McKenzie Gerlicher, volunteer bell ringer 2022
SELF HELP News:
You know that familiar, festive sound of bells ringing at Smith’s grocery stores in Los Alamos and White Rock throughout the holiday season. Self Help and the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization, (LARSO) both Los Alamos-based nonprofits, rely on volunteers who enthusiastically ring bells during the annual Salvation Army Bell Ringing or “red kettle” fundraiser.
What you may not know is that 100% of the money raised during this fundraiser stays local and supports Los Alamos County families who struggle to meet basic needs. Thanks to the generous outpouring of community members who deposit cash and checks in the red kettles each year, we received nearly $14,000 in 2022 to assist community members who have experienced a temporary setback, such as sudden drop in income from being sick or caring for a sick family member.
Join Us!
Self Help and LARSO need volunteers to ring bells in two-hour shifts from Nov. 22 through Dec. 24. Volunteer bell ringers make a difference with every ring, and each shift raises enough to help a family keep the lights on for a month! Sign up and get your friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers to join you.
Visit 2023 Bell Ringing to sign up or contact Self Help at 505.662.4666 or contact@selfhelpla.org. If you are aged 55 or older, you can also call the Los Alamos Volunteer Association at 505.662.8923 or send us a message at https://www.volunteerlosalamos.org/.
About Self Help, Inc.
Since January 2023, Self Help has assisted 92 households, improving the lives of 230 adults and children in Los Alamos County alone. The agency has distributed $11,443 in financial aid to help Los Alamos and White Rock residents who have fallen behind with rent or a utility payment.
Rising housing, food, and utility prices impact all of us, but families living paycheck to paycheck do not have adequate savings to cover an abnormally high heating bill or unexpected car repair.
Since 1969, Self Help, Inc. (Self Help) has functioned as a bridge to self-sufficiency for Northern New Mexicans. We believe that access to basic needs is fundamental to every community member’s well-being and success. We provide flexible financial assistance, as well as information and referral services, to help disadvantaged clients and their families maintain housing, utilities, medical care, and other basic needs during a short-term crisis. Self Help serves residents of Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Northern Santa Fe, and Taos Counties.
About the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization
Our Vision is to reimagine aging by serving compassionately, connecting communities, creating space for companionship, and supporting independence. Our Mission is to promote positive living for the seniors in Los Alamos and White Rock. We provide seniors not only volunteer opportunities but also a place to connect with others and serve.
About the Salvation Army
William Booth and Catherine Booth founded The Salvation Army in 1865 to help the suffering souls throughout London. They served those who were not willing or able to attend – or even allowed into – traditional churches/charities. Their mission was to serve the most destitute, and the ministry grew and became a worldwide organization. Each year, thanks to generous donations, The Salvation Army serves 30 million Americans – or one person every second – from a variety of backgrounds. People receive assistance according to their need and each community’s capacity to help – regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
