Once again, we’re back with our daily dose of New Mexico good news. I’m searching far and wide every day, and not having to look too hard, for stories of generosity and human kindness in the Land of Enchantment. Feel free to give me more leads for news of this sort in the comments!
First Responders Honored by Albuquerque’s Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Company
Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Company says on their website “While we may not be flying currently. . .” they are doing what they can “. . .to provide hope for the future.” Great and worthy cause, and they’re doing it by launching a weekly giveaway: Rainbow Ryders Hope for New Horizons.
“Once a week, we will draw the name of someone who either works as a first responder, medical professional, or anyone in the grocery/pharmacy industry currently on the front lines of the pandemic. There will be one winner per week per location (Albuquerque, NM, Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ, and Colorado Springs, CO) who will win a balloon ride for two, with the flexibility to book whenever works best with their schedule once we are flying again.” There’s a form on their website HERE where you can nominate someone who’s deserving or enter yourself if you’re a health care worker or first responder.
I’ve been on a hot air balloon ride with these guys and they’re the best. Be sure to nominate someone you know who deserves this great gift!
ABQ BioPark celebrates Mayhem’s 6th birthday
Mayhem, a North American River Otter at the ABQ BioPark, celebrated her birthday with an ice and crayfish birthday cake as well as a video of the feast. Find the entire story and the sweet video here.
We Need More Guys! Two Santa Fe Elementary Students win honorable mention in Global Science Competition with a plan to add more males to the sea turtle mix
KRQE reports that “Ramirez Thomas Elementary fifth-grader Raul Alvarado and fourth-grader Zach Ortiz were among 24 students recognized in the ‘Do Your Bit’ challenge, where participants try to reach a global goal.
Raul and Zach came up with a sea turtle gender cooling system which aims to prevent the extinction of sea turtles. Since the temperature of developing eggs is what decides whether the offspring will be male or female, the boys came up with a system to cool eggs to below 27 degrees celsius to ensure enough sea turtles hatch as males.”
I love this sweet story! Good work Raul and Zach!
Wow! That’s some payback – $1.5 million for $170. Irish Donate Nearly $1.5 Million to Navajo and Hopi Families in Payback For Kindness During Potato Famine
KNAU reports that the country, through a GoFundMe campaign, raised and has donated almost $1.5 million to provide relief to Navajo and Hopi families affected by COVID-19. “The donations are directly related to the Great Potato Famine, 1845-1849, when the Choctaw Nation donated $170.00 to Ireland for famine relief. At the time, the Choctaw, along with many other tribes, had just suffered through the Trail of Tears forced relocation. The tribe was empathetic to the suffering of the Irish people. According to the Go Fund Me website, the donation campaign is meant to return the favor to Indigenous people who helped during a separate crisis, more than 170 years ago.”
