BY DIANE SMOGER
Executive Director
Self Help, LLC

Self Help, Inc., one of the most critical safety net providers in northern New Mexico, recently renewed its collaborative agreement with the Los Alamos County Police Department (LAPD) to
bolster the “LAPD Emergency Basic Needs Program.”

The LAPD Emergency Basic Needs Program originated from the Los Alamos County Health
Council in 2015. The council recommended that the police have access to a designated fund to
assist community members during off-hour emergencies. Generous community members raised $10,000 to establish this program, which Self Help has managed since its inception. However, those funds have since been depleted, and Self Help, in collaboration with the Los Alamos Police Department, is once again asking big-hearted community members to help those who occasionally need a tank of gas, a meal, or a safe hotel stay during an emergency.

“While this fund is not used often, it is comforting to know it is available if needed. These funds
are designated to reserve a hotel night for a victim of domestic or other violence at any time,
and our officers can use the funds to fill a gas tank or purchase groceries for someone who is
unhoused or temporarily stranded,” reports LAPD’s Victim Advocate.

“If we raise $5,000, we will have enough to cover approximately five years of direct program
expenses. Collaborating with our LAPD partners allows us to assist some of our community’s
most vulnerable members. As we celebrate our 55th year of service, this is a fitting example of
the incredible compassion and generosity shown by community members who have been
helping their neighbors since 1969,” stated Diane Smogor, Director of Self Help.

To support this fund, visit https://selfhelpla.org/donate/ to donate online, and enter “LAPD
Fund” in the comment box. Alternatively, mail a check to Self Help, 2390 North Road, Los
Alamos, NM 87544, and put LAPD in the memo.