help end abuse for life
For the past year, Wednesday nights have been especially lively at the Nest Domestic Violence Shelter. It’s on these nights Ruidoso Downs Police Officer and licensed Zumba instructor Carolee Sandoval arrives in the evening to teach Zumba to the residents. Sandoval is the mother of four children and a domestic violence survivor herself. She says, “The residents need every little …
Santa Claus made a very special early visit last week in Ruidoso Downs. The streets came alive with the lights and sirens of the Ruidoso Downs Fire Department, as Chief Kenny Ellard escorted Santa in a fire truck to the Nest Domestic Violence Shelter. According to HEAL Board Treasurer Lynn Myers, “It was a magical experience watching these children, all …
For over eight years, Raul Luevano’s mother lived with regular physical and mental abuse. “As the oldest child, I would gather my sister and brother and take them into my bedroom and do my best to keep them quiet, but at the same time, I always had an ear out for my mom in case she needed help.” Luevano does …
Christmas was always a huge event in the Lopez family, but after her husband Pete Lopez passed away in October of 2008, the holidays only reminded her of her loss. Trudy Lopez shares stories of her husband’s Christmas Village, which would cover more than twelve folding tables in their Ruidoso Downs home. The Christmas Village was his special project, something …
The annual HEAL Heroes with Heart Awards Gala held Sunday, March 4th, 2012 at Mountain Annie’s from 2-4 pm. “Heroes with Heart” celebrates local heroes who have shown exceptional and unselfish caring for others. According to HEAL Treasurer and Committee Chair Lynn Myers, “By honoring ordinary people who perform extraordinary acts of kindness, philanthropy and significantly impact the lives of others …
The Deacon Bob Racicot Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, August 18, 2012 at Inn of the Mountain Gods. Racicot and HEAL executive director Coleen Widell came up with the idea of a charity tournament while playing golf together, but it took several years of enthusiastic planning by the pair to make it a reality. This is the third year …
For the past five years, Lisa McMinn of First Savings Bank has spearheaded a food drive for residents of the Nest. Beginning in early November, McMinn posts donation jars and flyers around the bank to encourage bank customer’s to contribute to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the residents of the Nest. On Tuesday, and to the delight of a nearly …
The Nest recently conducted a tour of the domestic violence shelter for a large group of nursing professors and students from the University of Guanajuato in Celaya, Mexico. Five nursing students and five psychology students as well as their instructors, traveled to Ruidoso in September to study humanism with Barbara Mader of the High Mesa Healing Center in Alto. The …
Back by popular demand, Sweet Charity is offering custom-designed holiday wreaths. The wreaths are on display at Sweet Charity with opening bids starting at $25. According to Susanne Francis, Office Manager for HEAL, “The wreaths are unique in every way – no two are the same. Celina de la Garza created the wreaths, as she did last year. They are …
The Nest offers an ongoing support group for victims and survivors of domestic violence who are not in shelter. The group is called Woman to Woman, or “W2W”, and meets every Wednesday from 2-3 PM at the Sweet Charity Resale Boutique. The group is facilitated by one of the Nest’s professionally trained, bilingual advocates. It focuses on providing support …