Los Alamos Reporter

Interfaith Coalition On Homelessness Announces Winter Collection Drive To Help Our Unhoused Neighbors In The Española Valley

ICOH NEWS RELEASE

As winter approaches, many in the Española Valley face bitter cold without stable shelter. Rising living costs, reductions in SNAP benefits, and limited access to healthcare make this winter especially difficult.

The Interfaith Coalition on Homelessness (ICOH), a local organization based in Los Alamos, has launched a community-wide winter collection drive to support unhoused and at-risk neighbors. ICOH includes congregations from Española and Los Alamos Counties, and it partners with organizations already serving the Valley. The drive will extend at least through January 2025 may be extended through February.

What We’re Collecting

Participating congregations in Los Alamos and Española are collecting items from two main categories. Half the congregations will collect cold-weather items (clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags); the other half will collect food and toiletries.  

Cold-weather items

·         Clothing—warm socks, new underwear (men and women), warm gloves, beanies, sweaters/sweatshirts, handwarmers, jackets, sturdy closed-toed shoes

·         Sleeping—emergency blankets, winter sleeping bags

·         Lightly used items are gladly accepted, except underwear should be new.

Food

·         Shelf-stable milk and non-dairy milk, canned meats and soups, cup of noodles, cooking oil, baby formula (sensitive type), granola bars, cereals, Cheez-its (for toddlers)

Toiletries

·         Toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies

Donation boxes are located at participating congregations. ICOH volunteers will pick up donated items weekly and deliver them to Española for distribution to three frontline nonprofits: McCurdy’s Family Resource Center, Española Pathways Shelter and Inside Out Recovery.

Donations are sought from the community at large as well as from congregations. Those who want to support the drive’s objectives can also make financial donations to these nonprofits.

Participating Congregations

Collecting cold weather items

  • Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2390 North Rd, Los Alamos
  • First United Methodist Church of Los Alamos, 715 Diamond Drive, Los Alamos
  • **Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, 1738 N Sage Loop St, Los Alamos
  • United Church of Los Alamos, 2525 Canyon Rd, Los Alamos
  • Valley View United Methodist Church, 827 Spruce St, Española
  • **White Rock Baptist Church, 80 NM-4, White Rock 
  • White Rock Presbyterian Church, 310 Rover Blvd, White Rock

Collecting food and toiletries

  • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Los Alamos and Pajarito Wards), 1967 18th St., Los Alamos
  • Los Alamos Jewish Center, 2400 Canyon Rd, Los Alamos
  • **Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, 1738 N Sage Loop St, Los Alamos
  • **White Rock Baptist Church, 80 NM-4, White Rock

** Collection boxes for these two churches are outside and will collect both categories of items.

Some congregations with existing end-of-year efforts will join the ICOH-sponsored drive in January.

Stay Updated

Updated lists of needs, participating congregations, and progress reports on donations collected will be published in local newspapers, church newsletters, and on the ICOH website (https://icohnm.org/).

Together, We Can Make a Difference

Your generosity can help hundreds of our struggling neighbors stay warm and nourished this winter. Thank you for your compassion and commitment to our community.

For more information, contact Tyler Taylor at tylerinnm@aol.com.