Socorro County Fiber Arts Guild donated a Christmas quilt for the raffle to raise money for new Christmas lights. The quilt was made by Nancy Dotson. Pictured: (From left) Guild members Mary Norman, Jane Apps, Janice Havlena, Nancy Dotson and Susie Welch.
Courtesy of Fiber Arts Guild

Sometimes little things in the community can make a difference. The Christmas season holiday lights on California Street, for instance.

“Have you noticed that for the past few years our holiday decorations on the street lights down California and Highway 60 barely work?” Deb Card asks, perhaps rhetorically. “Each year there have been fewer of them working.”

Card, along with members of the Fiber Arts Guild of Socorro County, believes it’s time to make a change.

“This year’s holiday season will be a cause for great celebration,” she said. “Besides being once again seeing our family and friends, it would be great to have new holiday decorations along California Street.”

To that end the Fiber Arts Guild of Socorro County has generously donated a Christmas quilt for raffle to benefit the project.

“It is a beautiful quilt handmade by Nancy Dotson,” Card said. “Tickets are $10 each and the drawing will be held on Labor Day.”

Card said Mayor Ravi Bhasker reported that the current pole decorations were acquired used from Alamogordo, so they were already a little time-worn.

But they don’t come cheap.

“Each decoration costs approximately $500 and we have 64 light poles,” she said. “Do the math. That’s why we are doing the raffle.”

The city has pledged to match funds up to $10,000.

The new decorations should last at least 10 to 15 years, and probably longer, Card believes.

“They are energy-efficient LEDs,” she said.

The order for the decorations must be placed early in September for a mid-November delivery.

Fundraising officially kicks off today and runs through Labor Day.

The Socorro Beautification Committee, also known as Diamond in the Desert, Inc. is supporting the initiative.

“Our goal is to raise at least $10,000 during the nine-week period,” said Beth Wells, Chair of the committee. “No donation is too big or too small.”

Donations are tax-deductible, “and 100 percent of all donations go directly to the City to buy lights,” Card said.

To buy a $10 raffle ticket, contact Susie Welch at [email protected]

For donations:
• Donate to the City Holiday Lights category on your utility bill

• Send a check to Diamond in the Desert, Inc., 1 Olive Lane, Socorro, NM 87801, with memo line: “Holiday Light Fundraiser”

• Take the donation to First State Bank and ask them to deposit it into the Diamond in the Desert, Inc. account specifically for the Holiday Lights Fundraiser
Individuals can also sponsor a fixture for a donation of $500 and dedicate it to a loved one, in honor of a child, in memory of a family member or maybe a legacy from a Socorro High School graduating class, Card said.

“It would be great to have new city holiday decorations to give our town a festive glow to welcome the season,” she said. “The children and children at heart will enjoy the new festive lights of the City of Socorro.”

John Larson, El Defensor Chieftain