Local motorcycle group hosts back-to-school giveaway

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Hundreds of elementary school students are heading back to the classroom in style, and it’s thanks to an Albuquerque motorcycle group. 

Members of the Los Capellanes Motorcycle Ministry rolled into Matheson Park Elementary School Sunday afternoon to host a backpack and school supply giveaway for the students.

“We collected a little over 200 backpacks, a lot of school supplies we’re doing haircuts, we’re giving them food, we have pizzas and quesadillas,” said Doug Anaya, president of the Los Capellanes Motorcycle Ministry.

Anaya says they chose Matheson Park Elementary – a Title I school – for a reason.  

“This is a school that is kind of a forgotten school it’s a 100% Title I, that’s what we wanted to do and that’s what we wanted to help,” said Anaya. 

 Los Capellanes also collected a trailer full of playground equipment and more than $2,000 that the school can spend on more supplies throughout the year. 

The school’s principal says it’s a big help for families financially. 

“The fact that everything has gone up in prices- I think this was just perfect I mean the time is just right and I know that many families are extremely grateful, they’re relieved that that’s one less thing that they have to worry about financially,” said Jacqueline Lovato principal of Matheson Park Elementary School.

Matheson Park Elementary’s Community School Coordinator Deborah Pohl says they recently became a community school and that this event is what it’s all about. 

“What we do is we go out and we ask our families what is it that you need, how can we bring this to you? And I go out into the community whether it be adult education classes whether it be basic needs, whether it be them wanting to help, so we just created community partners with this amazing ministry club that we have here,” said Pohl.