By DIANE SMOGOR
Executive Director
Self Help, Inc.

During National Volunteer Week, Self Help, Inc. would like to shine a light on the more than 50 volunteers who help bring our mission to life throughout the year!

Volunteers have remained the lifeblood of the grassroots organization since 1969, when Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church of Los Alamos members created Self Help, Inc. to foster economic development and stability in Northern New Mexico.

Today, committed volunteers contribute their time, service, and hearts to help their neighbors facing a temporary setback, such as an unexpected loss of income.

In 2023, teams of volunteers took on critical roles to augment Self Help’s small staff:

• Ten Intake Volunteers, who work weekly shifts throughout the year, completed 402 client intakes. These dedicated volunteers listen empathetically to every caller as they complete an intake during a 15-30-minute phone conversation. “Thanks to the contributions of our amazing volunteers we are able to directly impact the lives of Northern New Mexicans in need. Through more than 1,000 hours of dedicated service, our volunteers have helped individuals move into new housing, avoid eviction and utility disconnects, and remain in their community,” Program Manager Kathryne Lim said.
• Forty-three Bell Ringers and Red Kettle Volunteers rang bells and emptied kettles during our annual holiday fundraiser as the Salvation Army Service Extension Unit for Los Alamos County. Thanks to the hundreds of hours they donate each holiday season, Self Help, Inc. distributed $17,000 to assist Los Alamos County households in paying rent, a utility bill, or securing new affordable housing.
• The organization’s ten-member Board of Directors, partnered with staff to distribute more than $165,000 in financial aid to support families in need across Self Help’s four-county service area, in partnership with the United Way of Northern New Mexico. They also distributed $3,300 in SEED Money Grants to individuals pursuing new business or educational opportunities that advance their financial health. In 2024, the organization looks forward to working with its newly elected officers, including incumbent Chair Linda Zwick, Vice-Chair Glenn Magelssen, Treasurer Beverly Lucier, and Secretary Todd Urbatsch, as it celebrates its 55th year in service and the many compassionate volunteers, generous donors, and caring community partners who have been giving neighbors a helping hand since 1969.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit https://selfhelpla.org/volunteer/ or https://www.volunteerlosalamos.org/. You can also contact Self Help at 505.662.4666 or contact@selfhelpla.org.