The leaders of Help End Abuse for Life and The Nest pride themselves not only on the mission of their organization, but also on its effective implementation. One of the most powerful services provided at The Nest are the shelter’s educational groups, which provide classroom lessons in a support group setting that are aimed at shedding light on issues that …
Dear Editor, HEAL recently started an outreach program focused on reaching female offenders who are also domestic violence victims. It is called Advocacy in Corrections. We are very excited about this program and wanted to thank two local faith leaders who have donated meeting space for the program at their respective churches; Judith Burgess of the Episcopal Church of Lincoln …
Local contractor Kevin Gronau has twice blessed HEAL with his generosity. Last summer, the shelter received a call from a man who was moving and had hundreds of cases of bottled water he wanted to donate. HEAL volunteer Mike Myers contacted Gronau, who agreed to loan HEAL a large trailer to haul the water to the Nest. Next, when the …
The board of directors of Help End Abuse for Life (HEAL) and The Nest finalized a three-year Strategic Plan at the turn of the organization’s fiscal year. One of the most exciting goals in the plan directs a new, innovative outreach program. Corina Montoya, a seasoned resident advocate at The Nest, was selected to develop the prison outreach program from …
Joe Blany, The Appliance Man, recently came to the Nest to work on the shelter’s washing machines. As one can imagine, the laundry room at the shelter gets a lot of continual use, especially with a house full of residents. Joe fixed the unit and went about his merry way, without charging HEAL for the repairs. Thank you, Appliance Man, …
Carl Parsons was one of five notable volunteers honored at this year’s Community Heroes award ceremony, hosted in Farmington by the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Parsons was nominated by Help End Abuse for Life (HEAL). The Community Heroes award is aimed at recognizing individuals and groups who have shown support above and beyond the call of duty at …
The two lots behind the Nest domestic violence shelter are slowly becoming parking lots that will be secured for Nest staff, residents, volunteers and guests. Alongside the lots, and up the long driveway that leads to them, were many very large weeds, some of which were nearing 6 feet high and were making the Ruidoso Downs Code Enforcement Officer very …
A few months ago, the members of the Ruidoso chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks began volunteering with Sweet Charity, the resale boutique run by Help End Abuse for Life (HEAL) to support The Nest. One dozen Elks signed up to help pick up large donations when donors cannot arrange transportation on their own. Since then, the …
by Chef Brendan Gocheour, HEAL Treasurer On a crisp October evening, nothing warms the heart more than seeing hundreds of people out to support the Empty Bowl, the Nest’s annual fundraiser and Lincoln County’s only soup competition. With over 30 soups to taste, and a variety of handmade bowls and pieces of fine arts and crafts to pick from, attendees …
The Ruidoso Federated Women’s Club has been an avid sponsor of the HEAL and the Nest since before the doors of the shelter even opened. Recently, they invited HEAL’s Executive Director Coleen Widell to present at a luncheon and surprise “pajama party” for the Nest. The Women’s Clubs have long been a leader in the fight against domestic violence. Nationally, …
