Southern NM Reps Partner with Western Sky & FYI+ for Las Cruces Backpack Giveaway
Over 2,000 local kids received new backpacks filled with school supplies, vaccinations, haircut vouchers & more
Las Cruces, N.M. - New Mexico House Democratic Reps. Joanne Ferrary and Nathan Small teamed up with Western Sky Community Care and Families & Youth Innovations Plus on Saturday, July 16 to provide supply-filled backpacks, vaccinations, haircut vouchers to 2,020 local children in need at the 6th Annual Back 2 School Backpack Giveaway.
K-12 students attending the event at the Doña Ana Community College East Mesa campus received backpacks filled with school supplies, complimentary breakfast, and vouchers for free haircuts at Glitz School of Cosmetology. The New Mexico Department of Health was on-site providing middle school vaccination for TDAP, meningitis, and HPV, while La Clinica de Familia offered COVID-19 vaccinations for those 5 and up, including boosters.
“All New Mexican children deserve to start the school year confident and well-equipped for success,” said Rep. Joanne Ferrary, who represents the House District where the event took place. “We were honored to partner with Western Sky, FYI+, and other local community groups to provide hard-working Las Cruces-area families with the supplies and services they’ll need to head back to the classroom at no cost.”
“New Mexico’s bright future begins with a quality education for our kids,” said fellow Las Cruces Rep. Nathan Small. “New Mexico House Democrats are committed to investing in our children’s education at every opportunity, with great events like this, as well as the much-deserved teacher raises and increased public school funding in this year’s budget.”
“Western Sky Community Care believes no family should face financial strain to get their children prepared for school,” said Western Sky President and CEO Jean Wilms. “Every year, Western Sky helps thousands of New Mexican students begin the new school year with supplies that they need at no cost, through our Back-to-School Program. When our children are prepared, New Mexico’s future is brighter!”
“Young people and their caregivers are at the heart of the work that we do at FYI+. Events like the Annual Backpack Giveaway give us the opportunity to share the love that we have for our community through an act of service,” said FYI+ Chief Operations Officer Jolene Martinez. “We are always warmed by the passionate involvement and willingness of our partners who join us in demonstrating what it means to be in community. We wish all of the students, caregivers, and teachers of our community a safe and fruitful return to the classrooms where they learn, work, and play.”
Presenting the event were Western Sky Community Care, Families & Youth Innovations Plus, NM Appleseed Poverty Advocacy Lab, and Glitz School of Cosmetology. Additional sponsors included Albert Gamboa Moreno Stucco, Amador Patio Bar & Grill, AmeriCorps, Be Well NM, the City of Las Cruces, Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico, Doña Ana Community College, Juntos, La Clinica de Familia, the La Vida Project, NMCO Creative Studio, New Mexico DOH, New Mexico State Athletics, Pioneer Bank, RAD Retrocade, Sam’s Club, Southern NM Area Health Education Center, Southwest Bin and Pressure Washing, The Game Sports Bar & Grill, and Walmart.
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