In spring 2022, New Mexico experienced the largest and most destructive wildfire in the state’s history. The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire burned more than 340,000 acres between early April and late June in the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, in San Miguel, Mora and Taos counties. According to an article from the Albuquerque Journal, Flames scorched about 534 square miles, or about twice the geographic size of Chicago. More than 900 structures were destroyed.
Albuquerque Community Foundation and United Way of Central New Mexico and their corporate partners quickly activated the Emergency Action Fund (EAF) in response to the urgent need for resources. The EAF provided short-term, unrestricted funding for the operations of several nonprofit organizations, allowing for direct cash support to these organizations helping communities affected by the fires.
An initial $25,000 each was given to the Taos Community Foundation, the Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation and the Laguna Community Foundation to support those displaced or otherwise impacted by the wildfires. Another $25,000 was granted to Animal Protection New Mexico to aid in rescuing, housing and adopting out pets affected by the blaze.
Community partners contributing to the EAF included Albuquerque Community Foundation, the Daulton Family Fund, Meta Los Lunas Data Center, Nusenda, PNM Resources Foundation, Rio Grande
Credit Union, Sandia National Labs, United Way of Central New Mexico and Western Sky Community Care. Rio Grande Credit Union and the City of Albuquerque both announced that employee donations through their United Way of Central New Mexico campaigns could be directed to the EAF and would be matched by the companies. Several other partners, including PNM and Sandia National Labs, conducted employee drives for supplies.
After activating the EAF, Rodney Prunty, President and CEO of United Way of Central New Mexico, said, “We are grateful to the many partners and donors who are contributing to the Emergency Action Fund for New Mexico fire relief at this critical time. The funds will help provide a measure of comfort to the families who are struggling to cope with the devastation caused by the many fires raging in New Mexico.”
Donations to the Emergency Action Fund continue to be gratefully accepted at go.abqcf.org/fire-relief