NEWSLETTERS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
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NOVEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER
As we prepare for another Trump presidency, we are researching what needs to be done in New Mexico to protect our immigrants as much as possible.
Taos County and Town already have "Immigrant Friendly" resolutions, and we are getting opinions as to how effective they will be.
The state of New Mexico does not have these, and pro-immigration policies have been voted down in the past by our legislature.
Now may be different, though. We are launching a campaign to ask the state to codify immigrant friendly laws. The National Immigration Law Center is
suggesting that we encourage our governor to make executive orders to:
prohibit ICE arrests without judicial order or warrants
publicly support legislative efforts to o codify high quality anti-detainer policies
prohibit state agencies from notifying ICE, detaining people for ICE and transferring people for ICE.
Prohibiting ICE arrests in state facilities
Outlawing private detention centers.
These actions are totally within her rights as a Governor.
We also need the Attorney General to weigh in on this, with formal opinions and guidance to state agencies, and to litigate for immigrants' rights. He can
introduce legislation himself too. His office can create an immigrant assistant program and coordinate legal services for immigrants. They can create and
distribute "know your rights" resources. They can join/file litigation and amicus briefs, and they can issue guidelines for local law enforcement, making clear
the legal concerns with detaining immigrants for ICE and emphasizing that they are not mandatory.
TIA is preparing a letter writing and calling campaign to Michelle Lujan Grisham and Raul Torres to try to accomplish these goals. As an " Immigrant Friendly"
town and county, in a border state, Taos may be among the first to attract ICE's attention, and our legislature begins to meet in January.
As we know, the people that we work with, eat with, pray with and school our children with, may be in danger of being "removed", detained and separated from
family in the near future. One in ten US families are "mixed status" families. That means that one in ten families may be broken up by mass deportation. These
people contribute billions of dollars in taxes to our economy in New Mexico alone, and contribute to Social Security, and Medicare, which they cannot collect. They
create jobs and are much less likely to break the law than US born residents. Please consider carefully what you can do to help them. We will be keeping you in
the loop about the campaigns, and we need funds to help families navigate these scary times. We are all volunteers, and all our donations go to direct services as
needed for undocumented Immigrant families.
Please take ten minutes today to call Attorney General Raul Torres 505-490-4060 and Governor Lujan Grisham 833-520-0020. Ask them if they will try to keep
families from being separated, losing their breadwinner, causing unnecessary indefinite detentions and ruining businesses. Tell them we want to live in a state
where hard-working law-abiding people do not have to live in fear, and not a country in which neighbors are encouraged to turn on neighbors.
Thank you,
Taos Immigrant Allies
HOW TO DONATE TO TIA
TIA IS FISCALLY SPONSORED BY B’NAI SHALOM HAVURAH, A JEWISH 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN
TAOS SINCE THE EARLY 1980’S. ALL DONATIONS WILL RECEIVE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LETTER FOR TAX PURPOSES. PLEASE INCLUDE
YOUR EMAIL.
1. FOR PAYPAL AND CREDIT CARDS
2. ANYONE WANTING TO DONATE TO TIA BY CHECK - MAKE OUT TO B'NAI SHALOM HAVURAH IMMIGRANT PROGRAM. AN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE SENT FOR TAX PURPOSES. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL. SEND TO: TAOS IMMIGRANT ALLIES P.O.
BOX 2287, TAOS NEW MEXICO, 87571
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 yellow 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!
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NOVEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER
First of all, thanks to all who supported the SHINE group for another successful back to school backpack program. A total of 455 backpacks were given to children at 22 different schools in our area, 109 to immigrant children. Impressive!
With the return of most jobs in the Taos area, our immigrant families have been working very hard, but as the cold weather and holiday time approaches, Taos Immigrant Allies (TIA) knows needs will increase for assistance with food, rent, utilities, and more.
Taos Immigrant Allies will ask for help only once during the entire Holiday Season. Though some organizations ask repeatedly, this will be the only donor request letter TIA will send.
Monies raised will help during the entire Holiday season and through the winter. We hope to provide extra food during Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as holiday gifts for the children, and assistance with rent, utilities, food and related necessities, as needed.
TIA has been busy with its regular activities but has also initiated a women’s support group and English as a Second Language classes to attempt more permanent positive change in immigrant families' lives. Increasing language ability helps them become part of our entire community and improves employment opportunities. This is our 4th year of the Little Free Pantry project; they are being used increasingly. Thanks to all our Stewards and donors.
TIA realizes there are many difficulties in the world, especially now. We are attempting to help those in need in our own little part of the world and make the Holiday season and wintertime more tolerable for those in need.
Please consider a donation, in honor of a loved one, as a memorial for someone special, or as an end of year IRS distribution. If you want to donate a holiday gift in honor of a friend or family, we will send them an acknowledgement of your gift. Please include the names and addresses of those you are honoring.
If a donation is not possible presently, we also understand. The gift of consideration, kind words, patience, smiles, and hugs to all we meet will help our entire community in these difficult times.
TIA sends our best wishes for a Happy and Peaceful Holiday Season to you all!
To donate:
PayPal or Credit Cards please go to our website: www.taosimmigrantallies.org and find the yellow DONATE button.
or
Write a check to: B’nai Shalom Havurah Immigration Program,
Taos Immigrant Allies, P.O. Box 2287 Taos, NM 87571.
Please include your email address so we can thank you and acknowledge your tax deductable donation easily.
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JULY 2023 NEWSLETTER
PLEASE HELP TAOS'S IMMIGRANT CHILDREN START THE ACADEMIC YEAR WITH BACKPACKS & REQUIRED SUPPLIES!
Taos Immigrant Allies/Sin Fronteras have identified over 100 immigrant children in the Taos area who need our help. We're coordinating this year as in the past with St. James Episcopal Church, Taos Behavior Health, Nurturing Centers in schools, and other not-for-profit organizations to provide backpacks and supplies to all Taos children who are in need.If you would like to help with this special project, a donation of $35 - $50 will cover a backpack and supplies for one child, though a donation of any amount will be deeply appreciated. You can donate by …
Paypal or Credit Cards - please go to our website www.taosimmigrantallies.org and find the yellow DONATE button
By check to B’nai Shalom Havurah Immigration Program with "backpacks" in the memo and mail to Taos Immigrant Allies
P.O. Box 2287, Taos NM 87571. (Please include your email address so we can thank you.)
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FEBRUARY 2023 NEWSLETTER
With the changing status of the Emergency Covid Pandemic funds some thought that we were saying the pandemic is over, but it is more accurate to say the funding is changing. The SNAP Supplement is about to end Federally and in New Mexico. The funding changes make our Little Free Pantries more important than ever for families in the Taos area. We extend heartfelt and ongoing thanks to all who are present and past stewards. The project could not have succeeded without you.
The Little Free Pantry program was the second biggest expense in 2022 for Taos Immigrant Allies. With the funding changes 2023 presents more challenges, and we are looking hard for more people interested in restocking our present 9 LFPs and/or offering financial support to this project. If you are interested in helping restock an LFP please contact me (Del). If you are able to support this project financially please visit: taosimmigrantallies.org/donate.
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Note our new way to donate via PayPal or credit card if desired, and sending a check is always welcome. All donations are tax deductible.
Of interest- The LFP Project has been expanded by other organizations: at Taos Pueblo as a Youth Project; at the UNM-Taos Campus; and at Questa as a High school social studies project. Please help support all Food Insecurity projects.
With much gratitude,
All the volunteers at TIA
NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
We are announcing that we are now the Immigration Program of B’nai Shalom Havurah, thus ensuring the direct advantage of a 501©3 organization for our supporters and grantors.
It has been months since we sent out a newsletter. We have been quietly continuing our services to immigrants, often in partnership with other community organizations, while working on our post-pandemic mission. It is time to bring you up to date on our accomplishments and hopes for the future.
Recent accomplishments:
We recently had another successful Backpack Program, working along-side other organizations to provide backpacks and school supplies for children in need. We hope all children have a successful school year after a very difficult time for all.
We continue to sponsor Free Covid Vaccination Clinics to all who show up. These clinics are designed especially for those with no ID, Insurance or ability to make appointments who would otherwise have difficulty getting vaccines. The need for these clinics has grown as pharmacies/providers are short of vaccines or staff. After over 28 TIA-organized clinics and coordinating more than 4770 Covid vaccinations given, we are considering our actions going forward.
As the pandemic has loosened its grip on families, schools and the workplace, inflation and other hurdles persist, so we continue to help immigrant families and individuals with critical needs, such as applying for Emergency Rent Assistance, paying for DACA fees, and obtaining gas money when travel to the border is necessary for legal reasons. Border trips continue with SFNM coordinating. We continue to assist a disabled man, who has no family or ability to earn a living.
The Little Free Pantries continue to provide an important service for those who remain threatened by food insecurity. We are always in need of more LFP stewards, so please let us know if you can help. We give financial support to some LFP stewards who cannot always buy food for the pantries but are willing to restock food items and monitor the LFP.
The Mexican Consulate came to Taos for the first time in a few years and helped 72 people obtain IDs, passports, and other documents which are so important to getting jobs and more. We partnered in this process with Las Cumbres.
Our future plans:
The Holidays will be upon us soon and that is a huge time for us to help the families in need have presents for their children. Donations will be greatly appreciated, as we hope to provide gifts for at least 200 children. We have joined the effort by Twirl - AGLOW event 11/25th with other nonprofits, including Twirl, St. James (CYFD and Food Pantry referrals), Common Grounds, and Taos Behavioral Health/Nurturing Center.
In the new year we are initiating a women’s support group to help immigrant women make friends and find support among themselves, and develop new skills and relationships that will improve their quality of life and that of their families. Taking our cues from what the women themselves hope for we will work with community partners to bring financial literacy, entrepreneurial skills, English proficiency and more to the participants. This is a big project, but we are committed to helping end the isolation many immigrant women experience and helping them become more connected to their community and all of Taos County.
The Holiday season is a wonderful time to give to others. If you are able to assist us in our efforts to help immigrant families and individuals, please consider a tax deductible donation. All donations are greatly appreciated.
Donations can also be made in honor of family members and friends. Many of us have more “things” than we need, and want to help others. If you want to donate in honor of a friend or family as a Holiday gift, we will send an acknowledgement of those gifts. Please include their name and address of those you are honoring.
HOW TO DONATE TO TAOS IMMIGRANT ALLIES
TIA is fiscally sponsored by B’nai Shalom Havurah
• Anyone wanting to give a donation please send a check made to B'nai Shalom Havurah Immigrant Program.
• An acknowledgement will be sent for tax purposes. Please include your email.
• Send to:
Taos Immigrant Allies
P.O. Box 2287, Taos
New Mexico, 87571
B'nai Shalom Havurah, is a Jewish organization that has been active in Taos since the early 1980’s and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
With deep gratitude and our most sincere wishes for warm and healthy holidays, the volunteers of Taos Immigrant Allies
Please help us help Taos children get back to school after a difficult year!!
Taos Immigrant Allies is joining a Special Project to provide backpacks and school supplies to local children. We are coordinating with Sin Frontera to help our immigrant children get the school supplies they need for going back to school. Our effort is joined by other non-profit organizations who will supply the same for non-immigrant children in need. Together TIA and Sin Frontera have over 100 children in need of our help. If you would like to help with this Special Project please consider a donation of $50 to cover a backpack and supplies for one child or multiple of the same. Of course a donation for any amount is always deeply appreciated.
Please consider ASAP - plan purchasing, packing supplies, and distributing by early August.
THANK YOU! Taos Immigrant Allies, Sin Frontera, and our local parents and students greatly appreciate your generosity!
How to donate:
Write a check to
Taos Immigrant Allies (TIA) - with "backpacks" in the memo
P.O. Box 2287 - Taos, NM 87571
Sin Frontera NM PO Box 531, Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557
"Backpacks" in the memo line
Tax Deductible Donations to B’Nai Shalom Havurah with "TIA/backpacks" in the memo and include your email address. Send to B’Nai Shalom Havurah
810 Dillon Lane - Taos, NM 87571
TAOS IMMIGRANT ALLIES MAY 2021 NEWSLETTER
Saludos a todos
First, Taos Immigrant Allies would like to thank all those who continue to give of their time, resources, and monies that allows us to help the immigrant community in Taos. We have been able to provide DACA fees to qualifying applicants, assist folks in signing up for various state resources throughout the pandemic, provide direct utility and rent relief to those whose income was affected, and continue our Little Free Pantry Project.
We have been recently considering how we might leverage our resources to achieve the maximum level of help to the clients we currently serve. After discussions inside and outside of committee meetings, TIA made the decision to hire a part-time assistant who could give more attention to the dire need in Taos County. As many of you are probably aware, prior to this decision Taos Immigrant Allies was completely a volunteer organization. Some of us had full-time jobs, children, businesses, and other commitments. The need that arose from COVID-19 tested our ability to ethically assist the growing number of folks who were reaching out to us for help. We are happy to announce that we hired one of our own volunteers to fill the position. Help us welcome Bee Falcon in an official capacity!
Bee Falcon, TIA Family Navigator, has lived and worked in Mexico, has a passion for language, linguistics, and borderlands. She has been involved in immigrant, refugee, and housing advocacy over the past couple of decades. Bee loves living in the SW, cooking, sustainable gardening, and exploring the outdoors with her loved ones. We were overjoyed when Bee joined us as a volunteer and are deeply grateful for her new role within the organization. Currently she is spending most of her time helping folks with their DFA applications.
This new development for us has us asking questions about the future of Taos Immigrant Allies. Once the pandemic shifts from preventing transmission and getting vaccinations to all those who want, what will be the need? We know from working with our clients that there is still much work to do. Many of our clients were afraid to move forward with citizenship process’, DACA applications, and the like previous to the pandemic. The previous government created a great deal of anxiety for the immigrant community. How do we educate ourselves well enough to walk them through their doubts and help them move forward? As we think about this, the world the pandemic left us, and what is to come we know that some will not qualify for assistance, some are afraid to apply for assistance due to vulnerable status, and some will need support for some time to return to their pre-pandemic baseline. We continue seeking grant funding from various foundations to support our boots-on-the-ground efforts here in Taos County, but this alone has not been enough to fill all the gaps that have emerged and been revealed throughout the past year. It is in this vein of thought that we would ask again for your support. We understand that all have been affected by the pandemic, but the community we strive to serve does not have the privilege of state and federal safety nets to support them.
We continue to stay connected to the community as various volunteers attend community facilitated meetings, depending on their respective professions. Those in the school system continually update us regarding the changes in policy and procedure as well as alerting us to any needs. We have been able to find most of our sponsored families through those channels. We also attend the EC COAD (Enchanted Circle Community Organizations Active in Disaster) as a way to communicate the ongoing unmet needs of the community we are serving and to listen for opportunities that might benefit them. Through this we are also able to see and hear about the ongoing issues that the pandemic has uncovered or created.
We have seen a great outpouring of compassion, grace, selflessness, and integrity already from folks in Taos County and beyond in supporting the immigrant community. We trust and believe that with your help we can have a profound and positive effect on many lives.
With deepest thanks and respect,
Bea, Del, Jean, Susann, Wendy, Jacob, Diana, Gladys, Teresa, Bee, Frances, Elaine, and our bilingual volunteers.
100% of the community money donated goes to our immigrant family needs.
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
Contact us at: taosimmigrantallies@gmail.com
Taos Immigrant Allies is a sub-committee of Taos United
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
TAOS IMMIGRANT ALLIES - MARCH NEWSLETTER
Happy Spring! Now for the bad news.
As reported in last week's Taos News, Kit Carson Electric Coop mailed out almost 900 disconnect warning notices with more on the way. Many were sent to TIA’s clients. KCEC does not want to disconnect any customers, but our clients are panicking. Although May 4th is the earliest date KC could legally disconnect anyone, our clients believe that they will be disconnected in a few days- the notice was sent out only in English! We are trying to inform our clients with texting and phone calls that their electricity will not be turned off soon. We heard of one member who sold his oxygen tank and supplies to pay his bill, because with no electricity he could not use the oxygen machine anyway. Others are taking out same-day loans, selling things, taking items to pawn shops. We are attempting to help our clients set up practical and realistic payment plans.
Add to this, at the end of the month the Federal CDC eviction restrictions will also be lifted for those behind on rent. The fear of being evicted is palpable.
As we all know, it is a year like none other for over a century. The pandemic has put many out of work or has severely decreased work hours. Whole families may be at home needing more electricity for appliances, heat and Internet for schoolwork. Many are struggling to pay their rent, gas and phone bills and provide food for their family. Some have medical expenses, need gas for their car (if they have one that is running), car repair bills, etc. There are many reasons why their bills are delinquent. Some families have grandparents raising their grandchildren. Some parents cannot work because they need to be at home helping their children with school.
We need to be forward thinking! This economic situation for the lowest income group will not resolve quickly. Those in poverty spend a higher percent of their income on rent, utilities and other mandatory needs, so getting out of poverty - even if they work as hard as they can - is getting more and more difficult. That is if there is even work possible for them. These folks will not be able to get back to their pre-pandemic quality of life for years, and their pre-pandemic situation was not good to begin with. Even if they have some work most undocumented immigrant workers do not receive a living wage. To catch up on overdue bills with insufficient income is often not doable without outside assistance.
The disconnect warning was a big wake-up call! Kristina Ortez sponsored bill HB 206 that sadly was not brought before the Legislative session before it was over. Many of us had hoped for some utility relief from that bill. KCEC CEO Mr. Reyes is working with the NM State Finance and Administration for help with rent and utilities using State CARES funds. TIA has worked extremely hard with our clients’ previous applications for State and Federal funds, but it has been exceedingly difficult in our cash economy as there are no written leases, pay stubs, or landlords accepting W-9s, which are needed to obtain CARES funds.
TIA volunteers have been working tirelessly to help those we serve, but we cannot solve all these issues alone, and Covid-focused grants are disappearing. We are still continuing the 12 Little Free Pantries in our community, family sponsorship, Vaccination registration help, and helping with rent and utility payments, and assisting setting up monthly payment plans.
If anyone in our community is suffering, we are all suffering. The situation has become more visible, the economic inequality more striking and apparent. TIA is trying to help the lowest income group; those in the shadows who often do not even qualify for the most basic assistance. We are all volunteers- 100% of the donations TIA receives are used directly to help our clients. We hope you want to be involved in helping us. Please consider a donation, no matter what amount. Remember, many of those we serve will not receive any check from the Government. We assure you, your donations are thoughtfully distributed to those clients in greatest need, and volunteers and clients alike are deeply grateful.
THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN DONATE TO TIA:
Make the check payable to Taos United with TIA on the memo line. Send all mail to: Taos Immigrant Allies - P.O. Box 2287 Taos, NM 87571
Go to our GoFundMe page:
https://www.gofundme.com/zu6jb-taos-immigrant-allies
If you desire a tax deduction letter, please donate by sending a check made out to B’nai Shalom Havurah with TIA on the Memo line to:
B’Nai Shalom Havurah,
810 Dillon Lane, Taos, New Mexico, 87571
Please include your email as well.
Bea, Del, Jean, Wendy, Susann, Jacob, Diana, Teresa, Gladys, Anita, Bee, and many helpers.
TAOS IMMIGRANT ALLIES - JANUARY 2021 NEWSLETTER
It is a brand new day! We are sure you too felt the cloud of armed domestic terrorism lift with the peaceful and thoroughly inspiring inauguration of our 46th President. Among many abrupt policy shifts, the President brings the promise of citizenship for 11million immigrants, stopping wall construction, and renewal of DACA!
While the challenges cannot disappear overnight, there is hope that a new attitude toward immigration will make the path clearer for the many who seek a better life in the USA and a strengthened appreciation for appreciation for the richness and diversity immigrants bring.
We heard in the prayers and poems of January 20th phrases that offer deep support for the work we do. “Care for one another in word and deed, especially the less fortunate among us” (Father O’Donnell), “befriend the lonely, the least and the left out.” (Rev. Beamen)
As you may know, starting in May 2020 TIA began addressing growing immigrant needs caused by the pandemic. We were receiving requests to help with food, rent and utilities from a population ineligible for federal stimulus grants and unemployment. We had six requests during May that grew to 30 requests in July and 49 requests in December. In December alone our monetary support for immigrants with food, rent, and utilities totaled close to $12,500. To help as many as possible we had to limit checks to $300 per family per month, and when funds were depleted we had to stop writing checks until the coffers filled again.
Last summer we began to address food insecurity by placing 10 Little Free Pantries (LFPs) around the county. These are "Give What You Can - Take What You Need" available 24/7 semi-permanently installed wooden boxes. More than 45 Community TIA volunteers are stewards of the LFPs, helping to clean and restock them seven days a week. Four Churches are involved. We estimate the stewards are providing at least $1000/week in donations of food! Many people who use the pantries are not immigrants but are those who have lived in Taos all their lives and have lost their jobs or have reduced work hours etc. due to the pandemic. The use of the pantries has increased greatly. In 2020 we also gave $14,000 in grocery cards to heads of households.
Most recently we began a Sponsorship Program for immigrant families. The recipients are selected by our Community Education partners at Enos Garcia Elementary School. Currently six anonymous families are sponsored with $100 checks a month for six or twelve months, paid by sponsoring donors in advance. The goal is to offer a small level of longer-range security to families in need.
In 2021 we hope to sustain these programs and grow them as needed. We are reaching out to you this month specifically to ask you to consider sending us stimulus money you may have received and don’t really need. A bold ask, we know! Please remember, 100% of all donations go directly to our immigrants in need as TIA is an all-volunteer organization.
As quickly as the money comes in, it goes out directly to help our clients. All amounts of donations are greatly appreciated.
Here are several ways you can help:
our Go Fund Me
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
To become a Family Sponsor your check for $600 (sponsoring a family for six months) or $1,200 (sponsoring for one year) can be written to either of the above. You will be notified as soon as a family is identified.
We also partner with Mountain Home HealthCare Fund for Immigrants. This non-profit specifically offers health-care funds for undocumented immigrants with no insurance. Please write tax-deductible checks to Mountain Home Health Care with “donation for immigrant fund" and mail to 630 Paseo del Pueblo Sur #180 Taos NM 87571
“There is always a light if we are brave enough to see it.” (Amanda Gorman) Let us shine a beacon in dark times!
TIA is awed by and deeply grateful for the generosity of our donors- like YOU- and grantors, including the Robert T. Keeler Foundation, Con Alma Health Foundation, Taos Community Foundation, All Together Grant, and all who are making our pandemic aid and longer-range assistance possible.
Bea, Del, Jean, Wendy, Susann, Jacob, Diana, Teresa, Gladys and many helpers.
TAOS IMMIGRANT ALLIES
DECEMBER 2020 NEWSLETTER
December is the month of holiday celebrations with family and friends. And, there isn’t anything more magical than farolitos on cold winter nights twinkling in the snow. Many of us have fond traditions, both religious and non-religious, that we revel in this time of year. No matter what form of spirituality you practice, giving to others is also part of the holiday tradition. 2020 is like no other year, and it has changed the priority of Taos Immigrant Allies.
Covid -19 has been hard on all of us emotionally but imagine if you lost your job or your hours were cut, and your children at home doing remote learning without dependable internet. Many times a day, we hear from our immigrant neighbors, friends, and our clients that they are unable to pay their rent, utility bills, and they can't keep food on the table or their cars running.
We have been able to help immigrants in our community with your donations, and with the grants, we have received since May 2020. We are so grateful for all your help. Below is a list of the grassroots work we have accomplished through your generosity.
Food – Many in our community suffer from food insecurity even before the pandemic hit, now it has gotten so much direr. NM has one of the highest percentages of our residents going to bed hungry. Since May, we have given out $14,000 in food cards to our clients. With many community volunteers/stewards, TIA have organized and placed 10 Little Free Pantries around Taos County to provide food within the neighborhoods to offer 24/7 food items. More locations have been requested. Food insecurity has only increased during the last eight months
Rent and Utilities – Many of our clients have lost their jobs or have had their hours severely cut, yet their rent still needs to be paid. The utility bills have increased with schooling at home, internet use, and now with winter upon us, heating bills have increased. We have supported families with their utilities and rents, contributing $55,300.00 to stay in their homes, and keep their homes warm and their lights on.
Covid-19 - With the help of St. James Food Pantry and the Nurturing Center, we delivered food boxes to the Taos Living Center and other business’s lower paid workers, who were hit hard with Covid-19. We delivered to their homes to encourage appropriate isolation and quarantine for the entire family. We included masks, sanitizer, and education about home isolation. We hoped to help decrease the spread of Covid-19 in our community.
Communication - We now have a system with our 140 families which allows them to reach out to us with their specific needs by texting or phone calls. We also can text informing them of any programs that could be available for them and help them apply.
Sponsorship of Families -We now have 5 families in our new sponsorship program, referred to us by the schools for those in dire need. We want to give them some security of knowing they will receive a check each month, and give them some steady income to meet some of their monthly needs.
Efficiency - 100% of donations go to helping our clients, quickly and respectfully. They are so appreciative.
Below are actual quotes we have received from those we help with through your generosity.
“Blessings to each of you and your family.”
“Thank you very much, God bless you, they helped me pay my bills, I thank them from my heart, they gave me the most needed day I could also buy milk and diapers for my baby.”
“Thank you very much, I just went to my mail and I already received the check, God bless you, you know that I need it and I am not working hard because I got sick from Covid, I thank you with all my heart, thank you for helping me”
“Hello good morning, I want to thank you, I received the check with all my heart, thank you very much it is very helpful in these times, God continues to bless you”
With the Giving Season is upon us, please consider an end-of-year donation for those in need in our community.
We appreciate every donation and the grants received (Con Alma, Taos Community Foundation, Robert Keeler Foundation, and All Together Grants) .
Thanks for helping our immigrant friends and neighbors.
Have a warm and Happy Holiday season!
Bea, Wendy, Susann, Del, Jean, Jacob, Colleen, Diana, Jody and Gladys and many helpers.
THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN DONATE TO TIA:
If you do NOT need a tax deduction for your contribution, it is best to make the check payable to
Taos United with TIA on the memo line. Send all mail to:
Taos Immigrant Allies - P.O. Box 2287 Taos, NM 87571
You can go to our GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/zu6jb-taos-immigrant-allies
TIA is fiscally sponsored by B’nai Shalom Havurah – a 501C(3)
If you desire a tax deduction, please donate by sending a check made out to B'nai Shalom Havurah with TIA in memo line to:
B’Nai Shalom Havura, 810 Dillon Lane, Taos,New Mexico, 87571
Please include your email as well.
TAOS IMMIGRANT ALLIES
NEWSLETTER November 2020
November is the month of Thanksgiving. We want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all our supporters, stewards, and donors. Without you, we could not serve our immigrant friends and neighbors.
We want to especially thank our 40 + stewards who have been caring for the 9 Little Free Pantries in the Taos area. Without their dedicated help, the LFP would not exist. Each pantry has a team of stewards who monitor the LFP almost daily, clean and restock with nonperishable food items that are available to those in need 24/7. The needs have expanded greatly, with the food disappearing quickly. If you are interested in food insecurity, consider buying a few extra nonperishable food items next time you shop and drop them in an LFP near you! A list of the LFP locations will be at the end of the letter. If you desire to become a regular LFP steward please let us know.
With the “Shelter in Place” again, the needs of others in Taos are overwhelming, especially for our immigrant neighbors and friends. We continue to answer urgent requests for financial assistance: rent, food, utilities, and other special needs as we can. We have been attempting to help our clients apply for NM State rent grants and Taos Feed Taos, etc. but because of their status, many cannot apply.
URGENT NEEDS – We were just asked to help some essential workers from the Taos Living Center who have tested positive. These are single mothers with children who need food delivery, patient Covid education, and health care.
Please consider a special donation.
Your generous donations and the grants we have been awarded have allowed us to do the following:
• We have distributed over $58,000 in aid since May.
• Thanks again to our generous donors in Taos and multiple grants us to serve over 135 families.
• We helped a diverse population of people including homeless people, seniors, single parents, disabled people, and many children that are in need. With schools operating remotely, the needs have only expanded.
• 100% of all donations and grants are directly used for immigrant needs.
We also have started a small sponsorship program for families - donors can support a family at $100/month for 6-12 months to give them some security of knowing they will receive a check each month, and give them some steady help to meet some of their monthly needs. If this interests you, please contact us.
Please help us support those who cook our food, serve us in restaurants, clean our hotel rooms, our houses, and care for our elders in Taos Living Center. These essential workers are the foundation of Taos’ economy, and they also happen to be the most vulnerable. Many of our neighbors receive no government assistance and are in great need right now.
With gratitude and concern,
Bea, Del, Jean, Susann, Wendy, Jacob, Colleen, and Jody.
LITTLE FREE PANTRY LOCATIONS
1. Rio Lucero on the riverside, across from house number 118
2. In front of First Presbyterian Church next to Kit Carson Park
3. In front of Bataan Hall on Civic Plaza Drive
4. On Mariposa, just off Kit Carson Rd, on the east side
5. Gusdorf Park next to the bench and the Little Free Library
6. Near Vigil Trailer Park entrance under Taos Net sign
7. Fred Baca Park under the tree in the parking circle
8. At the beginning of Straight Arrow Rd, next to the mailboxes & a Little Free Library
9. At the Arroyo Hondo Community Center 26 Lower Arroyo Hondo Rd
We need to be able to continue this work until Covid 19 crisis has passed and people are back to work. Please consider donating in this unprecedented time. We genuinely appreciate all of you and the incredible work we can do together.
There are several different ways you can donate to TIA:
• If you do NOT REQUIRE a tax deduction for your contribution, it is best to make the check payable to Taos United with TIA on the memo line. Send all mail to Taos Immigrant Allies P.O. Box 2287 Taos, NM 87571
• You can go to our GoFund Me page: gofundme.com/f/taos-immigrant-allies
• TIA is fiscally sponsored by the 501(c)(3) B’nai Shalom Havurah. If you require a tax-deductible donation, please send a check with TIA written on the memo line made to B'nai Shalom Havurah, 810 Dillon Lane, Taos 87571 - Please include your email so we can thank you.
Please Take a look at our website:
www.taosimmigrantallies.org
and like us on Facebook@Taos Immigrant Allies
TAOS IMMIGRANT ALLIES
SEPT - OCT - 2020
NEWSLETTER
Autumnal Greetings to you and your families. We hope you and your family are safe and as happy as possible under these trying times. With the weather changing, the needs of others in Taos are overwhelming, especially for our immigrant neighbors and friends. We are busy answering urgent requests for financial assistance: rent, food, utilities, and other special needs. Your generous donations and the grants we have been awarded have allowed us to do the following:
We have distributed over $52,000 in aid since May.
Thanks again to our generous donors in Taos and multiple grants us to serve over 135 families.
We helped a diverse population of people including homeless people, seniors, single parents, disabled people, and many children that are in need. With schools operating remotely, the needs have only grown.
100% of all donations and grants are directly used for immigrant needs.
We would like to be able to continue this work until Covid 19 crisis has passed and people are back to work. There are huge deficits in our community including the list below. Please consider donating in this unprecedented time. We genuinely appreciate all of you and the incredible work we can do together.
1. Our 9 Little Free Pantries around town are kept clean and stocked, and will soon need to be winterized. Stewards are watching over the LFPs, stocking them on a regular basis as they are increasingly used for emergency food needs 24/7. If you are interested in food insecurity consider buying a few extra nonperishable foods items next time you shop and drop them in a LFP near you! A list of the LFP locations will be at the end of the letter. If you desire to become a regular LFP steward please let us know.
2. With winter upon us - we are hoping to obtain money to winterize some homes for our most needy families inorder to lower their utility cost now and in the future. We hope to obtain a small grant to buy materials and have volunteers organize and supervise the work with immigrant families. We will obtain referrals from the Enos Community School survey and the Nurturing Center, etc. Donors can also help with this fund, or if you have talents to help winterize, please let us know.
3. We also have started a small sponsorship program for families - donors can support a family at $100/month for 6-12 months to give them some security of knowing they will receive a check each month, helping them develop budgeting skills and a strategy for meeting their other needs. If this interests you, contact us.
We also strongly recommend the movies Immigration Nation as well as Social Dilemma on Netflix. We all need to be aware of what is happening to our neighbors and our society.
Please help us support those who cook our food, serve us in restaurants, clean our hotel rooms and our houses, and keep our economy humming. Many of our neighbors receive no government assistance and are in need right now.
Your financial support is gravely needed now. And please keep our undocumented neighbors, friends and coworkers in your thoughts!
With gratitude and concern,
Bea, Del, Jean, Susann, Wendy, Jacob, Colleen, Carrell, and Jody.
LFP Locations - Gusdorf Park, Fred Baca Park, Rio Lucero Road, Mariposa Road at Kit Carson, Civic Plaza, First Pres. Church, Taos Net/Vigil Trailer Park, Straight Arrow Road and Arroyo Hondo Community Center.
There are several different ways you can donate to TIA:
You can go to our GoFund Me page: gofundme.com/f/taos-immigrant-allies
TIA is fiscally sponsored by the 501(c)(3) B’nai Shalom Havurah
If you require a tax-deductible donation send a check with TIA written on the memo line made to B'nai Shalom Havura, 810 Dillon Lane, Taos 87571 - Please include your email.
If you do NOT need a tax deduction for your contribution, it is best to make the check payable to Taos United with TIA on the memo line. Send all mail to Taos Immigrant Allies P.O. Box 2287 Taos, NM 87571
like us on Facebook@Taos Immigrant Allies
TAOS IMMIGRANT ALLIES - AUGUST NEWSLETTER - 2020
Things are still tough in Taos. With restaurant restrictions limiting customers and hotels still at low occupancy many of our local immigrants have not been back to work. We are still busy answering urgent requests for financial assistance, and have GIVEN OUT OVER $37,000 IN AID SINCE MAY. THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS IN TAOS we have been able to help OVER 110 FAMILIES, including homeless people, seniors, single parents, and disabled people that have nowhere else to turn.
OUR FUNDS ARE DWINDLING QUICKLY! We would like to be able to continue this work until the crisis has passed and people are back to work. This means we are asking again for whatever you can donate. Help us help those who cook our food, serve us in restaurants, clean our hotel rooms and our houses, and keep our economy humming, our neighbors who receive no government assistance and are in dire straits right now.
We continue to coordinate and upgrade the Little Free Pantries around town (9 of them). They are kept clean and stocked. Our community has really stepped up, and we have stewards watching over the LFPs, stocking them on a very regular basis as they are being heavily used for emergency food supplies at all times of the day and night. And if you are interested in VOLUNTEERING, we can use more LFP stewards,and please consider helping us keep the pantries stocked by buying a few extra things next time you shop!
We also strongly recommend everyone see IMMIGRATION NATION if you have Netflix. WE all need to be aware of what is happening to our neighbors!
Please continue your financial support. It is gravely needed now. And please keep our undocumented neighbors, friends and coworkers in your thoughts!
Here are just some of the thanks we've received, which are for you!
"With all my heart, I thank you very much" "God bless"
"Dios la bendiga" "Que Dios te cuide" "Estamos tan agradecidos"
With gratitude and concern,
Bea, Del, Jean, Susann, Wendy, Becky and Jacob
JULY NEWSLETTER
Dear Supporters,
We at Taos Immigrant Allies want you to know, as always, that we are thankful and grateful for your support in our endeavors!
As we continue to aid our immigrant neighbors, we want you to know that we are still committed to working with our community to ensure that the families that have not gotten any unemployment checks, stimulus checks or other government assistance such as food stamps or WIC, are not forgotten in these dangerous times.
Because of our donors and supporters, as well as several grants we have received in the last several months, we have been able to help over 80 local families who are in dire need of assistance with their basic needs after losing jobs and income due to the COVID 19 crisis. As most of these people have been working in the service industry, our help is especially needed.
We are happy to report that we have already given over $18,000 in aid to our families over the past 2 months. This includes $100 gift cards for groceries as well as grants of $250 each to assist in rents and utility bills.
With the help of other organizations and individuals, we have placed 8 Little Free Pantries near the neighborhoods of our immigrant families, and they are being looked after by volunteer stewards, and are replenished by the community, and by TIA, as necessary. We are still looking for stewards, if you are interested!
We have also collected used computers for ESL (English as a Second Language) remote classes, and paid the salary of the ESL teacher to continue teaching through the summer.
Along with Judy Lockwood CNP and Frankie Chamberlain RN, two of our supporters, we produced a video in Spanish explaining and demonstrating CDC COVID19 safety protocols and use of PPE. The training is available to groups, businesses and organizations through TIA. (To use this video, contact Be Balsamo at 770-5672).
We are continuing to assist families of immigrants in any way we can locally, and are very concerned right now that many families are behind in their rent, and will be evicted if they cannot “catch up” soon. We are still applying for grants, and are always soliciting donations! We don’t want to see more families on the street in our town!
In closing, we want to share some of the thanks we’ve received, that really are for all of you!
“Benediciones para todos!”
“Que Dios te de mas cada dia”
Benediciones de toda mi corazon”
May you stay healthy, safe and happy!
Our regards to you all,
The guys at Taos Immigrant Allies
Bea Balsamo, Del Endres, Wendy Clarke, Susann McCarthy, Becky Quintana, Jean Kenin
PLEASE DONATE WHATEVER YOU CAN!
To send a check, please write to:
Taos United, with Taos Immigrant Allies on the memo line, at
P.O. Box 2287
Taos, NM 87571
If you need the tax deduction, please send to:
Bnai Shalom Havurah, with Taos Immigrant Allies in the memo line
810 Dillon Rd.
Taos, NM 87571