Taos News hosts BBQ fundraiser

Every week up until schools were shut down by a pandemic in the spring, more than 1,000 copies of the Taos News were delivered free of charge to public school and charter school classes in Taos, Dixon, Peñasco, Taos Pueblo, Arroyo Seco, Arroyo Hondo, Questa, Angel Fire and Cimarrón.

Those papers were part of the national Newspapers in Education program and paid for through donations made generously every year by readers and through the newspaper’s popular annual pancake breakfast fundraiser, made and served up by Taos News staff.

Some teachers used those newspapers as part of their classroom curriculum, with stories and photos providing an opportunity to discuss current affairs and maybe debate content.

After the state shut down schools to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Taos News ad director Chris Wood and a delivery contractor still delivered 1,200 newspapers each week to four schools that were providing meals through bus deliveries. Students and families could get a newspaper at the same time they picked up food. When the summer rolled around, the newspaper still has made sure 800 newspapers go to each bus drop during a time when it usually stops due to summer vacation. But the extra weeks of delivered newspapers has drained the NIE account.

This year the Taos News is changing things up to generate funds for NIE, adjusting to the current state of restrictions, by hosting a drive-through barbecue fundraiser. The newspapers own master chef – and circulation guru – Ray Taylor, will be prepping barbecue sandwiches, potato wedges, homemade coleslaw and apple cobbler (Taylor’s homemade recipe).

The goodies will be boxed up and handed out to drivers with a bottle of water, all for $10 each meal on Saturday (July 25) from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the parking lot outside of the newspaper’s office, 226 Albright Street. About 125 tickets are still available, Taylor said.

The newspaper is working to raise $3,000 through the barbecue and a GoFundMe, which will supply newspapers to teachers and students through May 2021.

Tickets are available from Taos News during business hours or can be purchased the day of the drive-through barbecue. Cash and credit cards will be accepted.

Support a good cause and one of the few family-owned, independent newspapers left in the United States while enjoying some delicious barbecue.