In mid-December, Questa youth organized a holiday dinner for community members who needed a warm meal, kindness, and support. By all accounts, the event—which was put on by Active8, Questa’s youth coalition for substance abuse prevention, and supported by funding from LOR—was a triumph. Roughly 125 community members showed up to the VFW for a home-cooked meal and an evening of conversation.
“It was exciting to see an event like this led entirely by youth coalition members and Honor Society students who wanted to better their community and lend a helping hand,” says says Questa LOR community officer Maria Gonzalez.
Already in 2024, other passionate Questeños are making a difference for area residents and championing community projects with a little help from LOR. On January 11, Questa’s second LOR-sponsored financial literacy workshop kicked off. The free 9-week program led by Kristi Gonzales, the pastor at Freedom Center Church, teaches families about budgeting, spending, tackling debt, and building wealth. Another workshop will begin in late February. Interested families can sign up by reaching out to Gonzales at kristi@freedomquesta.com, and child care is provided.
“The feedback so far is that the classes have made a world of difference,” Gonzalez says. “One Questa family will soon be almost entirely debt-free using the information and financial skills they learned.”
LOR is also excited to support a new enrichment program for students at Alta Vista Elementary and Intermediate School. The school’s four-day week has been challenging for parents who don’t have child care, as well as elementary students who lack access to out-of-school enrichment. Several teachers worked with school and district leaders last year to come up with a new program that provides elementary students with half-day activities every other Friday. The launch of the initiative helps students and working parents by strengthening support for Questa’s families.
As always, Gonzalez is excited to hear more local ideas for projects that will improve the lives of Questeños. If you want to share a solution or discuss ways to improve Questa, you can reach her at maria@lorfoundation.org or (575) 665-2001.
