Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque organized a fundraising campaign to support families impacted by the fires that have devastated much of New Mexico.
Roberta Rivera, community relations specialist for Sandia, said employees have enthusiastically responded to the company’s call to help.
“We were able to raise $8,000 from employees in 10 minutes and then, within two hours, we had collected $25,000,” Rivera told KOB 4.
As of Tuesday, Sandia employees had donated $103,000, and they plan to continue raising funds.
David Bustamante works at Sandia and grew up in Las Vegas. He told KOB 4 that he drove from Albuquerque to Las Vegas to check on his family and gather important documents and belongings in anticipation of fire officials calling for residents to evacuate their homes.
His family lives on the edge of the wildfire evacuation zone. Firefighters were able to save his home, but others were not so lucky. Ranch houses north of the city of Las Vegas and in the Mora area were hit hardest, Bustamante said.
“Growing up in the city, you never imagine in a million years that fire would possibly enter the city,” Bustamante told KOB 4. “It was just [a] massive amount of smoke, massive amount of ash coming into the city.”
Special collection boxes at Sandia National Labs are specifically designated for donations for firefighters. Items such as hydration enhancers, toothbrushes, and new socks are especially needed.
“I just want to say a big thank you to all the firefighters who are coming into our state or from other communities from within our state who are on the front lines every single day to help battle and control this fire and to help save people, history, livestock, anything that they can help with,” Bustamante said.
