Fun for the whole family!

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – In an ongoing effort to provide top-notch constituent service, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich’s (D-N.M.) staff will hold Mobile Office Hours on Wednesday, December 5 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the West Conference Room at the Tribal Offices in Mescalero. Staff will be on hand to assist residents who have questions regarding Social Security benefits, Medicare, immigration, veterans benefits, student loans, and other federal programs. All are encouraged to attend.

Constituents who are not able to attend Mobile Office Hours can visit the Helping You section of Senator Heinrich’s online office at www.Heinrich.Senate.Gov.

Mescalero – Wednesday, December 5, 2018

WHO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich’s Staff
WHAT: Mobile Office Hours
WHEN: From 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 
WHERE: West Conference Room, Tribal Offices, 108 Central Avenue, Mescalero, N.M. 88340
QUESTIONS: Contact Senator Heinrich’s Las Cruces Office (575) 532-6561

Watch VIDEO here.

Food Bank

For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome…

Mathew 25:35

For many years the food bank at St. Joseph’s Apache Mission Church has faithfully served the Mescalero Apache community, providing assistance to anyone on the reservation in need regardless of religion affiliation. Sister Robert Ann Hecker remembers back to 1995 when the Mescalero Ministerial Alliance established the food bank and she agreed to direct it. “It was located at St. Joseph’s because space was available there,” she said. “Flour, rice, beans, pasta, canned goods and occasionally a small amount of beef have been the main items needed to distributed. We do not receive any government grants but keep going on donations, including those from the Inn of the Mountain Gods casino, the postal workers and a collection from the community at Lenten services. Donations also arrive occasionally from area businesses and members of the community who are encouraged to also support the food bank.

Brian, Jennifer, and Lauren Wright have been major donors to the food bank. Brian’s maternal family is from New Mexico and he claims Apache heritage. They are active in the Mid-America All Indian Center in Wichita, Kansas. In 2012 they visited Mescalero and brought an SUV full of food and other household supplies to the food bank. They also coordinated efforts with UPS to have half a ton of flour shipped for no cost from the Hudson Flour Mill in Kansas. Since that first visit they have made several trips with their SUV full of supplies and have hosted fundraisers in Wichita to raise funds to assist the food bank and youth activities. This year they raised $7,200.00 for St. Joseph’s Apache Mission.

Thanksgiving is a special time for the Mescalero community and the Wrights. Last year their goal was to have at least 30 meals available for families. They outdid it and donated 38-42 turkeys. They plan to continue the goal this year and will bring the turkeys in their SUV, weather permitting. “We deeply appreciate everyone’s efforts to help us,” said Sister Robert Ann.

The food bank at Mescalero is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 3 pm. The telephone number to call for more information is 575-464-4473.

All Tribal Departments and Enterprises will observe the Thanksgiving Holiday on Thursday, November 22nd and 23rd, 2018.

The Tribal Offices and Empowerment Complex will close at 12 (noon) on Wednesday, November 21st, 2018 and business will resume as usual on Monday, November 26th, 2018 at 8:00 a.m.

Enterprises and departments that normally remain open to provide good and services will continue to do so.

Thank you

For December 6, 2018 dividend

Checks will be distributed on the following schedule:

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Mescalero Community Center – Gymnasium

9:00 am – 5:30 pm

NOTE: Children’s Court, Power of Attorney, Guardianship & Court Holds will be distributed in the South Hall.

-AND-

Friday, December 7, 2018

Mescalero Community Center – South Hall

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

12:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Child support will be the only deduction.

Check mailing information:

• Checks will be mailed Friday, December 7, 2018 at 2:00 pm
• Checks will be mailed to out of town residents only
  • if you reside in Mescalero, Ruidoso, Tularosa or Alamogordo (locals) and would like your check mailed, please notify the Finance Department no later than Friday, December 7, 2018 by 10:00 am
• If you are an out of town resident and do not want your check mailed, please notify Finance no later than Friday, December 7 by 10:00 am
• Please have all address changes to Crystal Lester, Tribal Executive Secretary no later than Wednesday, November 21, 2018 by 4:00 pm
• All address changes will need to be made with Crystal Lester
• Once the checks are placed in the mail, they become property of the US Postal service- we cannot go back and request for a check to be pulled or recovered

Returned checks:

• All returned checks will go directly to Tribal Finance
  • Please call Crystal Lester with any address changes
• Tribal Finance will then contact Crystal Lester for an updated address
  • If an updated address is not received, the check will remain in Tribal Finance until a new address has been received
• Once Tribal Finance receives the updated address, the check will be mailed out the next business day

Lost/stolen checks:

• If you lose a check or it is stolen, you will need to notify the Tribal Finance Department
• A request to place a stop payment will need to be completed. There is a $35 stop payment fee
• The stop payment takes approximately 3 business days
  • Once the stop payment has been approved, it will be re-issued the next business day

Things to remember:

• Notes are accepted only with the approval of the President or Vice-President
• Please have an ID available, as the individuals distributing dividend may not know you, and will need to verify your identity
• If you are under the influence, your check will not be distributed to you
• Early check releases are not allowed

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.