Food and gift drives help make holidays brighter for regional families

The recent annual employee food and gift drives had an enormous impact in the region thanks to the partnerships with regional nonprofits and generosity of Laboratory employees.

More than 300 boxes of nonperishable food items and 360 turkeys were distributed to families during this past fall’s drives. Donations received from Laboratory employees and key partners, such as Cray Computer, Smith’s Marketplace and Lowe’s Super Save Market, translated to about 17,600 meals.

In addition to the food donations, the Food Depot in Santa Fe received a monetary donation of $2,613 for its meal services, which translated to an extra 10,452 meals for community members across northern New Mexico. Taos Feeds Taos provided the refrigerated truck for the turkey collection and received $350 for its food pantry. The funds made another 1,402 meals possible. In all, 10 nonprofit organizations partnered with the Laboratory during the food and gift drives. 

Just before the holidays, the Laboratory’s Community Programs Office distributed 1,200 gift tags to Laboratory employees, which granted gift wishes for seniors and children. More than 60 bicycles, about 20 Barbie Dreamhouses, 30 pairs of Ugg boots and hundreds of learning toys for babies were among the distributed gifts. In addition, over 100 blankets, jackets and other clothing essentials were donated to local homeless shelters. The Laboratory was fortunate to have 23 regional nonprofit organizations lend a helping hand during this campaign. 

But children and seniors weren’t the only ones to benefit. Laboratory employees donated more than 500 pounds of dry dog food, 100 pounds of dry cat food, 20 cases of canned pet food and 100 boxes of Milk Bones to the Española Valley Humane Society and the Los Alamos Animal Shelter.

If your nonprofit organization would like to participate in the Laboratory’s future giving campaigns, be on the lookout for the Community Programs Office’s annual invitation each October. The participating organizations receive donations based on their expected need.