HB Construction's Annual Share the Warmth Winter Clothing Drive Collects More than $4,000 Worth of Donations for Joy Junction

In just under three weeks, HB Construction’s Annual Share the Warmth winter clothing drive collected more than $4,000 worth of coats, gloves, hats, scarves and other donations for Joy Junction, just in time for the holiday season.

“HB Construction’s contribution to Albuquerque’s homeless community is a blessing to those in need.  It helps set the tone for other organizations that think they cannot make a difference,” said Joy Junction Volunteer Coordinator Jonathan Matheny. “We wish more companies would show the same interest in local issues, community involvement and compassionate giving.”

The drive, which ran from Nov. 28 to Dec. 16 at the company’s headquarters, 5301 Beverly Hills NE, collected approximately $4,300 worth of new and gently used coats, hats, gloves, scarves, socks, monetary contributions and other winter clothing donations.

This year’s clothing drive also featured a special meet-and-greet donation event where guests got the chance to meet with UNM Baseball Coach Ray Birmingham and HB Construction’s staff while enjoying refreshments and hors d’oeuvres. The event collected the bulk of the donations for the drive.

Last year, Joy Junction distributed hundreds of winter clothing items including sleeping bags and blankets to people throughout the city and, given the economic recession and Albuquerque’s recent freezing cold temperatures, even more items are expected to be given out this year.

“Having a coat, blanket or a sleeping bag could, quite literally, mean the difference between life and death for a homeless person. The cold days we’re experiencing serve to underscore this point,” said Joy Junction Founder and CEO Jeremy Reynalds. “Winter clothing items are so important - in fact - essential  for us to be able to give our clients...we give what we have, but the demand is always higher than the supply.”

In 2010, HB Construction’s Share the Warmth winter clothing drive collected more than $3,000 worth of winter clothing items for programs at Holy Cross Hospital and Ancianos Senior Center, both in Taos, NM.

Joy Junction is a 25-year-old, privately funded, non-profit organization which offers homeless men, women, children and families throughout Albuquerque, emergency and short-term food, housing, clothing, counseling and professional development opportunities. As New Mexico’s largest emergency shelter, Joy Junction serves approximately 300 people every day and more than 100,000 meals each year.

Along with the clothing drive HB Construction also recently established an endowment through the Albuquerque Community Foundation to help fund non-profit organizations which have continued to struggle during the current economic downturn.