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Fundraiser for accident victims sells out

Fundraiser

Turquoise Desert’s Armando Martinez, his staff and Whiptail staff smoked meat for the fundraiser meals. All the food sold was made by the team.

Michaela Helean
Michaela Helean Staff Writer
Published Modified

RIO RANCHO — It was a successful night for the owners of Whiptail and Turquoise Desert Taproom because their Nov. 18 fundraiser for the families involved in the Northern Meadows Mesa accident sold out before the night was over.

At the end of the day, they raised $6,500 from the meals sold.

At around 5:30 p.m., Armando Martinez from Turquoise Desert and Chastity Bustos from Whiptail were turning people away because they ran out of food.

“The turnout here was amazing and crazy since before we even opened the doors,” Martinez said.

He estimates they sold between 200 and 300 plates. They also intended to do raffles throughout the day, but Martinez says with how busy they were, it just wasn’t possible.

“And we probably turned another 60 people away. I thought maybe we were going to get like 100-150, and the fact that we even did that much is amazing. The community really came out for this one,” he said.

For Bustos, there was no question whether she should help with the fundraiser.

“I’m a mama, too, and I know that it would be devastating to me,” she said.

She added that when Martinez called her with the idea, she just had to jump on the bandwagon.

“It’s gotta be hard. Our hearts go out to the families,” she said.

Martinez and Bustos will hold the raffles throughout the week for people who still want to contribute.

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