Local collecting donations for Ruidoso

    As residents of Ruidoso, New Mexico continue the battle against a raging wild fire that has claimed 1,400 structures and two lives, Tyler Roberts plans to help the residents who may have lost everything.
    He is organizing a donation drive to collect what he can from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., today at the United Supermarket parking lot.
    “Really just about anything: water, sports drinks, work gloves, batteries, flashlights, all toiletries and clothing, shoes and boots, baby formula, diapers, wipes, non-perishable foods, first aid supplies, pet food and supplies,” said Roberts about needed donations. 
    Those wanting to make monetary donations to purchase work gloves, batteries and flashlights can do so through venmo @tylerjrob. 
    He plans to transport the donations to the Capitan High School in Ruidoso Saturday morning. It’s one of the places where evacuees have sought shelter. 
    “That’s where we plan to take the supplies at this moment,” Roberts said. “That’s who I’ve been in contact with and they will let me know if they’ve changed from now until Saturday.”
    Roberts has a strong connection to Ruidoso. He and his family vacationed there every year while he was growing up. His grandfather raised horses there. It’s where he would go for the summer and ski during the winter.
    “It’s a very common second home location for West Texans,” Roberts said. “A lot of people in Lamesa have homes there. A lot of people from Lamesa  have retired in Ruidoso. A lot of people in West Texas call that their second home.”
    One of the 500 homes destroyed by the wildfire belonged to his parents. His dad was there to see the fire. He luckily returned safely back at the family home in Klondike.
    “It’s just a place we’ve always loved. My family vacationed there all of our lives,” Roberts said. “I just have a heart for what’s going on. We just want to be a good neighbors to New Mexico and help them out.”