All of us were affected by the pandemic in some way, shape, or form. For some families, essential items such as food and shelter became unstable as they did not qualify for some of the safety nets created for families. Throughout the pandemic, Las Cumbres Community Services has been working with families to navigate their family’s unique challenges to help keep their basic needs met and treat their mental wellness as they worked their way to get their family back on its feet. Toward the close of 2020, the City and County of Santa Fe released substantial funding under the State’s CARES Act. These funds were acquired as “flexible funds” for families and were dedicated to expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Las Cumbres benefitted from this distribution and was able to assist significantly with client emergency payments. Thanks to receipt of these CARES Act funds, Santuario Del Corazón Navigators were able to purchase and deliver groceries to families. Below are a few of the reactions to receiving a family-sized delivery of groceries. This assistance was a relief for families; however, their financial struggles are still present as a long-term consequence of the COVID-19 crisis. The lack of steady income keeps these families, for example, at risk of eviction. If you are able to assist families through grocery donations or monetary donations please visit Santuario Del Corazón’s webpage.
Marcos and Antonio crossed the border with her mother two years ago, escaping from violence in their home country. Since Covid-19 hit, they spent all day at home. Sometimes their grandfather takes care of them when mom gets a call to work for a few hours in a food car. Delivery of food assistance was an exciting morning adventure for these two kiddos who came out, wearing their masks, to help to take the bags out of the car. Grandpa also helped! Even though their masks cover half of their faces, their eyes did not stop smiling, especially when they found their favorite food for breakfast!
When Covid-19 hit, Laura lost her job and had to move into a relative's home. The experience of navigating daily life in this household has been a big challenge. On the other hand, the change for Laura’s son Carlos brought him a playful canine friend. Ringo is a puppy that enjoys playing with him after school. During the food assistance delivery, it took a while for Carlos to convince his friend to get ready for the photo. Finally, when Ringo calmed down, Carlos and Ringo were ready for a quick picture before Ringo started looking for some munchies among the bags!
