Blankets for the Community

09.07.11 (LAS CRUCES) -- Just as summer winds down, a local group is working to help keep people in Las Cruces warm during the winter season.

Mary Lacy remembers the cold blast that hit Las Cruces earlier this year.

"We had such a severe winter and we saw many, many individuals and families and community people that needed blankets of some sort," said Lacy.

The deep freeze caught the attention of several members of the University United Methodist Church. Together, they're helping people get ready for winter.

"I think it's especially important that the community know that there are people in the community that can care about how they are living and how we can help," she said.

The group is collecting new blankets. The goal is to distribute about 6-thousand of them through out the community.

"We want to collect these blankets in September and October so that if we get a cold spell in November and people need a blanket, we have got hopefully thousands of blankets that they can take," said Jackie Beaty, who is helping coordinate the drive.

Donations are being accepted at various locations in Las Cruces including the church where workers have already been receiving plenty of blankets. Volunteers like, Nelson McGuire are keeping track of the inventory.

"People that are homeless or that are in a place that doesn't have a lot of heating, it's going to be huge for them to have just one blanket," said McGuire.

Once all the blankets are collected, local organizations can request some in order to hand out to clients.

"They don't think they're going to use this kind of stuff especially if they just moved here or if they'd had to come here from colder places that they think it's going to be warmer in the winter but Las Cruces is kind of weird with its weather," he said.

Reported by Carlos Correa

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