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Category: Local News Releases Local News Releases
Published: 21 March 2014 21 March 2014

Photo: Pastor Antonio Velderrain Roman of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, second from left, with Palomas children served by 2013 drive.

Dr. Alexandra Neves, with the College of Education at Western New Mexico University, will sponsor her annual School Supply Drive for the Children of Palomas and Juarez, Saturday, March 22, through Friday, May 2, 2014. New school supplies may be taken to the main office of the Martinez-Fall building in the College of Education on WNMU campus.

Since 2010, this drive has made it possible for hundreds of deeply impoverished children in Palomas to attend or stay in school. In 2013, the drive aided the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish of Palomas' program for child school registration, and also provided Spanish language books and materials to Casa de Soles de Anapra, a day shelter that primarily serves the children of murdered or imprisoned parents, in Anapra, Juarez.

Neves invites the entire Silver City and mining districts, individuals, organizations and churches to participate through the donation of new school supplies: pens, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, primary tablets, spiral notebooks, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, binders and backpacks are the items most needed. New supplies only, but gently used, clean backpacks will also be gratefully accepted, and all appropriate Spanish language books are also welcome.

Many children on the Mexico border will not attend school this year for the lack of the most basic school supplies. Please help make a difference in their lives.

Neves may be reached at alexandra.neves@wnmu.edu or 575-956-7904.

Distribution of supplies to programs in Palomas and Juarez will be coordinated by Victoria Tester, novice in the Third Order Society of St. Francis. She may be reached at franciscanatthemexicoborder@gmail.com