Students in the Jefferson HS International Baccalaureate program learned about volunteer opportunities at Respite Care of San Antonio. Their mission is to protect, love, build trust, and nurture growth of children with special needs and complex medical conditions. Every Wednesday we bring you this compassionate news roundup. If you want the news faster, follow us on Twitter @compassionNET1. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #compassionateSA so we can find YOUR compassionate acts!
Seen on KENS 5, 14 February, 2019
Software developer, educator, millionaire…and missionary to the poor
“I can’t change the whole world,” Jason Brooks says. “But I can change others in my community.”
Found in the Rivard Report, 13 February, 2019
This Year, the Briscoe’s Pony Express Will Make a Stop at Brooke Army Medical Center
As folks have visited the designated letter-writing area at the Briscoe, they have had the option to address one or more of their letters to a BAMC patient.
Seen on KSAT 12, 14 February 2019
Monte Vista estate serves as recovery house for pregnant women, mothers addicted to opioids
Casa Mia on North Main Street opened in December. How long residents stay there depends on how long it takes for them to recover.
Seen on Spectrum, 14 February, 2019
New Foster Program Helps At-Risk Youth in Texas
The Bair Foundation is taking their efforts a step further in helping some of the most vulnerable children in the community transition. “These are the kids that nobody wants.”
Heard on Texas Public Radio, February 13, 2019
Texas Singer-Songwriter Battles Veteran Suicide With ‘Project Hemingway’
“Our hope in having Dan here is to encourage those that might need to reach out for help and letting them know that there’s a place that they can receive that help at no cost or very little cost to them.”
Found in the Express-News, 14 February, 2019
Basura Bash tackles trash along San Antonio waterways
The volunteer base is widespread: individuals who hike & bike in the targeted areas and groups — from Scout troops to high school students seeking volunteer hours to companies.
Found in the Rivard Report, 16 February, 2019
25th Annual Basura Bash Banishes Trash From the Banks of San Antonio Waterways
Diane Duesterhoeft has seen many plastic bags hung on branches along creek banks and believes Basura Bash’s collection and tallying of them has caused some local grocery chains to encourage the use of reusable bags.
Seen on KENS 5, 16 February, 2019
25th ‘Basura Bash’ cleans San Antonio watershed
“[This] helps you become a leader somewhere, somehow because it shows you care about the community, that you want to clean everything around here.”
Seen on KSAT 12, 16 February, 2019
San Antonio hosts largest waterway cleanup in Texas
“If we want San Antonio to stay as beautiful as it is, we need to be able to help and support each other by making sure we all do our part in cleaning up.”
Seen on FOX 29, 16 February, 2019
Volunteers clean up waterways across city for 25th annual Basura Bash
Saturday marked the annual Basura Bash, or Trash Bash, where volunteers work to cleanup waterways across the city.
Seen on KENS 5, 12 February, 2019
Group makes blankets for local kids in crisis
The women in the Bexar County Project Linus group have turned millions of stitches into works of art for local children.
Found in the Express-News, 14 February, 2019
University of Texas at San Antonio shoring up sex assault prevention
UTSA has been accepted to the Culture of Respect Collective, a two-year program designed to reform college approaches to sexual violence.
Found in the Rivard Report
App, Community Buy-In Can Help Decrease Litter in San Antonio
The free Litterati app presents us with an opportunity to tackle our litter problem as a community by turning environmental activism into a game that inspires sustainable solutions.
Seen on KENS 5, 15 February, 2019
Former patient helps others by forming team for Methodist’s Red Dress Fun Run
One of the women participating for the first time has a special reason for lacing up her shoes.
Found in the Rivard Report, 15 February, 2019
City to Provide ‘Disconnected Youth’ With Opportunity Pipeline at New Center
Nationwide, more than 5.5 million youth are deemed disconnected, according to Opportunity Nation, the forum for youth investment, which estimates young adults who are not in school or working cost taxpayers $93 billion annually and $1.6 trillion over their lifetimes in lost revenues and increased social services.
Seen on KENS 5, 15 February, 2019
DA’s office adding staff to deal with rise in domestic violence cases
“By knowing that their criminal cases will move faster, it eliminates a lot of anxiety that builds up while waiting for the case to get to court and for them to get justice.”
Seen on WOAI 4, 15 February, 2019
Unaccompanied no more: veteran’s death highlights critical action families should take
“If he fell through the cracks, then I’m certain there are plenty of others who have as well.”
Found on the Rivard Report, 16 February, 2019
KLRN Creates 21st Century Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood for SA’s Youngest Students
“Fred Rogers was talking about how kids are unique, they have feelings, and they have emotions. They aren’t meant to be seen but not heard.”
Found in the Express-News, 16 February, 2019
Giving voice to those abused by priests and pastors
Helping others has been part of Koo’s own healing. She’s a volunteer peer counselor for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Seen on KENS 5, 16 February, 2019
Local Latina entrepreneurs help others thrive through workshop
“We found that there’s really a need to have other women leaders to speak about their experience and to give words of encouragement and show the struggle is real but we can overcome it.”
Found in the Current, 13 February, 2019
Pilot Program Will Work with Corner Stores to Bring Fresh Produce to San Antonio’s South Side
For many elderly people and families living in poverty, it’s not easy to make a trip to the nearest grocery store for fresh and nutritious foods.
Found in the Rivard Report, 18 February, 2019
Healthy Corner Stores Initiative to Bring Low-Cost Produce to District 3
“Research shows that if [stores] can provide fresh fruit and vegetables at lower cost, people are going to buy it. This will change their diet, and [then we will look into whether this will] change someone’s diabetes status.”
Found in the Rivard Report, 17 February, 2019
Craft Brewing Effort to Aid Wildfire Victims a Mash of Resiliency, Grit, Grist
Three San Antonio brewers are among them: Alamo Beer Co., Freetail Brewing Co., and Künstler Brewing. “We’re all willing to band together, to give what we can to help somebody else out.”
Seen on KENS 5, 17 February, 2019
Travis Park UMC holds solidarity walk ahead of gay marriage vote
United Methodist Church will host a special general conference in St. Louis to vote on how all UMC churches across the country will handle gay marriage and if they’ll ordain LGBT people as clergy.
Found on Spectrum, 17 February, 2019
Baby Season for Wildlife
“Think about how these animals are trying their damndest to exist alongside of us who have taken over their world. And be compassionate, be caring, don’t just think of yourself, think of them.”
Seen on KENS 5, 18 February, 2019
‘Jeans for Teens’ drive at JBSA-Randolph helps homeless youth
Joint Base San Antonio Randolph is holding a collection drive to make sure homeless teens get a pair of jeans.
Seen on KSAT 12, 18 February, 2019
Price Elementary students learn growing techniques to conquer hunger
The World Changers after-school club is helping students embrace the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Seen on WOAI 4, 18 February, 2019
NISD teachers, staff getting trained to help kids who have experienced trauma
The trauma that’s being discussed includes domestic abuse, sexual assault, poverty and racism.
Visto en Univision, 18 de febrero de 2019
Esta mujer hispana no solo ayuda a las víctimas de violencia doméstica, sino que también ayuda a los agresores a cambiar [This Hispanic woman not only helps victims of domestic violence, she also helps the aggressors to change]
Patty Castillo ofrece ayuda a las mujeres víctimas de violencia doméstica, pero asegura que esto solo no es suficiente. Es por eso que ofrece cursos de rehabilitación para que los agresores cambien de opinión y dejen de golpear a sus compañeros. [Patty Castillo offers help to women victims of domestic violence, but assures that this alone is not enough. That’s why it offers rehabilitation courses to batterers to change their mind and stop hitting their partners.]
Seen on KENS 5, 19 February, 2019
Scooters, e-bikes create obstacle courses out of city sidewalks for those with disabilities
Guide Dogs of Texas is now working to get the word out about who is impacted when the scooters are bikes are dumped anywhere.
Found in the Rivard Report, 20 Feb 2019
Hemisfair Guides Aim to Help Special-Needs Families Enjoy Yanaguana Garden More
“Inclusion programming does not mean that it is the only time individuals with special needs are welcome [at Hemisfair], it means that for the second Saturday of the month families will be surrounded by an army of people who will help them navigate through the experience.”
Seen on KSAT 12, 19 February, 2019
.”Alpha Tau Omega keeps black history alive in young students
Sorority hosts 31st annual Mahogany Brain Challenge. They also visit high schools to prepare students for college and encourage them to consider historically black colleges and universities.
Found in the Rivard Report, 20 February, 2019
Nirenberg, LGBTQ+ Committee Talk Inclusion, Homelessness, Safety
“San Antonio has a very proud history of civil rights and human rights, which is why it was odd to me that the nondiscrimination ordinance was as vitriolic a conversation as it was.”
Seen on KENS 5, 19 February, 2019
LGBTQ community talks public safety and concerns with mayor, city leaders
“We [San Antonio] are the third largest in nation for LGBTQ families”
Seen on KSAT 12, 19 February, 2019
Members of LGBTQ community want say in future protective city policies
According to the FBI, in 2016, there were 10 hate crimes reported by participating Bexar County law enforcement agencies. In 2017, there were six hate crimes reported, but none were connected to sexual orientation or gender identity.
Seen on KSAT 12, 19 February, 2019
Woman survives traumatic crash thanks to new resource on SAFD EMS units
The fire department said seven units are equipped with whole blood transfusion technology. It’s been used 56 times, and the department said double the amount of lives have been saved since it started the program in October.
Seen on FOX 29, 19 February, 2019
School rock garden helps bring community together
All said and done, the garden was filled with more than a thousand rocks.Each one unique, and each one made with a purpose.
Heard on Texas Public Radio, 19 February, 2019
Bexar County Autistic Adults Struggle To Access The Services They Need
Ninety percent of adults in Bexar County with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not receiving the services they need.
Found in the Rivard Report, 19 February, 2019
COPS Metro Urges Mayor to Ramp Up Implementation of Affordable Housing Policy
“When I walked into the mayor’s office we had $7 million going to housing in the city of San Antonio, today we have $25 million,” Nirenberg said. “Nobody was talking about … the priority of affordable housing.” “Except COPS Metro,” one audience member offered. Nirenberg agreed.
Seen on KENS 5, 20 February, 2019
Grub out for a cause during San Antonio Burger Week
Get your grub on at burger joints across the Alamo City this Friday through March 3 all in support of the San Antonio Food Bank!
Found in Out in SA, 7 February, 2019
San Antonio Activist Invites Everyone to Her 9th Annual Birthday Party Fundraiser
This year the beneficiaries of Ana Alicia Perez’s fundraiser are the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas and Abode Contemplative Care for the Dying.
