Spring Egg-stravaganza at Gateway Family

Albuquerque- Today, children at Gateway Family hopped into the holiday weekend with an egg-stravaganza.

The 65 families on the pathway to housing at Gateway Family took part in an a day of fun, which included games, arts and crafts, a toy walk, and culminated in an egg hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny!

A mom who attended the Extravaganza says seeing her kids smile meant the world to her.

“This year I wasn’t able to do anything for my kids for Easter, and with this, they’re so excited. Just seeing their smile…This is really helpful for families like ours,” said a Mom staying at Gateway Family.

“As a parent, there’s nothing like seeing your kids light up with joy, and every family deserves that moment,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “At Gateway Family, these parents are working hard every day to build a better future, and today, they got to just enjoy being with their kids.”

View Video of the Egg-stravaganza

Several other City departments and community partners contributed, including the Department of Arts and Culture, which donated 70 family passes for residents to visit the Biopark, and City Museums, including the Balloon Museum.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue brought a fire truck, and APD hosted an outreach table with coloring sheets.

This event is also the result of many incredible volunteers, who dedicated several hours to preparing crafts for students.

“Families work every day to get into permanent housing, and we know this can be a taxing process,” said Health, Housing and Homelessness Director Gilbert Ramirez.  “This makes moments of celebration all the more meaningful, and I want to thank the volunteers who made this possible.”

Gateway Family is at an undisclosed location. Families are referred to the 90-day program, which provides a safe space for them to stay while they are connected to resources, including case management, with the ultimate goal of connecting them to a housing voucher.