Category: Event News

Heroes with Heart Nomination Form Please mail or fax completed nomination (575) 378-1027 to the Nest to the attention of Coleen Widdell. “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 …

Lorraine Gebo, mother of board member Lyn Meyer, has generously donated the first painting for the Nest’s “Off the Beaten Path” art competition. The work is by famed Western artist Lester Hughes. Hughes rose to fame after Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan discovered him during a 1976 campaign stop in Hughes’ home town of El Paso. Gebo’s husband was a collector …

Ruidoso resident Raul Luevano was a featured speaker at the annual press conference of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence in the rotunda of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. He shared his story of growing up with an abuser and discussed the long-term effects of being a child victim and witness to domestic violence perpetrated by his father. Luevano …

During the first few days of the New Mexico legislative session in Santa Fe, Help End Abuse for Life (HEAL) board members Lynn and Mike Meyers and Julie Gilliland joined HEAL Staff Coleen Widell, Miriam Moreno, Terri Thompson, Sue Francis and Mona Earnest for the annual domestic violence legislative reception and press conference, both of which were hosted by the …

The Nest is kicking off a month-long diaper drive to benefit the babies living at the domestic violence shelter in Ruidoso Downs. Each year, the Nest serves over 300 women and kids each year, over half of whom are children. “It’s not unusual for us to serve a family with more than one child in diapers. Despite the economic downturn, …

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 …