Rio Ranchoans rally to help couple whose home burned

Friends and neighbors are collecting donations for the couple whose house on Rio Ruidoso was destroyed in a fire Friday.

Rio Ranchoans Amy Fletcher and Kailee Hicks are running a donation drive for Al and Mary McCoy. Fletcher said the senior-citizen couple lost their dog and everything else they owned, except the clothes they were wearing.

She said Al is in the hospital and Mary is staying in temporary housing.

People interested in contributing can drop off checks, prepaid Visa cards or gift cards for Walmart, Target, Olive Garden, Joe’s Pasta House or Subway at either Turtle Mountain Brewing Co. location: 905 36^th Place, open 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, or 7835 Enchanted Hills Blvd., open 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

Fletcher said Mary needs a handicap-accessible rental home with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a 12- to 24-month lease near the same neighborhood, near NM 528 and Corrales Road.

Fletcher said she was working to arrange for the McCoys’ bank account to be able to accept monetary donations. The Observer will share that information when it’s available.