Verse of the Month

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us,

and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations." – Psalm 100

Great Fun at the McCurdy Fall Festival  

McCurdy Ministries hosted another exciting Fall Festival for the community on the afternoon of October 25.  Children had a wonderful time painting pumpkins, bouncing in the bouncy house, playing games, visiting the Enchanted Forest of Reading (and getting books), and trunk or treating. It was a fantastic day!!

This festival was made possible by our amazing McCurdy staff, areas churches, and all the incredible partners on campus, which include CASA First, United Way, Las Cumbres, Northern Youth Project, and Gerard’s House. And a special treat was grilled hot dogs furnished by the VFW! 

Halloween Party at the Project Cariño After School Clubhouse

Another kid-friendly and fun Halloween event was the party held at the Project Cariño After School Clubhouse. The children loved playing games and showing off their Halloween costumes!



New Mosaic Art Piece Created by Children

A beautiful mosaic created by students at Camp Stars and After School Clubhouse has been installed in the entryway of the Family Resource Center! The artwork reflects the new McCurdy logo illustrating how the ministry is a beautiful light in the valley!

McCurdy History Note

By Edith Brown, McCurdy Historian

November 25, 1969, represents a historic milestone in the McCurdy Mission School/McCurdy Ministries story. On that date, the first class graduated from the School of Practical Nursing that McCurdy Schools of Northern New Mexico had opened in January of that year. Dr. Dale Robinson had seen the great need for this skilled help and brought to fruition this new type of post-secondary education for Northern New Mexico.

Working with the Española Hospital (which also began on the McCurdy campus), this program provided, until 1980, valuable medical workers desperately needed in the area. At that time, a phase-in period began with Northern New Mexico Community College. This necessary and vibrant program continues today at Northern New Mexico College and offers degree work in:

• Certified Nurse Aide (CNA),
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN),
• pre-licensure ACEN-accredited Associate Degree Nursing program (RN),
• CCNE-accredited holistic RN to BSN completion program,
• AAS in Allied Health, and
• a certificate in Phlebotomy.

Many McCurdy High School graduates continued their education at the School of Practical Nursing. Cynthia Honaberger Lujan (pictured attending the October 11 celebration) graduated from the program in 1976 and is still practicing. The mission work at McCurdy certainly provided the roots for excellent and improved health care in the Española Valley. (Information primarily from Light in the Valley: The McCurdy Mission School Story by Robert H. Terry.)

Claremore First Methodist Team Reflection

Linda Polson, Team Leader

First Methodist Church

Claremore, Oklahoma

The Claremore First Methodist mission team from Oklahoma arrived on the evening of October 11, making the 700-mile trip in record time. On Sunday morning we attended Valley View UMC and were delighted to see Rev. Tiffany Hollums, McCurdy Ministries Executive Director, preaching the message.

Since Monday was a holiday (Indigenous Peoples Day) and the McCurdy staff were not on campus, our team worked only a half day. We spent it mainly sorting donated items for the Light House clothing bank. Then after lunch, we headed to Taos to take the Taos Pueblo Trolley Excursion, which included an hour walking tour of the Taos Pueblo. We then drove to the Rio Grande Overlook to see a majestic view of the river.

First thing Tuesday morning, our focus was unloading the large load of donated goods from our U-Haul box truck. Donations included 55 bags of clothing, 22 large boxes of children’s books, 8 boxes of school supplies, 15 boxes of Grove Electric t-shirts, 5 Little Free Library Stands, and other miscellaneous supplies.

The rest of the week was spent with our ladies dividing their time between sorting clothing in the Light House and leveling books for the LEER Children’s Literacy Initiative. Our cook focused her time on making the meals for the team, but she did get the opportunity to sew some items in the Scrappy Sewing Ministry. The guys spent their week doing a variety of maintenance chores, including cleaning up the gymnasium following the historic celebration, winterizing 20+ air conditioner units, installing insulation in the ceiling of the locker room of Cole (the new ‘shopping’ location for the Light House), pulling weeds, mowing the grounds, and removing the tarp from the preschool playground.

Throughout the week, our mission team worshipped together with morning and evening devotionals given by our team members, including several devotionals provided by our two teenage volunteers. They were truly inspiring and such a blessing to us all! With the daily devotionals and the family-style meals, our team quickly bonded into a true family of ‘brothers and sisters’ in Christ. 

I have been leading mission teams to Española for the past ten years and am so, so blessed to have witnessed how God has worked through McCurdy Ministries to help the children, youth, and families of the Española Valley, especially in the last two years. I have truly seen God at work, just as Ephesians 3:20 says, “… to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Praise the Lord!  

Sulpur Grove UMC Team Reflection

Carla Oatman, Team Leader

Sulphur Grove United Methodist Church

Huber Heights, Ohio

This year at McCurdy my five-person team from Sulphur Grove UMC was blessed with the opportunity to work with the Light House all week alongside Angela and Angel. Throughout the week of October 20^th-24^th we sorted and organized clothes donated to the Light House from the community. We also moved donated items from the old teacherage to Cole and helped with the final preparations of the old locker room in Cole to become the new home for the Light House store. On our final day, we also had the chance to help decorate and assemble treat bags for the Fall Festival. We had a fun and fulfilling week.

Something that really had an impact on the team was the generosity of the community. They did not just donate one bag of clothing; they typically dropped off four or more bags. How wonderful! In addition, clothing that the Light House could not use went to support other organizations in the community like a women’s shelter and a homeless shelter. If the clothing was not in good shape, it went to the Scrappy Sewing ministry to become blankets, bags, or stuffed animals; very little went to waste. Seeing how McCurdy works with the community in this way and seeing how the community responds was inspiring. 

Furthermore, working alongside Sue, Angela, Angel, Manny, and Ben was a joy. Seeing their level of commitment and their passion for the mission of McCurdy was incredible. Friday night we also had the chance to sit and talk with Tiffany. Her love of the community combined with her passion to show the love of Christ was awe-inspiring and deeply moving. Thank you all for everything you do!

Although my team was very determined to work as hard as possible and make a positive impact at McCurdy, we also got to have some fun. We traveled to Ghost Ranch and Echo Amphitheater on our day off. Northern New Mexico is so beautiful in the fall. Overall, it was a wonderfully fulfilling week and we can’t wait to come back again.

Time to Register

2026 VIM Teams!

Now is the time to start making plans for next year’s Volunteers in Mission (VIM) season. If you have a mission team or youth group that is looking for a mission opportunity, please prayerfully consider scheduling a team to McCurdy Ministries in 2026. VIM Teams can be large or small, young or old, so gather some friends and head to Española to help McCurdy Ministries share the love of Christ with the community in a variety of ways. And remember, local groups are always welcome to schedule a workday or two anytime.

Examples of some of the lighter tasks include leveling books, sorting donated clothing, organizing food pantry and diaper bank, sewing, general cleaning, office work, and data entry. Volunteers with construction skills can assist with major renovation and rehabilitation projects in campus buildings. Volunteers who love to work outdoors can help with weed-eating and mowing the grounds or refreshing the flower beds. The bottom line is that whatever your ability, there’s a job for YOU!

To schedule a volunteer team for 2025, please contact our Volunteer Registrar, Eufemia Romero, by phone at 505-753-7221, ext. 210 or by email at: eromero@mccurdy.org.

McCurdy Ministries

Family Christmas Store

This Christmas season, McCurdy Ministries is opening a Family Christmas Store to bless families in our community. A family member (because many of those we serve are not ‘parents’ but grandparents, siblings, etc.) will be able to choose free gifts for their children, and children also will have the joy of picking out a special gift for their family member or loved one.

To view the list of suggested gifts by age, go to the McCurdy Ministries’ website: LINK

Or purchase gifts on the McCurdy Ministries Amazon Wishlist: LINK

Just remember to send all gifts directly to McCurdy Ministries at 362A S. McCurdy Rd., Española by December 6. (And please share your address when you purchase items so we can thank you!)

Please be a part of this year’s McCurdy Ministries Christmas magic! We invite churches, organizations, and individuals to partner with us by donating new, unwrapped gifts. Your support can help make this Christmas extra special for many children and families! 

Food Pantry and

Diaper Bank

McCurdy Ministries now offers families two much-needed resources – the McCurdy Food Pantry and a Diaper Bank. The Food Pantry is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to provide essential staple foods at no cost to families in need.

The new Diaper Bank is a regional resource made possible through a generous start-up grant through the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation. McCurdy Ministries is working closing with the local pueblo and Trio Arriba County to ensure these resources reach those who need them most.

Many of the families and individuals we serve at McCurdy Ministries are already struggling with food insecurity, so SNAP benefits likely ending in November will be catastrophic for these families and their children. McCurdy needs to fill our food pantry shelves to help these families who have food insecurities. Any donated non-perishable food items, toiletries, and diapers would be a huge blessing! Area families are invited to drop off stable food items at the McCurdy Family Resource Center at 362A S. McCurdy Rd., Española.

“Adopt” a McCurdy Student for 2026

McCurdy Ministries offers two programs which have a direct impact on the education experiences of pre-school and elementary-aged students. 

MCCURDY PRE-K

The McCurdy Pre-K is a Star 5 (top-rated) program licensed by the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department. It is an all-day experience for 5-year-olds. Besides learning activities to prepare children for Kindergarten, the Pre-K includes snacks and meals. While McCurdy receives some funding for this vital program, the additional expenses must be covered through donations. 

Here is the breakdown of costs to help a student if you would like to assist one or more Pre-K students:

• One student for one day - $7
• One student for one week - $35
• One student for one month - $140

PROJECT CARIÑO AFTER SCHOOL CLUBHOUSE

The other on-going program is the Project Cariño After School Clubhouse. This faith-based, after-school care program provides elementary-aged students with free play, snacks, and homework help in addition to faith-building arts and crafts, drama, and Bible Club study. 

Here is the breakdown of costs to help a student if you would like to provide this experience at no expense to these children:

• One student for one day - $10
• One student for one week - $50
• One student for one month - $200

HOW TO ADOPT A STUDENT

If you choose to be part of our “Adopt a Student” program, please mark your gift as such and indicate whether it is one-time contribution or will be on-going. (Both programs run throughout the school term). 

Contributions may be sent to:

McCurdy Ministries Business Office

362A S. McCurdy Road

Espanola, NM 87532.

While McCurdy cannot single out individual children to provide reports for this contribution, donors will receive updates and pictures of the program you are supporting. Please mark these donations as “Adopt a Student”.

For more information, contact Randall Partin, Director of Finance & Operations at 505-753-7221.

Become a New McCurdy Ambassador

Volunteers are needed to help churches and Annual Conferences across the country increase their understanding and commitment to the mission of McCurdy Ministries. McCurdy Volunteer Ambassadors will visit local churches in their area and display information at their respective Annual Conference Meetings. The shared information will help increase knowledge and support of McCurdy Ministries. We need people like YOU to help us continue to be the “light in the valley” for the children, youth, and families in the Española Valley.

If you are interested in learning more about this program or possibly volunteering to serve as a McCurdy Ambassador, contact Sarah Allen at 928-691-6471 or via email at s.k.allen2227@gmail.com.  

Amazon Wishlist

McCurdy Ministries maintains an Amazon registry with items needed for our programs. The current list on the registry includes toys, sensory items, cleaning supplies, snacks, paper goods, and school supplies. 

Please consider purchasing an item or two to help support our vital programs for children. (Just remember to share your address when you purchase items so we can thank you!) This is an incredible and practical way to help us in serving the children of Española.

McCurdy Wish List: Link 

Thank you for your generous support of all our ministries and programs!

QUESTIONS? Email Rev. Tiffany Hollums, Executive Director, at thollums@mccurdy.org. 

Donate Books to the LEER Children’s Literacy Program

The LEER Children’s Literacy Program was launched to proactively and creatively address the need for quality education in Espanola as the literacy rate for children in New Mexico is at about 25 percent at grade level. Children have free access to books and to our beautiful child-focused library, The Enchanted Forest of Reading.

Donate Children’s Books

You can help this vital literacy program by donating new or gently used children’s books to LEER. New books also can purchased online with the Amazon book list that was created to establish a leveled library.

To purchase new books, go to the Amazon Book Wishlist LINK  

Children’s books also can be dropped off or shipped using USPS ‘media mail’ to: McCurdy Ministries, 362 S. McCurdy Road, Española, NM 87532. 

Other Ways to Support McCurdy Ministries

There is always the need for financial support. Here are some easy ways to provide assistance to help the ministries and programs of McCurdy Ministries. Simply send a check to: McCurdy Ministries, 362 S. McCurdy Road, Española, NM 87532.

Or visit the online giving tab on our website: LINK

Donations may be designated for any specific ministries or programs by indicating the preference on the notation line of your check or when donating online. Any unspecified donations are applied to the General Fund which supports all expenses of McCurdy Ministries.

If you plan to make a donation for this year’s GIVING TUESDAY, please remember McCurdy Ministries. Simply send a check or give online on December 2 and help support our vital ministries and programs.

If your budget does not have room for additional giving, check with your church, your United Women in Faith group, and/or your Sunday School Class to see if they would like to make a one-time or ongoing commitment to support McCurdy Ministries. “Many hands make light the load!”

Join Us in Prayer

Each Day at 3:20 p.m.

We need God’s help as we move forward in faith to provide expanded resources, programs, and ministries for the children and families of the Española Valley. We hope you will join the McCurdy Board, staff, and volunteers as we pray each afternoon at 3:20 p.m. seeking God’s guidance and direction for McCurdy Ministries.

Please join us in prayer using Ephesians 3:20 as a prayer guide.

Now all glory to God, who is able,

through His mighty power at work within us,

to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

As we seek God’s leading throughout this year, we readily recognize that God is providing answers far beyond what we might ever ask or imagine.

If you are looking for a different vegetable dish to serve this month, you might want to try this scalloped cauliflower recipe from McCurdy’s very own collection, Recipes of a Century Past, published in 2012 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ministry. The recipe was contributed by Lynne Hendrix, English/history teacher 1964-1967.

Scalloped Cauliflower

• 1 large head cauliflower
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup buttered breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup grated cheese

Break head of cauliflower into flowerets and cook in salted water until tender. Drain. Melt butter in heavy saucepan. Add flour, salt, pepper and stir until well blended. Heat milk separately to shorten cooking time. Slowly add milk to flour mixture, stirring constantly until it is a smooth paste. Place alternate layers of cauliflower and white sauce in casserole dish. Put a layer of breadcrumbs and cheese over top. Bake at 375 degree for 25 minutes.

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

O Heavenly Father: we thank Thee for food and remember the hungry.

We thank Thee for health and remember the sick.

We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless.

We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.

May these remembrances stir us to service

that Thy gifts may be used for others. Amen. 

– “Dear Abby” Columnist

McCurdy Ministries creates hope and empowers the lives of children, youth, adults and families through education, life skills, and faith-based programs in Española, New Mexico.

As you gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, we hope you will remember how thankful we are for your ongoing support and commitment to McCurdy Ministries. It is because of people like you that our ministries and programs are able to provide the assistance so needed by the children, youth, and families in the Española Valley.  

On behalf of the McCurdy Ministries Board and staff as well as the children, youth, and families McCurdy Ministries serves, we thank you abundantly for your caring spirit and your support of our vital ministries!

Blessings,

McCurdy Ministries Board and Staff    

McCurdy Ministries creates hope and empowers the lives of children, youth, adults and families through education,

life skills and faith-based programs in Española, NM.

www.mccurdy.org