The United Way of Eddy County played a very significant role in providing COVID-19 relief throughout 2020. The organization celebrated its campaign last year with a special video presentation. You can watch the presentation here: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedWayofEddyCounty
Intrepid Potash was honored as the top overall contributor this year, while Chevron received special recognition for being the top contributor to the United Way’s COVID-19 emergency response. Nuclear Waste Partnership, ConocoPhillips and CNB Bank rounded out the top five contributors. It’s worth pointing out that the diversity of Carlsbad’s economy is reflected in the list of top donors, which included oil and gas, potash, nuclear, and a locally-owned business (CNB Bank).
In 2020, the United Way distributed $710,000 in the community, this included Community Impact Grants and COVID grants and assistance. With so many people out of work over the past year, the organization developed partnerships with numerous groups to provide food. Groups who assisted included Operation Hope, Christmas Anonymous, Scotty’s Pantry, Dewzzy Dows, SE Community Action Corp- Senior Meal Program, Calvary Assembly of God Food Distribution, Carlsbad Community of Hope, and Packs for Hunger. Their Project Feeding Families Roadrunner Food Distribution assisted 925 families and served 3,238 families. The United Way of Eddy County currently has a grant open to assist with food insecurities. For more information, please email director@uweddyco.org.
Congratulations again to United Way Executive Director Linda Dodd and everyone with the United Way, who did a great job. You played a critical role during a year when additional help was greatly needed. This year’s campaign is already moving forward with a golf tournament and skeet shoot planned in the near future.
Eddy County Manager Allen Davis did a great job talking about the dangers a freeze in drilling on public land present to New Mexico in a recent interview with Vice News. You can view the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwBwyDy43LA. We felt the coverage fairly called attention to some of the issues related to New Mexico. Many of the comments posted in response to the video, however, seemed to be missing the point. Comments that we should just fund the state’s education system through other existing sources of revenue instead of through oil and gas somehow avoided the fact that we only have a limited amount of sources of revenue. There’s clearly still a lot of education left to do.
Happy birthday to Ann Halford, also known as the $2 Bill Lady. Ann sends $2 bills to congratulate local residents on their various accomplishments. She has brightened the day of thousands of residents. Ann turned 92 on March 31 and we wish her the very best.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway