Good News Roundup: 'I Voted' stickers, Operation Homefront and Albertsons delivers check to The Storehouse

Welcome to the weekly good news roundup, bringing you some of the great “good news” from around New Mexico.

It’s all about the stickers

There’s a new look to the “I Voted” stickers in Bernalillo County this year. In fact, there actually are 12 new looks. Designed by students from Albuquerque Public Schools, these 12 stickers were chosen from a field of over 280 designs by Bernalillo County Clerk Linda Stover and her office this summer. Since taking office eight years ago, Stover thought of ways to get schoolchildren involved in and excited about elections. The plan was originally to hold this sticker design contest prior to the last general election. Then the pandemic hit, and the project was put on hold until the 2024 election cycle.

“I’ve eagerly awaited the opportunity to initiate this project, and I’m thrilled that it’s finally happening,” Stover told the Journal in May.

The stickers were a hit among early voters at the polling location at the Petroglyph Plaza in West Albuquerque on Saturday. Yvette Gonzales chose the Día de los Muertos themed sticker and said “it’s wonderful to get the kids involved.”

Fellow voter Harry Bert was just learning about the project as he received a sticker that read “I Voted” in red, white and blue.

“They get to learn about voting and our civic responsibility,” he said.

Caring for the Homefront

Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that provides relief and recurring family support programs to military families, stopped in Albuquerque on Saturday to host its annual Holiday Meals for Military event at the Johnstone Supply building. The event featured meals, grocery gift cards and holiday toys that were given to 175 families who registered for the event.

Santa Claus also made an appearance and took photos with children and their families.

Supplying The Storehouse

Last week, officials from Albertsons Market presented The Storehouse New Mexico with a check for $14,343.26, the total from a monthlong fundraising effort in October. The Storehouse says it can stretch that donation to provide more than 71,000 meals — about five meals for every dollar — for New Mexicans struggling with food insecurity, per The Storehouse New Mexico.

“We are proud to continue our tradition of supporting The Storehouse New Mexico,” said Carlos Hernandez, regional vice president for The United Family, parent company of Albertsons. “I’m so thankful to our loyal guests who helped us raise these funds. We know just how much these donations mean to this organization and the families they serve.”

The Storehouse is one of the largest food pantries in New Mexico and provided roughly 1.5 million meals last year to 55,000 New Mexicans.