Compassion is abundant during Thanksgiving. Communities in Schools, for example, reported on their Twitter feed that Aetna provided 70 Thanksgiving baskets for their school families. A compassionate city has compassionate businesses and non-profits. We have 40 articles in this week’s news roundup: a record!
Seen in the Express-News, 22 November, 2017
Finding common ground through Thanksgiving
San Fernando Cathedral celebrated its 26th annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service on Tuesday evening.
Found in the Rivard Report, 15 November, 2017
San Antonians Urge NAACP to Increase Voter Education, Youth Engagement
Improving the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color, mental and physical health care resources in low-income neighborhoods, educational opportunities and mentorship programs for black youth, and financial empowerment were among other issues raised at the meeting.
Also read in the Express-News, 15 November, 2017
NAACP stops in San Antonio on multi-city tour to discuss threats of 21st Century
“It’s my community, too,” [Sheriff Javier Salazar] said. “The way that we keep those issues from developing here is to keep the lines of communication open and work together constantly.”
Heard on Texas Public Radio, 14 November, 2017
Getting Around San Antonio Is Even More Challenging For People With Disabilities
In a growing city like San Antonio, lack of reliable transportation options can limit a person’s ability to get to work, attend social events, be an active part of their community and live a productive life.
Found on Fox 29, 15 November, 2017
Hundreds meet to discuss ways to improve youth mental health
It’s important to get more resources to help families and children heal.
Found on FOLO Media, 15 November, 2017
Expert: 85 percent of 1.1 million new San Antonians will be Latino
“The interesting thing is that we are concerned about a lack of affordable housing, and yet we have a housing stock that is affordable, that we’re allowing to deteriorate,” [Dr. Christine] Drennon [director of Urban Studies at Trinity University] said.
Seen on Fox 29, 16 November, 2017
Local shelter helping sex trafficked teens, will soon be open 24-7
“When everything is done we will be the first 24/7 drop-in center for sex trafficked children in the United States,” said Bill Wilkinson, CEO of Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA.)
Found on Kens 5, 17 November, 2017
Children’s Bereavement Center offering free help for grieving kids
“The moment a child comes in our center, the parents and grandparents have support groups too, to talk about the things they may be struggling with,” [development director Laura Villarreal] explained.
Seen in the Express-News, 17 November, 2017
A time to remember transgender lives lost across U.S.
Observed in Travis Park and Travis Park United Methodist Church.
 
Seen on Fox 29, 17 November, 2017
San Antonio enlists group with elite skill set to take down sex trafficking networks
‘We’re hoping they’ll be able to take an average case time of 21 days and turn that into an average case building of six hours.’
Seen on Kens 5, 17 November, 2017
Boys and Girls Club hosts early Thanksgiving for kids and families
More than 1,300 children and their families were treated to an early Thanksgiving dinner all thanks to the Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio and Ashley HomeStore.
Seen in the Express-News, 17 November, 2017
Outpatient HIV clinic opens on the East Side“The more places we have like this, the more people we can get linked to care and the less the disease is transmitted,” said [Carlos] Carmona, one of the nonprofit’s clients.
Also found in the Rivard Report, 17 November, 2017
AIDS Foundation Increases Patient Services At Eastside Clinic
“Fewer and fewer people are dying of AIDS, and more are living long, productive lives while they manage a chronic disease,” [San Antonio Aids Foundation CEO Cynthia] Nelson said.
Seen in the Express-News, 18 November, 2017
San Antonio’s blanket fort for autism aims for Guinness Record
[Cynthia] Hamilton specifically hopes that the blanket fort festivities will help raise some $1.1 million, which will then be matched by a grant, for a new 20,000-square-foot learning and opportunity center at the Autism Treatment Center.
Found on Fox 29, 18 November, 2017
Elijah and Markus show their school the true meaning of friendship
The two play soccer, sing and read together but school wasn’t always fun for Markus who’s deaf. Before Elijah he was alone.
Found in La Prensa, 17 November, 2017
Personal municipal dona sangre a víctimas en Sutherland Springs [City employees donate blood to Sutherland Springs victims]
Para iniciar la campaña de donación “Mayor’s Blood Drive”, dos unidades móviles de Blood & Tissue Center se instalaron frente al City Hall. [To start the donation campaign “Mayor’s Blood Drive”, two mobile units of Blood & Tissue Center were installed in front of City Hall.
Seen on Univision 41, 18 November, 2017
Salvation Army se prepara para ayudar a familias necesitadas en Acción de Gracias [Salvation Army prepares to help needy families on Thanksgiving]
Más de 150 familias de bajos recursos podrán tener una cena. [More than 150 low-income families can have a dinner.]
Seen on KSAT 12, 18 November, 2017
Food Bank, Rackspace feed 1,500+ families in San Antonio’s largest Thanksgiving food giveaway
Rackspace estimates it has fed 11,000 families since the event began 11 years ago.
Seen in the Rivard report, 19 November, 2017
Ways to Give to Other San Antonians This Thanksgiving
Here’s a list of other ways you can give your time and support to others in San Antonio this Thanksgiving.
Found in the Rivard Report, 19 November, 2017
San Antonio Cyclists Memorialize the Year’s 129 Traffic Fatalities
“It’s up to all of us – whether we drive, cycle, or walk – to implement these safe practices in our daily lives.”
Seen on KENS 5, 19 November, 2017
Abode helps the dying, needs funding to continue mission
“Time after time after time, there’s a peacefulness that happens and a comfortableness that settles in the room when people are able to shift into the space of letting go . . .”
Read in the Express-News, 19 November, 2017
UTSA employees remove white nationalist banner found on main campus last week
“We have absolutely no reason to believe that UTSA students were involved in this,” Izbrand said. “It is so contrary to what we stand for. UTSA students are very proud to be at a university with principles and values that are based on inclusion, tolerance and respect. That is who we are.”
Seen on KSAT 12, 17 November, 2017
Bexar County Adult Drug Court organizes kickball game for participants of program
“All you need is a big round red ball and some friends and go out to the park and have a good time.”
Seen on KSAT 12, November 18, 2017
Wonder Boy: Local child spreads joy, awareness for Pfeiffer syndrome
“Beyond the face is a heart”
Seen on Univision 41, 19 November, 2017
Cámara de comercio del sur de San Antonio lanza un mensaje de inclusión [Chamber of Commerce of South San Antonio launches an inclusion message]
Con la proyección de la cinta Wonder, esta organización lanza un mensaje de inclusión a todas las personas sin importar su apariencia. [With the screening of the Wonder film, this organization sends a message of inclusion to all people regardless of their appearance.]
Seen in the Express-News, 20 November, 2017
San Antonian continues legacy of feeding homeless beneath downtown bridge
[Hugh] Pitts . . . said he’s thankful for the folks who listen to his hopes and never turn their eyes away from him.
Seen in the Express-News, 20 November, 2017
Thanksgiving dinner for foster children spreads inspiring message
“I’ve never felt a life where people actually care, people are actually willing to help and stuff.”
Found in the Express-News, 20 November, 2017
Delivery of 550 turkeys kicks off Thanksgiving feast preparations
Now in its 38th year, the tradition started in 1979 when its namesake, restaurateur Raul Jimenez, organized the meal with his own money to feed 5,000 seniors.
Also seen on Fox 29, 20 November, 2017
Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving dinner prepared for more than estimated 25,000 attendees
Organizers predict there will be more than the estimated 25,000 attendees because of this year’s hurricanes in Puerto Rico and Houston.
Found on the Poynter Institute website, 20 November, 2017
Welcome to your local library, which also happens to be a newsroom
In short, help teens and other residents become questioners, people with both a stake in their place and the ability to seek what’s best for it.
Found on the Trinity University web site, 8 November, 2017
A Thirst for Humanitarian Aid
“On projects like this … you can say, ‘I’m helping,’ and I’m helping with the things I learned at Trinity.”
Seen in the Express-News, November 18, 2017
Thanksgiving comes early at ‘Friendship Feast’
Students with learning and intellectual disabilities rotated through ten stations devoted to activities that included cooking, making corn husk dolls and digging at a simulated archaeological site.
Read in Maria Anglin’s Express-News column, 21 November, 2017
Column: Thanksgiving is about more than turkey
When we remember to bring the love, the kindness and gratitude with the turkey, we pull it off year after year.
Seen in the San Antonio Current, 21 November, 2017
San Antonio’s Ozone Levels Are Too High — but the EPA isn’t Paying Attention. Now What?
Mayor Nirenberg: “where we have set the federal standard is not where we need to be. We need to be better than that.”
Seen on KSAT 12, 21 November, 2017
SA man reflects on 38 years of volunteer service at Raul Jimenez Dinner
Felix ‘Ice Man’ Dominguez shares memories of over 30 years of volunteer work.
Found on FOLO Media, 21 November, 2017
Dressed to empower
[Carmen Lidia] De La Rosa knew the same young women that would need dresses likely would need mentoring and support, too.
Seen in the San Antonio Observer, 21 November, 2017
Local Organizations host 1st Annual Thanksgiving Youth Empowerment Dinner
“This event was planned to help and assist our communities’ youth by showing them that it is more to life than what’s being portrayed in their environment every day,”
Found on Spectrum News San Antonio, 21 November, 2017
SAMMinistries share early Thanksgiving meal
Nearly 150 people – most of them children – were served a traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey, stuffing and all of the fixings.
Seen on Spectrum News, 21 November, 2017
Teens make blankets for children in Roy Maas shelter
For five years now, 15-year-old Samantha Sanchez has made blankets for children at the Bridge.
Found on Haven for Hope’s Twitter Fed, 22 November, 2017
Turkey in a Box
With the help of the community, this was the first Thanksgiving where we provided a “Turkey in a Box” for former Haven residents. Boxes had everything for the meal plus a gift card for a turkey, rolls & pie.
Found on the Child Advocates SA Twitter feed, 22 November, 2017
New CASA volunteers sworn in
Found on Alamo City Moms Blog, 22 November, 2017
An Aisle Full of Compassion
Because for that one Sunday, in the aisle of a Dollar Tree, a Ravens and a Steelers fan embraced, letting tears fall on the colors of the jerseys that blended and bonded together in a hug that only mothers could understand.
COMPASSIONATE SAN ANTONIO . .
. . . is a grassroots movement that promotes, supports and celebrates San Antonio’s commitment to be a world-class compassionate city: one where the civic government, the religious and volunteer organizations, the businesses, the community and its educational institutions come together to recognize the importance and value of compassion in the life of a city and by doing so create an ethos of compassion and a safety net for its most vulnerable citizens. #compassionateSA
