This holiday season 40 San Antonio families were “adopted” by 30 UTSA student organizations! Families are referred to San Antonio's Family Service Association (FSA) for a variety of reasons including poverty, job loss, death of a family member and other critical circumstances. To provide some support for the families, student organizations “adopted” these families and purchased gifts from the families wish-list. The 40 families ranged in size and age from six month old babies to senior citizens; single parent household to 10 or more family members.

Gifts from student organizations filled nine cars and trucks. Donated items included bicycles, clothes, dolls, basketballs, gift cards, and much more! Volunteers from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, VOICES, and Victory in Praise (VIP) helped transport the gifts to the The Neighborhood Place on the West Side of San Antonio where the families would pick up their gifts.

Arianne Evans, Communication Associate of the Family Service Association sent an email describing an emotional mother receiving her gifts that were donated:

“I just thought I would let you know that one of the families you sponsored saw her gifts and burst into tears! She was so grateful. She could not stop crying. It was a very touching moment. Thank you so much! A lot of your families came to pick up their gifts yesterday and they were all pleased. She stuck out because she was by herself carrying her child and it was just touching. She didn't even open the gifts she was just happy. You guys did an awesome job!”

Coordination of the program was led by Nathan McDuell, Volunteer Services Assistant. Participating organizations were:

• African Student Association
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
• Ambassadors in Training
• Be A Responsible Roadrunner
• Black Student Union
• Business Student Council (BSC)
• Campus Activities Board
• Catholic Student Association
• Delta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Soroity Inc.
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
• Every Nation Campus Ministries
• Generating Educational Excellence in Math and Science
• Greek Councils
• Honors Alliance
• Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Inc.
• Men Of Honor
• NAACP
• National Society of Black Engineers
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
• Phi Delta Theta
• Phi Sigma Pi
• Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• Student Health Organization
• The Impact Movement
• UTSA Men/Women Cross Country
• UTSA Men/Women Track and Field
• Victory in Praise Gospel Choir
• VOICES
• Women of Honor

Submitted by —
Cristina Dominguez
Program Coordinator for Volunteer Services

The Adopt-A-Family program was also a big success among Student Affairs staff: 17 Staff Offices adopted 19 seniors and 14 families — thank you for showing such a strong commitment to the broader San Antonio community!

A few of the many participating departments also shared pictures: