Scholarship fund would secure Sierra Blanca Boys and Girls Club memberships for foster children
Scholarship levels range from annual to daily
- Those interested in becoming foster families can call CYFD at 575-257-9217
Foster children in Lincoln County don’t have membership in the Sierra Blanca Boys and Girls Club unless a foster parent can afford to pay.
They fall into a financial limbo, because although the New Mexico Department of Children, Youth and Families pays for child care, the Boys and Girls Club is not a child care provider. Because of standards and changes that would have to be met by the local club to fall under that classification, those pondering the situation decided it would be easier to create a scholarship fund.
Sonya Loya, a senior in the social work program at Eastern New Mexico University-Portales and a long-time Ruidoso business owner, confronted the problem after a social worker mentioned that participation in the club might greatly benefit many foster children in the area.
"One of my projects for school is doing a macro project that includes a need in agency," she said. "I currently am doing my practicum at CYFD.
"Meeting with Tim Coughlin (who heads the local Boys and Girls Club and is a Ruidoso village councilor) gave me a great sense of hope that this project would be successful. Tim is a 'yes man' when he sees or hears an idea that will benefit our children."
Loya met a few times with the club board and received authorization to move forward with the project. A meeting also was set up with the Kiwanis Club, whose members have been a positive force for the project to move forward and are partnering with CYFD and the B&GC to see it to fruition, she said.
"On April 10, we launched the program with Harvey T, at (radio station) KEDU," Loya said. "Kelly Zamora, my field supervisor, Tim Coughlin and I as a student intern spoke about the great way in which our community can support our foster kids in positive programing and helping them to achieve a strong foundation for building life skills."
Programs offered by the Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Blanca include cooking and art skills; tutoring and homework help; sports and fitness skills; life management akills; mentoring and character building skills.
Scholarship levels per foster child range from $1,000 for an annual scholarship to $500 for semi-annual, $85 for monthly, $20 for weekly, and $10 for daily.
Some of the businesses partnering in the project include Becker’s Mountain Laundry, Pavelka’s Sleep & Comfort, and Quarters-Ranchers-Win, Place and Show.
Tax deductible donations can be sent to Boys & Girls Club of Sierra Blanca, 134 Reese Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345.
"Our joint goal is to make this program a statewide success for all of New Mexico’s foster children," Loya said.
“If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?” she said, quoting Hillel the Elder, a famous Jewish religious leader in 110 BCE.
Loya, who is graduating with a bachelor's degree in social work from ENMU and was accepted into the advanced standing masters program in social work at Western New Mexico University, thanked foster care families, saying they do a great service for foster children in the state. Anyone interested in becoming forster parents can call CYFD at 575-257-9217.