Pip: New Mexico Conservative News — where even the barbecue is a civic duty.

Mara: Chris Edwards covers a genuine community call to action out of Otero County this episode — first responders, active shooter training, and what it takes to keep seventy people fed through two days of high-intensity simulation work.

Pip: Let’s start with what the community is actually being asked to do, and why it matters.

Community Urgently Needed: Feed Otero County First Responders

Mara: The setup here is specific: police, fire, Holloman AFB military police, and EMS are training together June thirteenth and fourteenth on coordinated response tactics for mass shooting incidents — and breakfast and lunch for roughly seventy responders both days need to come entirely from the public.

Pip: That last part is the part worth sitting with. The county is running serious, realistic simulations, and the food supply chain is a community bake sale.

Mara: The organizers frame it plainly. Their words: “We all hope this type of incident never comes to Otero, but our heroes are going to be ready if it does. They will be there to protect you and your children — we need to be there for them.”

Pip: That’s the whole ask in two sentences. The training is real — classroom lectures, discussions, and realistic simulations covering multiple facets of a mass shooting incident — and the people doing it will be hungry.

Mara: The needs list runs the full summer BBQ spread: hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, ribs, brisket, buns, chips, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans, desserts, drinks, ice, condiments, plates, napkins, utensils.

Pip: If you own a Blackstone, the post specifically calls you out by name.

Mara: It does — grill masters with smokers, flat tops, or any backyard setup are explicitly invited to come cook. Volunteers for setup, serving, and cleanup are needed too. Saturday’s lunch is at the Otero County Emergency Services Building on Highway 70 West; Sunday shifts to Old Oregon Elementary for breakfast and Mountain View Church for lunch.

Pip: The organizers are clear that scale isn’t required — a few packs of buns or a bag of chips counts.

Mara: That’s the explicit message: many people contributing a little creates a big impact. Anyone who can donate food, supplies, or time is urged to call 575-415-0524 right away, given the June thirteenth start date.

---

Pip: Seventy first responders, two days, one phone number.

Mara: The window is short — if this reaches anyone in Otero County, that number is worth a call. More from New Mexico Conservative News next time.