LOADS OF HELP COMING TO CONVENTION CENTER
$1M in aid available for all
Convoy of Hope plans to give away more than $1 million worth of goods and services Saturday to anyone who needs them.
Anyone in need of a helping hand this weekend can find just about anything at the Convention Center Downtown.
Convoy of Hope is putting on its second annual event Saturday at 10 a.m.
The group plans to give away more than $1 million of goods and services. It is stocked with 70,000 pounds of groceries, 3,000 pairs of shoes, and will have lunches from Chick-fil-A — one for every person who walks in the door.
Last year, Convoy cochair Brian Alarid said the event fed 2,000 families and provided services to more than 6,600 people.
“This year our goal is to serve 8,000-10,000 people,” he wrote in an email to the Journal.
Anyone who wants to show up and take advantage of the event can, Alarid said, “all free of charge and no ID or proof of income required.”
There will be a kid’s zone with carnival games, free concessions, live entertainment and bounce houses. People can even get free health screenings.
This year, attendees can sign up for free dental exams, a visit to a full medical clinic, even haircuts and family portraits on location.
The event is powered by 1,500 volunteers and local business who donate time and materials.
The giving doesn’t stop Saturday. The week of Thanksgiving, Convoy of Hope will partner with two other organizations and Albuquerque Public Schools to bring 3,000 take-home holiday meals to low-income families. The meals will be delivered to more than 60 elementary schools on Nov. 19 and to middle and high schools on Nov. 21.
People can also receive veterans services and prayer from local churches, and sign up for job training and career advisory sessions, which will all also be on site.