ALBUQUERQUE – Following the delivery of two trailers full of items collected through the Albuquerque Police Department’s Donation Drive for the Ruidoso fires, APD staff assisted the National Guard in bringing back used bedding and clothing items to Albuquerque for donation to other outlets.
On Sunday, June 23, an APD Lieutenant, Sergeant, Detective, and Police Service Aide made the three-hour drive to Roswell transporting two trailers full of items provided by the community for the department’s donation drive. Upon arrival, the National Guard showed APD staff a wall full of used items donated by people from around the state which could not be used at that location. The items were outside the scope of what they had been tasked with providing to those impacted by the fires, including used bedding and clothing.
They asked if the crew would bring the items to Albuquerque for donation in their area. The Sergeant and Lieutenant agreed. Members of the National Guard then reloaded a 30-foot trailer full of donations.
On Monday, June 24, the sergeant and eight pre-hires awaiting entry into the next police academy began delivering donations to sites in the metro area. The first set of donations was coordinated with “People Helping People,” where they completely filled two donation rooms.
They then found other places to take donations and headed to Hope Works where they delivered clothes and shoes. They also handed out bedding at Day Shelter. The last stop for this group was at City’s Westside Shelter where staff were overwhelmed by donations that filled an entire office.
“Our community overwhelmed our department with an outpouring of support for our donation drive to help those in our State who have lost everything,” said Chief Harold Medina. “It warms my heart even more that we were able to support our first responders in Southeast New Mexico by bringing items back up to Albuquerque to help more individuals in a time of need.”