ABQ Times

With the onset of cold weather, Albuquerque officials are calling for donations to support individuals experiencing homelessness. This month, students from Alice King Community School contributed 1,400 items to the Department of Health, Housing and Homelessness (HHH). These donations include clothing, personal hygiene products, and handmade blankets. The items were collected as part of a service-learning class and will be distributed at Gateway West, the city's largest shelter with a capacity to serve up to 660 people per night.

Drew Stone, an eighth-grade student at Alice King Community School, expressed his sentiments about the initiative: “I would describe it as a very rewarding feeling of being able to help people who really need it. Especially when we were doing the more hands-on part of it when we were making the blankets, gathering the stuff, and filling up the bags. I felt a connection to these people who I’ve never met before.”

Mayor Tim Keller commended the students' efforts: “It’s encouraging to see youth get involved in their community and work together to make a difference,” he said. “Students at Alice King are setting an example for others across our city.”

Gilbert Ramirez, Director of Health, Housing and Homelessness echoed this sentiment: “Students at Alice King Community School remind us all there is power in community and everyone can get involved. Thank you to students and their families for these critical donations. Also, thank you to the teachers who ensured this project was approached with compassion, empathy, and community at the center of it all.”

Representatives from HHH coordinated with school officials for donation pick-up while Maria Wolfe provided educational insights on homelessness through a presentation. She remarked on the students' involvement: “Students fully engaged in this project and approached it with curiosity and empathy. In the end they asked thoughtful questions to understand more about the root causes of homelessness in our city and the diversity of experiences and paths of those who are unhoused. We thank them for their thoughtful donations and look forward to continuing to work with them.”

The department emphasizes ongoing needs for clothing donations—particularly men's clothing—and encourages contributions through cabq.gov/hhh/donate.