support for Tents to Rents “can insure people get back on their feet,” said Martinez, who has been with MVCH for 17 years and is in her 10th year as executive director. Martinez “has tripled the $700,000 budget she started with, providing services to thousands of unhoused or near homeless individuals over the years,” Hamblen said. Visit tentstorents.org to see this year’s fundraising totals and to donate to Tents to Rents.