USAA volunteers served Thanksgiving lunch with the San Antonio Food Bank to local families in need at Haven for Hope, the American GI Forum, the Salvation Army, and The Courtyard with St.Vinnys. More than 100 employees, retirees and their families served over 1700 meals. Every Wednesday we bring you this compassionate news roundup. Want the news faster? Follow us on Twitter @compassionNET1. And don’t forget to use the hashtag #compassionateSA so we can find YOUR compassionate actions!
Found in the Express-News, 21 November, 2018
San Antonio Youth Literacy mentors second-graders
“It’s a super rewarding experience because you see the students get excited, kind of have that lightbulb moment.”
Found in the Express-News, 21 November, 2018
Quenedit Dance Theatre aims to make dance accessible
The company has made it a point to give free tickets to any group that requests them, including shelters and the Boys and Girls Club.
Seen on KSAT 12, 21 November, 2018
Culinary students cook Thanksgiving dinner for abused, neglected children in shelter
“These kids they come from abuse, neglect. Some of these kids have traveled from Central and South America and go days without food, and when they come through, we feed them lunch; we feed them dinner.”
Found in the Express-News, 22 November, 2018
‘FEAST OF THE HEART’ IS JIMENEZ’S LEGACY
“It’s where thousands of people come together for one common cause. It’s a dinner where you’re treated with dignity and respect.”
Seen on KENS 5, 22 November, 2018
Daughter keeps family’s annual charity dinner alive
“His philosophy was you come into this world with nothing, you leave with nothing. What counts is what you do in between.”
Found in the Rivard Report, 22 November, 2018
Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner Serves Thousands of Pounds of Food to Thousands of People
“Our main audience is seniors, veterans, the homeless, and low-income families, but people who are alone often volunteer and come eat with us.”
Seen on WOAI 4, 22 November, 2018
Meals on Wheels expected to serve more than 2,000 this Thanksgiving
Up to 600 pounds of turkeys were cooked and pre-sliced, aiming at serving between 2,300 and 2,400 clients.
Found in the Rivard Report, 22 November, 2018
Thankful for San Antonio, a Compassionate Center of Action
Mayor Nirenberg: “As our Tricentennial comes to a close, this is a time to reflect upon how far we have come and how much further we will go together.”
Found in the Express-News, 22 November, 2018
This holiday season, text ‘compassion’ to 55000
Text the word “compassion” to 55000, then watch for monthly texts that alert volunteers to urgent human needs or services that will benefit from a concerted and well-informed effort.
Found in the Express-News, 22 November, 2018
Volunteers work to make city more inclusive for people with different abilities
Fiesta Especial is an official Fiesta celebration for children and adults with cognitive, developmental and physical differences, and their family and friends.
Seen on KENS 5, 22 November, 2018
SA restaurant steps in to save Thanksgiving for neglected children
“They needed help at this wonderful shelter for kids and I think they got about three words into it when I said, ‘I’m in.'”
Visto en KWEX 41, 22 de noviembre de 2018
Bomberos de San Antonio celebran Acción de Gracias con miembros de las Fuerzas Armadas [San Antonio Firefighters celebrate Thanksgiving with members of the Armed Forces]
Las 53 subestaciones del Departamento de Bomberos compartirán la cena con otros agentes del orden que no podrán pasar este día con sus familias. The 53 fire department substations will share dinner with other law enforcement officers who will not be able to spend this day with their families.]
Seen on WOAI 4, 22 November, 2018
Firefighters open their stations to Air Force trainees for Thanksgiving
With many coming from different parts of the nation and being far away from their families, the holiday was a chance for them to build bonds in the Alamo City.
Visto en Telemundo 60, 22 de noviembre de 2018
Familias adoptan a soldados en Thanksgiving [Families adopt soldiers for Thanksgiving]
Decenas de familias de San Antonio abren sus puertas en el Día de Acción de Gracias a soldados quienes están lejos de sus seres queridos. [Dozens of families from San Antonio open their doors on Thanksgiving Day to soldiers who are far away from their loved ones.]
Seen on KSAT 12, 22 November, 2018
Local runners help fight hunger at 9th annual Turkey Trot
5,000 runners participated.
Found in the Express-News, 23 November, 2018
Dress for Success helps low-income women get a foot in the corporate door
“It’s amazing, the transformation. And it’s not just physical. They literally have a different posture and a different look in their face.”
Found in the Express-News, 23 November, 2018
His success story started with books
Dieter Cantu thought up his Books to Incarcerated Youth Project after visiting detention facilities as a guest speaker.
Found in the Express-News, 23 November, 2018
Felony veterans court helps the struggling
The main focus is to reduce arrests, promote self-sufficiency to keep participants sober and help them achieve education and employment to become responsible members of the community.
Found in the Express-News, 24 November, 2018
Tracy’s Dogs volunteer fosters those needing extra attention
Most dogs come from shelters along the Rio Grande Valley, a region with a poor history for humane pet care — 80 percent haven’t been spayed/neutered and the rescue rate is barely 30 percent.
Found in the Express-News, 24 November, 2018
Vet Triip offer relief from pain and stress
About 200 people, including chiropractors, massage therapists, energy workers and acupuncturists, work with the veterans.
Found in the Express-News, 24 November, 2018
League of Women Voters steps up its local game
This year, the League’s San Antonio chapter wanted to get the word out to underrepresented communities, so it circulated the Voter’s Bill of Rights to groups such as the NAACP, LULAC, Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and MALDEF.
Found in the Express-News, 24 November, 2018
Cuddlers who volunteer to comfort fussy babies find it soothing for themselves
On the third floor of Baptist Medical Center a team of volunteers performs a simple, yet vital service: cuddling the infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Found in the Express-News, 25 November, 2018
Wayward Whiskers rescues stray cats with little hope
Local nonprofit helps special-needs felines find forever homes.
Found in the Express-News, 25 November, 2018
Food Bank Around For Nearly 40 Years
Sister Mary Helen Sullivan is credited with bringing the vision of a food bank to San Antonio after attending a 1978 conference on hunger in Phoenix, home to the central offices of Second Harvest, a national food distribution network.
Found in the Express-News, 25 November, 2018
Right at Home helps clients remain independent
“You have to care for others. You can’t just look at it as, ‘I’m just getting a paycheck.’ ”
Found in the Express-News, 25 November, 2018
Charity groups make a difference in the lives of San Antonians
Living in the world’s wealthiest country, it can be easy to forget that the blessings of affluence are not evenly distributed.
Found in the Express-News, 25 November, 2018
Clients of Alpha Home receive another chance at life
Nonprofit provides women drug, alcohol rehab in pair of homes.
Found in the Express-News, 26 November, 2018
Nonprofit offers adaptive sports for youths
Kinetic Kids offers 235 programs a year, such as swimming, basketball, T-ball, tennis, wrestling, cheerleading and CrossFit, for about 3,000 kids.
Found on KENS 5, 25 November, 2018
Strangers offer to help sisters whose wheelchair ramps were stolen
“There are good people out there that are willing to help you out.”
Seen on KENS 5, 26 November, 2018
How to make a difference on Giving Tuesday, in San Antonio and around the world
Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media.
Found in the Express-News, 26 November, 2018
Martinez Street Women’s Center: A healing space for San Antonio women
“We’re serving individuals who need us the most.”
Found on WOAI 4, 26 November, 2018
Any Woman Can providing free health services for San Antonio girls, women
Any Woman Can provides free counseling for teenage girls and women, free pregnancy testing, sonograms and free testing for sexually transmitted infections.
Found on KENS 5, 27 November, 2018
San Antonio brothers benefit from Giving Tuesday partner
“I’m the fruit of someone’s generous giving, and when you give, you impact someone’s life just like someone impacted mine.”
Found on KSAT 12, 27 November, 2018
Clark HS students using socks to provide comfort for cancer patients during chemo
“You try to inspire your students ,so it’s so amazing to see them inspire you.”
Found in the Express-News, 28 November, 2018
GIs lacked the basics until Soldiers’ Angels changed it
The nonprofit group, whose slogan is “May No Soldier Go Unloved,” has sent a total of 851,000 care packages to deployed troops.
