It’s hard to believe it̕s been more than a year since the LOR Foundation opened its office in Questa, hiring lifelong resident Maria Gonzalez, as the organization̕s first Questa community officer. And what a year it’s been: In 2023, LOR supported more than 30 community-led projects, committing more than $180,000 to make Questa an even better place to live.

“I’m so grateful we were able to bring so many resources to Questa this year,” Gonzalez says. “But it wouldn’t have been possible without all the community champions who brought ideas to the table.”

The solutions LOR supported this year covered a wide range of elements, from the economy to education, to health, transportation, the environment, and more. For instance, when the pastor of a local church heard that some locals hadn’t been trained in financial literacy, she reached out to LOR for help creating a free class that helped locals take control of their personal finances. And when the Village of Questa realized the lack of shaded areas was a problem at the Municipal Park, LOR was able to help them purchase and install shade structures and additional seating. LOR also helped locals restore important traditions like the Fiestas De San Antonio, which was hosted this past June for the first time in more than a decade.

“These are the types of solutions that make our community even stronger,” Gonzalez says. “Next year, I look forward to working with even more people and supporting more solutions.”

The LOR office will be closed from December 15 through January 2, as Gonzalez and the rest of the LOR team celebrate the holiday season and recharge for what will be a busy 2024. If you have any ideas you’d like to share with Gonzalez before then, you can reach her at maria@lorfoundation.org or (575) 665-2001.
Happy holidays from everyone at the LOR Foundation!