As the end of summer approaches (even if only by calendar standards), it’s the perfect time to reflect on the progress at Crossroads Village and look forward to what’s to come this fall. For readers who may have missed the last newsletter, please read the Jul/Aug 2021 Village Update for an introduction to our bi-monthly write-up.
Before any walls can be knocked down, floors laid down, and open houses announced, the issue of fundraising must be addressed. Since our last update, we have made huge strides in fundraising for the renovations to take place on the northside of Crossroads Village. Just days after publishing the previous newsletter, we announced that we were the recipient of a substantial grant from Lowe’s Home Improvement as part of their 100 Hometowns grant program.
Crossroads for Women was one of 100 organizations throughout the country chosen for this competitive grant, and the funds provided by Lowe’s will fully renovate five key areas on the northside of our building. The renovation projects include a new vocational classroom, a dedicated family center, an expanded communal area and event space, a fully furnished commercial kitchen, and the addition of three offices to expand organizational capacity. Construction is set to begin immediately, and we look forward to sharing images of the changes in the next update!
In addition to the Lowe’s grant, Crossroads has been granted funding for this capital campaign from other organizations:
- Albuquerque Community Foundation
- NewMexicoWomen.org
- Rotary Del Norte Foundation
- Young Professionals of Albuquerque
- Women United
These organizations have provided Crossroads for Women with the funds to fundamentally transform Crossroads Village. These changes will allow our community members to access a greater suite of services, and the changes will likewise increase the number of people we can serve each year.
Crossroads for Women has also been fortunate to receive in-kind support in its mission to build Crossroads Village. Most notably, the organization was approached by Albuquerque-based general contractor RMCI to renovate the annex building at Crossroads Village, which will serve as the donation center and provide services to all current and former Crossroads community members. Work has already begun on the donation center, and when complete, we will have a dedicated drop-off area for community donations, a larger space to hold these donations, and a laundry facility attached to this building that community members can use to clean their clothes while they receive services at Crossroads Village.
If you visit Crossroads Village over the next couple of months, you’re likely to see hard hats and equipment scattered throughout the building. We expect these changes to happen quickly, and our team will be there at every step to capture the progress so that we can share that with you!
As always, if you have any questions, or would like to get involved with our efforts, please contact me at robertfontenot@crossroadsabq.org.
Robert Fontenot
Grants & Development Coordinator
robertfontenot@crossroadsabq.org