EMPTY STOCKING FUND
The Empty Stocking Fund is a 41-year-old project of The New Mexican. Each year, hundreds of people receive aid from the fund during the holiday season to help cover rent payments, medical bills, utility costs, car repairs, home improvements and other needs.
Who it helps: Applicants, who must live within 50 miles of Santa Fe and must provide documents that provide proof of their identity, are considered without regard to race, age, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation. Applications are now closed.
How it works: Applications for funding are carefully vetted. Members of the Empty Stocking Committee review requests, meet with each qualifying applicant to examine records of outstanding bills or other needs and verify the applicant’s income. If a request is approved, the committee sends a check directly to the service supplier. Requests can be as much as $2,500 per household depending on the need.
2022 goal: $375,000
This holiday charity project, which began in 1981, is jointly administered by the Santa Fe Community Foundation, Enterprise Bank and Trust, the Salvation Army, Presbyterian Medical Services, The Life Link, Habitat for Humanity, Esperanza Shelter, Youth Shelters and Family Services, Gerard’s House and a private individual.
Gerard’s House is a safe place in Santa Fe for grieving children, teens and families, where healing happens through acceptance and peer support. When a child or teenager experiences the death of a parent or other loved one, the nonprofit is there with free grief support services and has been since 1997.
Because so many families experience barriers when they need grief support, Gerard’s House focuses on reaching the city’s most vulnerable grieving youth — kids who have immigrated from war-torn and impoverished regions, kids coping with homelessness and kids who have attempted suicide.
Services include 28 weekly peer grief support groups, a mobile unit, suicide-prevention programs, individual sessions, a summer camp, crisis response services, and support for parents and caregivers, all free of charge and bilingual for youth ages
3 to 21 who have experienced life-changing loss, such as the death of a parent or other loved one. The organization also offers seven weekly grief support groups for adults in English and Spanish.
To donate: Make your tax-deductible donation online by visiting 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, N.M., 875041827. Cash and coin donations are always welcome. Those can be dropped off at the offices of the newspaper at 150 Washington Ave. 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: $250 Anonymous: $250 Anonymous: $1,036.58 Anonymous: $100 Anonymous: $100 Anonymous: $25.87 Anonymous: $102.56 Anonymous: $204.81 Anonymous: $51.12 Anonymous: $25 Anonymous: $50 Anonymous: $511.55 Anonymous: $100 Anonymous: $2,500 Anonymous: $100 Anonymous: $250
Anonymous: $255.93 American Legion Post 1 Gaming Charity: $445
Barbara Belding, in memory of Ray Masterson, the Balloon Man: $100 Kerry Connor: $50
Richard and Marilyn Converse: $102.56
Philip Crump and Beverly Spears: $100
Margo Cutler and Kevin McBride: $300
Georgia and Jud Fischel: $51.43 Judith Gabriele and Vinnie Kelley: $102.56
Rebecca Haffenden: $250 Sheela Hewitt: $102.56
Tina and Jim Hille: $100 Bonnie and George Kopp: $51.43 Mary Anne and Bruce Larsen: $500 Gary and Lorranie L.: $153.68 Ann Lawrence: $250
Sara McKenzie: $102.56 Nathaniel Messimer: $200 Susy Moesch: $100
Roger and Connie Nelson: $100 June and Billy Parker: $102.56 Lynn Pickard: $1,000
In memory of Peter B. Quintana: $100
Loyd and Connie Reifel: $255.93 James and Diana Russell: $200 Deborah and Howard Spiegelmen: $250
Deborah J. Trouw CFP, Elevation Financial Group, in honor of our clients: $2,500
Margaret Urban: $100
Ruth and Arnold Valerio, in honor of deceased family: $100 Deborah and Hubert van Hecke, in memory of Brian Patterson: $102.56
Susan Wortman: $250
Ellen Zieselman: $150 Cumulative total: $117,768.44