Couple living off grid needs help fixing pickup
A34-year-old woman says she lives in an off-grid home in Rio Arriba County with her spouse and 2-year-old child.
The family depends on a pickup to haul firewood, which is their only heating source, and to haul propane, which is their energy source for hot water and cooking.
However, the pickup needs a new timing belt.
The couple are struggling financially because the woman’s husband’s work hours were cut back substantially.
“We have no money in our bank account and are currently unsure of how we will even pay our rent next month,” she wrote in her application.
They are asking for help getting a new timing belt for the pickup.
The couple are among hundreds of people seeking help from the Empty Stocking Fund this season.
The Empty Stocking Fund is a project of the Santa Fe New Mexican. The Santa Fe Community Foundation, Los Alamos National Bank, the Salvation Army, Presbyterian Medical Services, the Life Link, Habitat for Humanity and the Housing Trust donate services to jointly administer the Empty Stocking Fund.
The newspaper is publishing stories featuring requests for assistance from local residents.
The information from the initial application will be verified if the applicant is selected for assistance.
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria are considered without regard to race, creed, place or country of origin, age, disability, ethnicity, color, gender identity, marital status or sexual orientation. They must live in Santa Fe County or Rio Arriba County and provide a Social Security number.
The deadline to apply for assistance has passed.
To donate: Make your taxdeductible donation online at www.santafenewmexican.com/ empty_stocking or mail a check to The New Mexican’s Empty Stocking Fund c/o the Santa Fe Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1827, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1827.
Donors can request to remain anonymous.
If you can provide a service such as roofing or home repairs, contact Habitat for Humanity at repairs@ santafehabitat.org.
If you can contribute food, clothing, toys, housewares, furniture, firewood, or other items or services, call the Salvation Army at 505-988-8054.
Donations
Anonymous (3): $1,350 Eva and Edward Borins, in memory of Tom Margittai: $100 Mark and Nancy Brugh: $200 Martha Davis and C. Emery Cuddy Jr.: $100
Daniel and Camille Donoghue, in memory of Kae Donoghue: $50 Danny and Marissa Earp: $200 Janet and James Elder: $50 Ellie Hinds Memorial Endowment Fund: $100
Laraine Ferguson, in memory of Gail Gagler: $75 Lucy Lippard and Jim Feris: $150 Barbara and Bob Gallatin: $200 David and Cleo Henkel, in memory of Elizabeth Vaughn Henkel Ethel Hess: $100 Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hickman: $200
David King, in memory of Sean King: $100 Judy and Elmer Leslie: $100 Bret Luboyeski, in honor of Christine Luboyeski: $50
Bret Luboyeski, in honor of Stephanie & Paul Luboyeski: $50
Mary Anne and Bruce Larsen Fund: $300 Matilda and Howard Rubin: $100 David McDonald and Anne Salzmann: $150
David and Terri Selvage, in honor of Donald O’Neil: $100
Ruth and Arnold Valerio, in memory of departed family: $200
Total: $4,025 Cumulative total: $95,482.06