Here’s some local news brought you by Silver City Radio.

Area families in need received children’s toys, food, warm winter coats and hand-knitted hats due to the generosity of 11- year old Taylor McWhorter, from Jose Barrios Elementary. In addition to the thoughtful actions of Taylor, other groups that joined in on the project included Silver City Police Department, Grant County Sheriff’s Department, Silver City Food Basket, Silver Consolidated Schools, and the New Mexico Foundation’s Vecino-Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund. Taylor, a student at Jose Barrios Elementary, raised $600 this year to buy 100 Christmas presents for children in need. The toys were distributed by Silver City police officers along with Taylor’s handmade Christmas cards. In addition, there were nearly 400 hams, 45 $20 food gift cards, and some 70 new winter coats and hand-knitted hats for area school children delivered to local families in need. Grant County Sheriff’s officers and Food Basket staff delivered items to Cliff schools and Cobre schools. The Silver City Police Department raised $2,044 from the annual “No Shave November” initiative and the donated hams from Food Basket were made possible by a $4,200 grant from the New Mexico Foundation’s Vecino-Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund. Thank you to Taylor McWhorter, her Mom Michele, and all the area volunteers that made some area families happy this holiday season.

Hidalgo Medical Services is sending their Mobile Health Unit to locations next week so area residents can safely and conveniently receive their free annual flu vaccination. The mobile unit will be available in Mimbres/San Lorenzo on Monday, December 28th at the San Lorenzo Elementary School parking lot and in Bayard on Tuesday, December 29th, at the Cobre High School parking lot. Vaccinations will be administered from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., except for a lunch break between 12:00 to 12:30 P.M. For more information, visit the Hidalgo Medical Services page on Facebook.

The team at Silver City Radio/SkyWest Media would like to thank all the dedicated individuals that keep the community going all year. This year has brought unexpected hardships on every level because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and yet so many people have stepped up and worked very hard to keep everyone as safe as possible. Thank you to all our frontline health workers, law enforcement, EMS, firefighters, and essential workers of all kinds that keep coming to work to serve all of us. Have a warm and wonderful Christmas and holiday season!