News

UUSA Helps Make Up the Difference for WHI Hobbs with a $5,000 Donation

08 June 2021

UUSA is a proud supporter of the Weekend Hunger Initiative (WHI Hobbs) and recently made a $5,000 donation to help them continue the important work they do. WHI Hobbs ensures the 23% of students in Lea County who are food insecure have the resources they need to thrive. Last year during Covid, WHI Hobbs saw the need to partner with local bus companies and extend their services by supporting students learning from home and throughout the summer as the pandemic made a large financial impact on this area. Since March 2020, WHI Hobbs has given out over 33,000 snack packs individually packaged by volunteers.

The pandemic posed many challenges for WHI Hobbs, including the inability to fundraise as they have in years past. “We hope our donation helps this organization to focus on the work that makes them so valuable to our community,” shared, Karen Fili, UUSA’s President and CEO. “We also encourage others to donate as there are many local non-profit organizations who have been impacted by Covid.”

In addition to their food program, WHI Hobbs recently announced on their Facebook page an initiative to provide a much needed hygiene program for students on a quarterly basis. “We feel that it is very important for every student have a healthy snack pack, school supplies and proper hygiene care,” says Leslie Pfalzgraf, WHI Hobbs Director. “This is why we are starting this hygiene program in addition to our weekly snack packs. When students feel good about themselves, they get better grades and it effects their lives in a positive way.”

WHI Hobbs plans to use a portion of UUSA’s donation to help fund this new hygiene initiative.

Pictured (left to right): Billie Charo (UUSA), Lisa Hardison (UUSA), Leslie Pfalzgraf (WHI), and Lauren Healy (UUSA).