SANCTUARY - painted by Emma while in Sanctuary 2017-2018

AMM IS A SANCTUARY CHURCH

THANK YOU for your interest in supporting our work to provide Sanctuary in Albuquerque.

Sanctuary Working Group Co-Clerks:
Sara Keeney (505) 379-3392 and Sarah Malone (505) 306-8771

Information on Immigrant Resources is available at:

https://www.cabq.gov/office-of-equity-inclusion/immigrant-refugee-affairs/know-your-rights

There are several ways to help.

Asylum Seekers Need for Support

Support for asylum seekers in or passing through Albuquerque is
provided by a group of faith communities. Ruben García, Director of Annunciation House in El Paso, coordinates busses arriving from El Paso. Some faith communities are able to provide temporary shelter. Other volunteer opportunities include translators, medical and food teams, housing and financial assistance. Several members of the Albuquerque Meeting continue to be involved in preparing food travel bags,
collecting, sorting and folding clothing and shoes. The need varies on the size and number of people arriving.
As of winter 2022-23 Albuquerque went from receiving one to two bus loads per week, to none, pending changes in border policy and implementation. This situation can change quickly, before this website page can be updated. Asylum seekers are usually on their way to a sponsor family somewhere around the country within a few days. The Supreme Court recently ruled against continuing border restrictions under Remain in Mexico policy, established by the previous administration. That will likely result in a considerable increase in asylum seekers, and a need for more volunteers.
Contact person: Sara Keeney at info@abqquaker.com

As a Sanctuary Church AMM stands ready to provide Sanctuary at any time the need should arise, which would result in an immediate call for accompaniment volunteers. A call for participation will be issued should this need arise again.

Make a donation to the ABQ Faithworks Collaborative

(https://www.abqfaithworks.org/) and write "asylum seeker" on

your donation. The Collaborative will use your gift to help people

seeking asylum and/or Sanctuary. Your donation will be tax-

deductible.

AMM continues to support our Sanctuary Friend, Emma, in her immigration journey. Photos of the paintings she created while living in Sanctuary are available as greeting cards through Sanctuary Works, a small business that both sells cards and receives donations in Emma's support. To purchase cards or for more information email: Sarah Malone

If you wish to contribute in another way, please call one of our Sanctuary Co-Clerks, Sara or Sarah. AMM is not in a position to accept gifts of goods or money at our Meeting House.

Minutes on Immigration

The Albuquerque Monthly Meeting (AMM) has deliberated on matters related to immigration and sanctuary several times over the years. Scroll down to access pdf files with Minutes or Statements generated from or related to these deliberations including:

* International Sanctuary Principles Statement

* Minute on Immigration IMYM 2018

* Minute on Immigration AMM 2017

* Minute on Immigration AMM November 2014

AMM OUTREACH TO OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS

Goal Statement for Support of Unhoused Neighbors - June 2020

Although outreach to some of the unhoused neighbors who live in the neighborhood of the Meeting House took place in a limited fashion for years, including during Emma's time in Sanctuary, this outreach took on a newfound shape and urgency at the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020, when the State of New Mexico went into "lockdown," with many businesses and churches closing. These circumstances placed our unhoused neighbors in great jeopardy, as their access to basic resources became even more limited.

At that point, the Sanctuary Task Force (now Sanctuary Working Group) initiated an outreach effort toward providing our unhoused neighbors with some essential services and creating a presence at the Meeting House (which otherwise appeared to be closed.)

In June 2020, the Sanctuary Working Group issued the following goal statement at the monthly Meeting for Worship for Business. Since that time, the group has presented monthly updates on this ministry through meeting for worship with attention to business.

The Sanctuary Task Force of Albuquerque Friends Meeting envisions a community in which housing instability is rare--or brief and non-recurring--ending homelessness as we know it. We aim to engage with unsheltered neighbors from a framework of solidarity and mutuality—rather than a charity-based model--through which we may build a greater sense of relationship and shared community.

In keeping with Friends' Testimonies on Community and Equality, and recognizing AMM’s long-standing collaboration with (formerly) St Martin’s Hospitality Center (now Hopeworks), on their meal program, we support individuals and families experiencing homelessness in gaining access to life-sustaining resources within our local neighborhood and beyond. We progress toward this goal by providing access to safe, potable drinking water and to a resting place during daytime hours.

Additionally, according to our capacity, we will offer referrals to and/or support for liaison with groups serving unhoused people, as well as advocacy with government and other agencies to provide a wide-range of services.

Harm Reduction Actions to Support Our Unhoused Neighbors

* In collaboration with the Building & Grounds Committee we provide water access at the outdoor spigot (we installed a French drain to improve sanitation);

* Regular access to electric outlet on front porch to charge devices;

* Security for the enclosed garden;

* Daily monitoring team to provide snacks/supplies to unhoused neighbors and remind them of request that no one stay on the grounds overnight.

* Provided needed supplies (received through donations) of clothing, blankets, tarps, tents, sleeping bags, as available

* Training for monitors in sharps collection techniques/sharps containers

* Narcan training and access on site

* Security System for roof

* Alternative to calling 911 plan

* Request to APD to stop using the AMM parking lot

* Interface with other community organizations and the City of Albuquerque

GO FUND ME LAUNCHED

Long Winter's Night Campaign 2022-23

AMM has provided expanded outreach to our unhoused neighbors since March 2020 including water & electricity access, snacks, provision of necessities such as sleeping bags, blankets, tents, & donated clothing and a safe place to rest, with visitors treated as members of the AMM community. Many have become "regulars," and trusted friends.

The Sanctuary Task Force & Building & Grounds expanded their outreach in the winter (2021-22) to include a fund raising effort to provide additional resources and emergency shelter during extreme weather events. To that end, the Long Winter's Night Go Fund Me campaign was launched & resulted in distribution of numerous tents, sleeping bags, and two extended hotel stays, both of which ultimately resulted in permanent, supportive housing. The local Stone Age Climbing Gym joined in as a co-sponsor of the campaign.

In December 2022 a second, annual fund raising campaign was launched, joined by the Stone Age Climbing Gym again! As of the end of January 2023, 60 tents have been purchased, along with three sleeping bags, for distribution to people in need who live unsheltered outdoors. Thanks to all for your continued support.

Here is the link to this year's effort: https://gofund.me/94b79657

Stone Age Climbing Gym Joins Campaign!

The Stone Age Climbing Gym joined AMM's Long Winter's Night Campaign to gather in-kind items (sleeping bags, tents, warm clothing) for our unhoused neighbors, as well as cash donations to our Go Fund Me event to provide funds for emergency lodging during extreme weather events this winter. AMM shared surplus with other grass roots organizations in the City, including the Hook-Up. Thanks to Stone Age for two consecutive years of participation!

Accomplishments!

In this second year, the Long Winter's Night Campaign has allowed us to purchase & distribute 60 tents and 3 sleeping bags, and to collect and distribute in-kind donations from two more community groups, Talking Talons Thrift Shop in Cedar Crest and the Stone Age Climbing Gym. Extra supplies are distributed regularly to: Good Shepherd Shelter, The Rock at Noonday; Hopeworks; The Hook-Up, God's Warehouse, Crossroads for Women, as well as multiple other locations and, of course, Albuquerque Friends Meeting!

ALBUQUERQUE FRIENDS MEETING

religious society of friends (quakers)