Shooting tourney raises funds for Oasis

CLOVIS — Where else but the High Plains can a shooting tournament at a gun range raise enough money to sustain a local safe house?

Maybe a few other places — but it definitely occurred last weekend with the "Top Shot Tournament" benefiting The Oasis Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) in Clovis.

"In the darkest hours is when you come up with some of the most creative answers," CAC's Director Cheryl Little said of her idea for the event, in cooperation with the general manager at The Firing Pin east of Clovis.

CAC has since the 1990s offered a local venue and staff for forensic interviews in eastern New Mexico for children victimized by or witness to serious crimes. But late this summer it experienced a budget crisis and officials feared little but a windfall could keep it open into the new year.

Barely two months later now the clouds have cleared somewhat; with staff restructuring at CAC and almost $5,000 generated from team entries and sponsorships for the group's first firearm-centric fundraiser, the operation can endure for up to a year more.

"I wouldn't say we're out of the woods," said CAC board member Amy Corbin. "I would feel confident in saying it's kind of secured our place in the community for another six to 12 months."

That's a big boost up from the situation in August, after a quadrennial state grant that typically cover's half of CAC's annual expenses was denied as money was apportioned out among 10 other safe houses in New Mexico. Board president and Clovis Police Det. Rick Smith told The News then that money was tight statewide as fewer funds came in from the federal government, but utilizing the next closest qualified interview spaces in Roswell, Hobbs or Albuquerque was far from ideal.

"When a victim is already a victim, and having to endure a trip somewhere else, it's stressful," said board member Denise Smith.

Turnout for the shooting tournament was more modest than expected — eight teams of four, among them a group from Las Cruces — but that allowed organizers to better feel out what works and doesn't for the next iteration of the fundraiser in May. Proceeds from an event this weekend at a local alpaca farm will also support CAC, organizers said.

"The community has been amazing," Little said. "We feel so blessed."