Alamogordo Public Schools receives more treats than tricks for the month of Oct.

The Alamogordo Public Schools celebrated a charitable October.

McDonald's Community Engagement Fund receives donations monthly, with proceeds going toward an organization or an event each month. This month, the fast-food eatery voted for Alamogordo Public Schools.

The Alamogordo McDonald's donated a sizeable amount of socks to Alamogordo Public Schools for it's annual Sock-tober drive.

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Giving back to the community

The Employee Advisory Council came up with the Community Engagement Fund, said Joshua Remsey, McDonald's public relations officer. McDonalds's employees are able to donate a small portion of their paycheck and the company will match it.

The community fund is relatively new, Remsey said, but the donations collected have exceeded his expectations.

"We had a little extra from donations, so we decided it was time to spend some of it for the events locally," Remsey said. "We helped out with Love Inc. and donated some new backpacks. We also purchased and donated a ton of socks to Alamogordo Public Schools."

Before the pandemic, McDonalds was involved with the local community. The local restaurant would serve sweet tea during Friday night high school football games and hopes to bring this service back.

"This was not a (public relations) deal," Remsey said. "We are not trying to gain recognition. We're just trying to be good partners to the community."

The sock drive is no different.

"We only have a couple [Alamogordo] locations so being a part of the community is huge, especially in small cities," Remsey said. "This is a start for us to get back involved with the city."

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For the kids

Alamogordo Public Schools Board President Judy Rabon said she appreciates the donation. Socktober benefits not only the less fortunate but students battling homelessness, she added.

"We do have under 200 homeless students in our district and so, it's always a stretch and we want to make sure they always have the supplies they need," Rabon said. "The socks are put into our Tiger Care Facility which houses shoes, clothes, socks, toiletries and food items that go to our families that need a little more help."

The sock drive donation from McDonalds was not the only help Alamogordo Public Schools received this month. It also received bed frame donations from the Management and Training Corporation (MTC) of Otero County Prison Facility and the Santa Fe Correctional Facility.

MTC Otero County Prison Facility staff donated six bed frames to the Bed for every Child Program hosted by the APS Health Services Department. The program is an opportunity for at-risk students to receive a hand-made bed frame and mattress for free," according to the district website.

The program began during the 2021 and 2022 school year and is ran by the Health Services Department.

The Santa Fe Correctional Facility also donated 15 bed frames. The bed frames donated from Santa Fe and Otero County Facilities are hand crafted, said Lisa Patch, Alamogordo Public Schools Health Services executive director.

"The beds donated are all unique in that they're all different," Patch said. "You can tell a lot of craftsmanship goes into these frames. One (bed frame) has cowboy hats carved in the headboard."

MTC Otero County donates, on average, two frames a month. Patch said the department is open to all donations, not just those by the county.

"We would like everyone to know that we'll even take donations if you're not a major facility," she said. "If you want to bring a bed frame, or 10, bring them; it's all for the kids."

All students qualify, but priority is given to housed students who fall into the McKinney-Vento subgroup of at-risk children. This means the student may share a room, share beds, or do not have a bed. Students in the foster care system also qualify.

Bunk beds are also accepted for donation.

Students in need of a bed are referred to Alamogordo Public School districts Health Services Department that works with families to receive a bed. There may be a waiting list, according to the site.

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter at @Juan36Corr.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: APS receives two donations during the month of October