NMAA Partner Western Sky Community Care Joins Forces with New Mexico Appleseed to Help Thousands of Homeless Students
New Mexico Activities Association partner Western Sky Community Care is making a difference in our community. They are joining forces with New Mexico Appleseed to assist thousands of students in New Mexico.
Recently, the two announced a joint effort to enable connectivity and distant learning for over 8,000 New Mexico schoolchildren facing unstable housing during the COVID-19 health crisis.
Western Sky Community Care donated $250,000 to support children whose families have become homeless due to the COVID-19 shutdowns. This partnership hopes to both prevent homeless children from backsliding academically and invest in stabilizing at-risk students.
“A lot of children are at risk right now and it’s very scary,” said Jennifer Ramo, New Mexico Appleseed Executive Director. “We are trying to focus on homeless 8th graders and make sure they have the academic support and social support they need.”
The identified schoolchildren will receive iPads, mobile hot spot devices and crucial wrap around services to help complete acadmic assignments. The partnership will also help connect students with case managers and school homeless liaisons.
“The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are far-reaching and have extended beyond medical care to affect people’s access to food, employment, connectivity, and more,” said Tony Hernandez, President and CEO of WSCC, in a recent press release. “These social determinants of health have a significant impact on people’s overall wellbeing, especially among vulnerable populations. Western Sky wants to help ensure we’re supporting the additional needs of communities during this challenging time.”
Hernandez went on to say, “Appleseed’s proven track record of creating systems change means that our dollars will not just help these families, but will help make dramatic changes for all similarly situated families. Helping children and families live their best and healthiest lives is what we do every day, and this investment is a natural extension of that.”
“Having strategic and thoughtful partners is an important part of our work,” said Ramo. “No group can do it by themselves.”
Here is a recent interview with New Mexico Appleseed Executive Director Jennifer Ramo.
