APD helps National Guard transport unusable donations from Roswell to shelters and charitable organizations in Albuquerque
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 bring 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.
When they arrived, 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 items 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 our area. The Sergeant and Lieutenant happily obliged. Members of the National Guard then reloaded the 30 foot trailer full of donations.
On Monday, June 24, the sergeant and eight pre-hires awaiting the next police academy, began delivering the donations to sites in the metro area. The first set of donations was coordinated with “People Helping People” where the group completely filled two donation rooms.
They then had to find other places to take donations and headed to Hope Works where they delivered clothes and shoes. They also handed out bedding to the people at the Day Shelter. The last stop for the sergeant and pre-hires was to the City’s Westside Shelter where staff was overwhelmed by the amount of the donations which filled an entire office.
“Our community overwhelmed our department with the 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 the Southeast part of our State to bring items back up to Albuquerque to help more individuals in a time of need.”