Student Donations Help Residents at Gateway West

ALBUQUERQUE – With cold weather posing major dangers for our unsheltered neighbors, everyone can help keep our community safe. The City is asking for donations for people experiencing homelessness. This month, students at Alice King Community School donated 1,400 items to the Department of Health, Housing and Homelessness (HHH).

The donations include clothing, personal hygiene products, and handmade blankets. They were collected as part of a service-learning class and will help people staying at Gateway West, our city’s largest shelter, which can serve up to 660 people per night. Students say this project opened their eyes to the needs of our community.

“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,” said Drew Stone, an 8th-grade student at Alice King Community School.

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

“Students at Alice King Community School remind us all there is power in community and everyone can get involved,” said Health, Housing and Homelessness Director, Gilbert Ramirez. “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 arranged a time to pick up the donations, and Homeless Innovations Officer Maria Wolfe gave students a presentation.

“Students fully engaged in this project and approached it with curiosity and empathy,” said Homeless Innovations Officer Maria Wolfe. “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.”

This is a reminder that we are always in need of clothing and coats. Right now, we are most in need of men’s clothing.

If you would like to donate to Gateway West or Family Gateway, go to cabq.gov/hhh/donate