Otero County Prison Residents Spread Warmth Across the Borderlands With Handmade Winter Donations

ALAMOGORDO — As Christmas season approaches the Otero County Prison Facility helped extend a little more warmth and good cheer across the Borderlands, donating hand‑crafted blankets, quilts, beanies and scarves to organizations serving families in New Mexico, and El Paso.

The items—each stitched, knitted or crocheted by residents participating in the facility’s educational and vocational programs—were delivered to agencies that support vulnerable communities in anticipation of the coldest stretch of the year. Prison officials say the effort not only meets real needs, but also gives residents a chance to contribute their skills to meaningful, community‑centered work.

Regional Impact From El Paso to Chaparral to Juárez

The donations were distributed to a wide network of service organizations, each addressing different community needs:

• Consulado General de México en El Paso

The Mexican Consulate shared the blankets during a holiday food pantry event in El Paso, supporting families facing food insecurity and financial strain.

• Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) – Help New Mexico, Chaparral

CPLC, which provides housing assistance, case management and community support programs, will use the blankets to help local families stay warm through the winter months.

• La Casa Inc., Anthony

La Casa, a domestic violence shelter offering emergency housing and advocacy services, will distribute the handmade items to individuals and families seeking safety and stability.

• Eastside Democrats – Senior Blanket Drive

Fifty blankets were contributed to the group’s annual drive, which assists seniors living on fixed incomes and facing rising heating costs.

• Otero County Commissioner Gerald Matherly and Cheryl Matherly

Blankets were delivered to the Otero County Fair and Rodeo grounds as part of Commissioner Matherly’s yearly senior citizen outreach initiative.

• Delice Bakehouse, El Paso

The bakery’s owners and their daughters regularly deliver hot meals, clothing and blankets to colonias in Juárez—communities where many homes lack insulation and heating, making winter temperatures especially dangerous.

A Program Rooted in Skill‑Building and Service

The handcrafted items come from residents enrolled in the prison’s education department, which oversees the creative and vocational programming behind the project. Villa noted that the initiative has become a point of pride for many participants.

As temperatures begin to dip at night across the region, the blankets and winter wear are already finding their way into the hands of families, seniors and individuals who need them most—quiet acts of care stitched together in Otero County and carried across communities near and far.

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