TAOS IMMIGRANT ALLIES APRIL 2021 NEWSLETTER

Hello supporters of Taos Immigrant Allies!

The new administration and the gradual pre-opening of Taos businesses are offering renewed hope to our immigrant families. Let us continue to help “lift all boats!”

There is a national fund-raising effort happening called #share the stimulus. A number of you have been doing it already- sending the whole or a portion of your stimulus check to help those in need, as a way the unearned income is distributed equitably even though the Feds will not. This is our April newsletter reminding you that TIA is worthy of this support and we depend on your donations more than ever to continue our work.

Since the COVID Pandemic in the last 13 months, we have received $54,500 in COVID Relief Grants – from Con Alma – Santa Fe, Robert Keeler Foundation, Taos Community Foundation, Reach Out New Mexico, New Mexico Foundation and the LOR foundation. The Grant money is very much appreciated but grant money is disappearing as most feel COVID is behind us. More impressively, our community has donated $89,000 for the basic needs of our immigrant neighbors. All the money has gone to helping with rent, utilities, food, DACA fees, medical supplies, work permits, and family sponsorships as well as funding the Little Free pantries and census counting. We have helped 160 families in desperate needs. Our generous stewards of the 11 Little Free Pantry project – four churches and 50 stewards- have given in-kind donations estimated to be worth at least another $40,000 – much of this food source is going to the entire community, not just immigrants. That is a HUGE achievement, and we are full of gratitude to everyone of you who has participated in this ambitious grass-roots project by a 100% volunteer organization! Receiving and distributing $143,000 is challenging and time consuming, we needed some help.

Meanwhile, the needs persist and our work deepens as we learn more about the silent, undocumented families we seek to help. Wanting to improve our out-reach to immigrants, we decided to hire a part time bilingual contractor hopefully from grant money, needed immediately to help with the Emergency Rental Assistance Program application. This 1/4 time paid Family Navigator, will enable us to become more efficient and sustainable, uncovering chronic needs and finding previously unassisted families while helping existing clients navigate state and federal programs designed for longer-term aid with housing and utilities.

Our hope is to be around to assist the Taos County documented and undocumented immigrant population for the foreseeable future. Their needs are overwhelming, but with your help we are making a difference! Any donation is greatly appreciated by the volunteers of Taos Immigrant Allies, and is assured our immigrant families accept the support with heartfelt gratitude!

Most Sincerely,

— Bea, Del, Jean, Susann, Wendy, Jacob, Diana, Gladys, Teresa, Bee, Frances, Elaine, and our bilingual volunteers.

Here are the ways you can donate:

Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/zu6jb-taos-immigrant-allies

Donate to Taos United with TIA in the memo. Send checks to Taos United P.O. Box 2287 Taos, NM 87571

Write Tax deductible donations to B’NaiShalmon Havurah with TIA in the memo and include your email address. Send these checks to 810 Dillon Lane Taos, NM 87571

Taos Immigrant Allies is a committee of Taos United