Welcome to the 2025 Celebrate Chaves County Awards

Join us in honoring the community leaders, businesses, and local treasures that define Chaves County. The "2025 Celebrate Chaves County Awards" spotlight exceptional achievements—from dedicated nonprofits and top-performing small and large businesses to outstanding local services and attractions. Explore the stories behind this year’s honorees and discover what makes Chaves County proud.

Top 3 Business Awards

Community Service Award

Community Kitchen

The Community Kitchen, a nonprofit, was started in 1983 in the cafeteria of St. Peter's Church. In November 2016, the board of directors, made up of churches and businesses that suport the Community Kitchen, bought the current building with a combination of funds it received from a local benefactor and other donations.

The local Community Kitchen serves the homeless, the unemployed, families and individuals who have trouble making ends meet financially, those with mental health issues, and some who are men whose wives have died who have never learned to cook. They distribute about 140 to 150 full lunches each weekday as well as about 50 sack lunches a day on Saturdays and Sundays to anyone who shows up at their building, no questions asked.

In its nearly 43-year existence, the Community Kitchen continues to serve approximately 1.2 million meals yearly. Monday through Friday they serve on average about 140 meals a day and on Saturdays and Sundays about 50 sack lunches.

People can drop off donations Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations can also be mailed to P.O. Box 3010, Roswell, NM 88202-3010. For more information about the Community Kitchen, visit roswellcommunitykitchen.org.

Small Business of the Year

Beehive Homes of Roswell

At BeeHive Homes of Roswell we believe the best care feels like home. Since opening our doors, we've been dedicated to creating a place where seniors feel safe, respected, and truly known. With a unique home-style setting and a strong focus on personalized care, we offer more than just assisted living-we offer comfort, companionship, and dignity every day. This tradition has been built for many years with Jan and Kurt Gass as its founders. In December 2024 the Gass family sold a majority of the BeeHive interest to the Manning family. The Mannings own and operate other BeeHive locations throughout New Mexico and Texas and are pleased to continue the standard of excellence Kurt, Jan, and their team have built over the years. Our team is the heart of BeeHive. These caregivers, cooks, managers, and companions are more than staff-they're like family to each resident. They bring patience, kindness, and deep commitment into every moment of care. Whether we're baking in the kitchen, sharing stories on the patio, or holding a hand through a tough day, everything we do is rooted in love and purpose. We are deeply honored to be named Chaves County Best Small Business! This recognition means the world to us because it reflects the trust our families place in us and the way our community wraps around our mission. Thank you, Roswell, for seeing the heart behind our work. We'll keep showing up, just like the family would.

Large Business of the Year

Eastern New Mexico Medical Center

Eastern New Mexico Medical Center is proud to serve our community by helping people get healthy and stay well. In 2024 alone, we cared for patients during more than 202,000 visits. We've made major improvements to how we deliver care, including investing in a new medical records system that helps our team work together more efficiently and provide better care for every patient. Each year, we provide over $49 million in charity care and support for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. We also help people access medications and medical equipment they need to live healthier lives. Our Emergency Department treated more than 29,000 patients last year, making sure everyone who walks through our doors receives care-no matter their ability to pay. We're proud to be Chaves County's only hospital with full accreditation in Trauma, Stroke, and Chest Pain care. We offer 24/7 heart care, including emergency procedures to stop heart attacks and other cardiac issues. We're bringing advanced technology to our region, like intravascular lithotripsy to improve blood flow, assistive heart pumps, and 3D cardiac imaging to diagnose and treat heart problems faster and more accurately.

Last year, our maternity team helped deliver more than 600 babies with the support of new equipment and technology for safer births. Our skilled surgeons provide care in a wide range of specialties, including orthopedics, foot and ankle care, endocrine, women's health, and general surgery. At ENMMC, we are committed to growing with our community and making sure high-quality care is always close to home.