This is my little rescue dog, Tootsie, who was found wandering in Concordia Cemetery. She is much cuter than I am, so I’m hoping she’ll draw your attention and inspire you to give – who could resist that face? If you’re in a hurry and just want to donate without reading the info below, just scroll to the bottom of the page please.

Many of you have also rescued an animal – you don’t like the idea of an animal being alone, scared, and hungry. Many of you also have a family and friends – people who help you feel safe and loved. Sadly, there are some youth in our community – teens and young adults experiencing homelessness or who have run away from a bad situation – who aren’t always treated with empathy and who aren’t surrounded by people who help them feel safe. They often feel alone, overwhelmed, and scared.

At El Paso Center for Children, we have a Drop-In Center where any youth can get a meal, wash their clothes, take a shower, take a nap, and access a wide array of support services. After building a relationship with staff, some of these youth trust us to help them in our Housing program or Emergency Shelter, including case management to help them plan their future. Many times, staff help to mediate conflicts between these clients and their families, so they can build a healthier relationship. Many of these youth are fleeing domestic violence and tragically, some have been trafficked. Fortunately, we have counselors who support any victim of crime needing help processing that experience. Thank goodness I had a counselor to help me when I needed it – more about me at the bottom, if you’re interested.

It’s not easy to manage a budget right now – the post-pandemic cost of living is taking its toll on all of us. I would be grateful if you could find a little wiggle room in your budget to donate. Yes, I’ve set a goal of personally raising $1000, but our agency goal is $45,000 and we have incredibly lovely donors whose commitments total $22,500 waiting to match your gift, instantly doubling your donation.

Have you ever needed help through a difficult time? In addition to the programs above, we serve thousands of El Pasoans every year with services that include Parent Cafe’s (SO much fun!), counseling, parent education, youth education, case management, basic needs assistance, and home visiting for parents and expectant parents. Many are struggling with grief and loss, relationship issues, crime victimization, trauma, bullying, or other stressors.

And always – our services are all free, all the time.

As you may know, I am the CEO of this great organization. It’s 105 years old, so I’m not the founder, though I could probably pass as 105! My father was in the Army for 28 years and retired at Ft. Bliss when I was 7. I left at 18 to join the Air Force, but came back when I was 28 so my kids could grow up near my parents. El Paso’s been my home for most of my life.

My childhood was pretty idyllic, honestly. As the youngest of 8, I always had someone to do chores with (while dancing to American Bandstand on Saturday mornings), play with, celebrate holidays with, and experience growing pains with. But, I didn’t live in a bubble and there are other people in the world who aren’t as kind. I’ve experienced abuse and sexual assault and multiple traumatic losses that resulted in a years-long – maybe never completely finished – struggle with depression and PTSD. Thankfully, my incredible friends, colleagues, and family (and dogs!) have given me endless support and I know I’m extremely lucky. Because of those struggles, I can empathize with the clients we serve, as I’m sure you can. I respect the path they’re on and am humbled when they trust our team to help them on their journey.

I hope you have as much to be grateful for as I do as you enter the holiday season. Thank you for your donation, if you choose to make one. And, if you’ve read this all the way through, thank you for being interested! I’ve taken enough of your time – hope you have a great rest of your day!