TAOS IMMIGRANT ALLIES SPRING NEWSLETTER 2024

Happy spring to all! We’re hoping that this newsletter finds you healthy and happy, planning your gardens and adventures and good times with friends and family.

Since the worst of the epidemic is over, we have been looking back at what we all accomplished with the help of our generous Taos Community and grants. Most importantly, Taos Immigrant Allies (TIA) gave out over $240,000 in small grants and food gift cards to immigrant families affected by the closure of restaurants, lack of tourists and construction jobs during and after the pandemic. We also helped with applications for another $80,000 in rent/utility Program assistance.  This translated into families being able to keep a roof over their heads, with food, electricity, and heat during those uncertain times. Over the Holidays we assisted 20 families new to us. TIA was also instrumental in accessing computers for students who were then able to continue their studies online remotely.

TIA continues to support one individual who is severely disabled, allowing him to get to appointments, and have the necessities of a dignified life. In all, we have given direct help to over 220 families, some monthly, and some many times, as needed.

We facilitated over 30 free COVID vaccine clinics, administering over 5000 vaccines to Taos County residents who otherwise had difficulty accessing them due to lack of documentation or other barriers.

Our website and phone number is active, and we continue to help and refer people who still need assistance.

We also participated in the backpack program (including school supplies) and the Christmas gift program, contributing over $7000 for each event as well as volunteer time to make sure all our immigrants had this available to them.

We coordinate and sometimes subsidize the 8 Little Free Pantries

stationed around the Taos area, providing emergency food, with over 70 stewards volunteering their time and efforts to keep them stocked and clean.

MEMORIAL:

 Susann McCarthy, a founding member of Taos Immigrant Allies, passed away earlier this year. She was active with our organization until her illness prevented further work. We will all miss her. On Saturday, May 18th at 1 PM there will be a memorial  for her at the head of Columbine Trail. The memorial is open to family, friends and associates who wish to honor her memory.

NEW PROJECTS:

We are thrilled to announce that we have started free classes for anyone who wants to learn English. There is a lot of interest, and  the classes have been moved from the library to a larger space. For now, the ESL classes continue once a week. We anticipate this will grow to several more classes on additional days, giving all participants a chance to learn, speak, and practice English, and allowing them to more fully integrate into our community while accessing more opportunities. We are grateful to the LOR Foundation for the grant that is making this possible. If you know anyone who would benefit from these classes, please have them contact us! If you would like to assist with the English classes, please contact us.

We’re also excited to have Barb Lemmon speak about the situation at the border on May 21st, at the Bent Masonic Lodge, 124 Camino del Santiago, at 5:30. All are invited! Barb is a member of the Green Valley Samaritans in Arizona, where for 14 years she has worked with this volunteer group that regularly monitors, witnesses, and serves the immigrants at the border of Arizona and Mexico. She spoke for us at a fundraising event at the TCA in 2020, and we’re delighted to have her back! This event is free. Please come and catch up on what’s happening at the border, from someone who volunteers her time to give voice to immigrants and asylum seekers.

To donate: Using PayPal or Credit Cards please go to our website:   www.taosimmigrantallies.org and find the DONATE button.

or

Write a check to:  B’nai Shalom Havurah Immigration Program, and send to

Taos Immigrant Allies, P.O. Box 2287 Taos, NM  87571.

Please include your email address so we can thank you and acknowledge your Tax deductible donation easily.

Be assured that because all TIA staff are volunteers, your donations will be used exclusively for the immigrant families’ needs. 

We wish you all an amazing spring and summer!