Ways to assist local helping organizations

Every year, the Las Cruces Bulletin publicizes ways to help those in need in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County. These local nonprofits would welcome your donations of money, food, clothing and other items, and also your time as a volunteer to help people and animals in our community.

This is not a comprehensive list, and is not meant as an endorsement of some organizations over others.

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. Las Cruces, Gadsden and Hatch school districts help select participating children. Contact Lucy Rubio, 575-404-8459, and Roxanne Livingston, 575-405-9060. Email las.cruces.nm@toysfortots.org. More information online at Las-Cruces-NM.toysfortots.org. Jack and Peggy Petrowsky started Las Cruces Toys for Tots in 1998, with toys for 65 children. It provided more than 16,000 toys, books and stocking stuffers to 5,588 children countywide in 2023.

La Casa, Inc., a domestic violence organization, needs nonperishable 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, N.M., 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Mail cash donations to La Casa, Inc., P.O. Box 2463, Las Cruces 88004. Donate online at lacasainc.org/donate/. Volunteers are also needed. Call 575-526-2819.• The 30th annual.

Coats for Kids of Las Cruces seeks donations to purchase more coats. Give to Community Action Agency at caasnm.org/donate/ or mail donations to CAASNM, 3800 Foothills Road, Suite A, Las Cruces 88011. Coats for Kids has provided more than 60,000 cold-weather coats to area children ages newborn-fifth grade in the past 29 years.

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; warm clothing, underwear and diapers, hygiene products, bath towels, washcloths. Mail donations, payable to MKV Project Link, to LCPS Family Support Center, 505 S. Main St., Suite 249, Las Cruces 88001 ATTN: Finance Department. Take donations to the same address. Contact Ray Banegas, 575-527-6688 and rabanegas@lcps.net.

Project Linus needs new, washable, handmade quilts, afghans and fleece blankets to give to local children who are ill, traumatized or otherwise in need; blanket-making materials, postage stamps, cash donations and gift cards to Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts. Drop off donations at Be Sew Creative, 1601 E. Lohman Ave.; Joann Fabrics, 1711 E. University Ave.; Threadbear fabric store, 2204B S. Main St. Mail donations to Susan Stoltzfus, P.O. Box 116, Mesilla Park 88047. Contact Stoltzfus at 575-526-3695 and sgstolt13@gmail.com. Online information at ProjectLinus.org and Project Linus on Facebook.

Santa for a Senior: Community Partners Helping Communities, a Las Cruces organization, is collecting donations for seniors. Donations needed include large-print word puzzles, hygiene products, adult coloring books/colored pencils, coffee, cocoa, tea, lap blankets. Cash donations also accepted. Gifts will be given to seniors at an event in December. Contact Penney McClarin, 575-520-8039 or penelope.mcclarin@gmail.com. Sunday, Dec. 15 is donation deadline.

Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces will accept musical instruments (especially guitars), arts and crafts supplies, school supplies, athletic equipment, Legos, kitchenware, cleaning supplies, office supplies, new board and card games. For the holidays, needs include new toys for ages 6-18. Cash, checks and online donations welcome. Take or mail donations to Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces, 330 W. Las Cruces Ave. Las Cruces 88005; online: BGCLasCruces.org. Founded in 1963.

Jardin de los Niños supports homeless/near homeless children and families. In addition to its Adopt-A-Family campaign, Jardin accepts in-kind donations and items it needs most: diapers and pull-ups, cleaning products and hygiene products, zipper storage bags. Donations accepted during regular hours, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday and by appointment at 999 W. Amador Ave. (Mesilla Valley Community of Hope campus). Volunteers welcome. Call 575-522-2111, email amber.sedillo@jardinlc.org. Mail donations to Jardin de los Niños, 1300-G El Paseo, PMB #272, Las Cruces 88001. Donate online at JardinLC.org. 

Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico has worked since 1965 to lift New Mexicans out of poverty through programs that build family strength and resiliency. It serves five southwestern New Mexico counties including Doña Ana, with other services statewide. Programs include child nutrition, home visiting, financial education and youth development and entrepreneurship. In 2023, the agency reached 11,000-plus individuals and families. Give to CAASNM at caasnm.org/donations or mail donations to CAASNM, 3880 Foothills Road, Suite A, Las Cruces 88011.

A scene from an Angel Tree celebration at Tresco, Inc.

Tresco, Inc. provides early intervention, home visiting and outreach support services to families in Doña Ana and Sierra counties. Cash donations of any amount, food and toys are welcome. Donations requested by Friday, Dec. 20. Take donations to Tresco, 1800 Copper Loop, or contact Stacie Allen at 575-528-2206 and sallen@trescoinc.org. Mail donations to Tresco, Inc. 1800 Copper Loop, Las Cruces, N.M. 88005 c/o Stacie Allen.

Gospel Rescue Mission provides support and services for the homeless. Greatest needs are winter coats and caps, blankets, socks, men’s and women’s underwear. Take donations to GRM, 1050 W. Amador Ave. Donate at lcgrm.org or mail to Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 386, Las Cruces 88004. Volunteer/large-item pickup: 575-523-7727. Email hope@lcgrm.org. GRM was founded in 1972 by Rev. Darrel Bean.

El Caldito Soup Kitchen needs milk, turkeys, hams, canned goods, salad dressings, salt, pepper, spices, sliced cheese, bottled water, soda pop, holiday pies and cakes, canned pineapple, brown sugar, green beans, corn, cranberries, crispy fried onions, celery, onions and sweet potatoes; deli meat for Saturday sack lunches; foam cups, three-compartment containers; plates, napkins; utensils. Take items to El Caldito’s back door, 999 W. Amador Ave. (Mesilla Valley Community of Hope campus), 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. Contact Laura Alvarado at 575-525-3831, 575-649-6507 and elcalditosoupkitchen@gmail.com. Mail donations to El Caldito, P.O. Box 2833, Las Cruces 88004. Donate at elcaldito-lc.org. Regular volunteers are needed. El Caldito serves more than 90,000 meals a year and has served more than two million meals since it was founded in 1984.

Tutti Bambini Children’s Store sells gently used children’s clothing, toys and more to benefit local and border-area outreach programs for children challenged by poverty and special needs. Donations of items to sell and cash welcome. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. 300 El Molino Blvd., (corner of Alameda and Molina). Online information at  MeetLasCruces.com/Tutti-Bambini-in-Las-Cruces.html and on Facebook. Contact Sister Beth: 575-640-1997, daddiosister@yahoo.com, Jeanne: 575-556-9752. Tutti Bambini opened in 2013.

Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico is committed to improving the quality of life in the 12 counties it serves, connecting people to animal welfare, caring for the unhoused, education, arts, culture and more. Contact Diana O’Brien at 575-521-4794, diana@cfsnm.org. Mail checks to 2640 El Paseo Road, Las Cruces 88001. Donate at cfsnm.org.

Mesilla Valley Community of Hope serves people experiencing homelessness and needs new or gently used coats, blankets, socks, gloves, tents, towels, shampoo, soap, toiletries. Take donations to Community of Hope, 999 W. Amador Ave. Mail cash donations to MVCH, P.O. Box 16526, Las Cruces 88004. Donate online at mvcommunityofhope.org. Call 575-523-2219 or email hope@zianet.com. In FY 2023-24, MVCH served 10,077 clients, provided shelter to 256 people in Camp Hope tent city, provided housing to 1,541 people, including 475 children, and served 616 veterans.

Salvation Army Las Cruces Corps needs canned/pre-packaged food, frozen turkeys, toys. Deliver to 1590 California Ave. or call 527-524-4713. Send donations to Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1423, Las Cruces 88004. Emergency services for families in need: food boxes handed out Thursdays from 8 a.m. until all boxes are gone; used clothing. Volunteer for holiday bell ringing at RegisterToRing.com (continues thru Tuesday, Dec. 24). Angel Tree program needs gift donations for low-income children; trees at Old Navy, Walmart, Sam’s Club. California Street 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. Toy Drive: Saturday, Dec. 7, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., arrive at 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. 

13th annual Border Health Shoe Box Project for children in Palomas and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Churches, groups and local Department of Health employees take shoeboxes filled with gifts for children each December. Shoebox items needed include toy cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, yoyos, jump ropes, slinkies, simple baby pull toys (no toys with batteries, toy guns or knives); school supplies (pencils, pens, blunt scissors, pencil sharpeners, stamp/ink pad sets, solar calculators); hygiene items; also socks, underwear, warm hats, mittens/gloves, T-shirts, barrettes, toy jewelry, inexpensive watches, hard candy, lollipops (put candy in plastic baggies). Pick a boy or girl for each shoebox (or small plastic container), ages 2-4, 5-9, 10-14. Tape identifying label to box top. If box is wrapped, wrap lid separately for border inspection. You may add a note in Spanish in each box. Take filled boxes and loose items to the Las Cruces Public Health Office, 1170 N. Solano Drive, second floor, Office of Border Health. Donations requested by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. Contact Angie Sanchez Corral, 575-528-5123 and angie.sanchez@doh.nm.gov.