Sharing Hope: Holiday Clothing, Toy, and Food Drive a Success

It's hard for many of us to imagine what it's like to be truly hungry. Or to have to go out into the cold without warm clothes. Most of us, as children, woke up to find presents under the tree on Christmas morning. But there are many in need right in the midst of our community, and for years, there have been two holiday programs working to meet that need.

Texas Lutheran University's Black and Gold President's Council is a select group of juniors and seniors who not only maintain high grade point averages, but who also act as ambassadors, representing TLU in a variety of ways. Every December, the group hosts a campus food drive to benefit those in need in the local community.

Meanwhile, for many years, KWED-Seguin's radio station-has held a Holiday Food and Toy Drive, pulling together individuals and organizations from across the city to stand out on Court Street on a December morning to collect donations for the local Christian Cupboard as well as toys for the Seguin Police Department's Blue Santa program.

This year, BGPC decided to expand their efforts, so they created Holiday Hope Drive. Their goal was twofold: to provide warm winter clothing, blankets, and other essentials to those in need at Thriving Hearts Crisis Center (formerly the Seguin Family Violence Shelter), but also to collect food and toys by banding together with KWED to support their holiday drive. Courtney Burnett, a TLU graduate student in computer and data science and president of BGPC, approached the radio station and proposed establishing a partnership. KWED liked the idea, and the two joined forces.

The radio station helped spread the word, and BGPC worked with other student organizations and community partners to establish donation drop-off stations, both on campus and around town, where people could bring clothing, toys, and food. Then, on the chilly December morning of KWED's drive, TLU students, faculty, and staff-including members of BGPC and TLU President Dr. Debbie Cottrell-came out to stand on Court Street and help receive additional donations.

All told, a truckload of toys was collected, along with clothing, almost 600 pounds of food, and around $7,000 in monetary donations-all to support Blue Santa, Thriving Hearts, and the Seguin Christian Cupboard.

"The Holiday Hope Drive was a fantastic way to strengthen the connection between TLU and the Seguin community," said Burnett. "I'm incredibly grateful to the TLU administrative departments, student organizations, and community partners-especially KWED, the Seguin Public Library, Dietz Flower Shop, and the Seguin Chamber of Commerce-for serving as collection points and helping with outreach," said Burnett. "This initiative would not have been possible without the dedication of TLU students, staff, and faculty, as well as the generosity of all who donated and helped publicize the drive."

Thanks to the collective efforts of the community, the holidays this year will see food on tables, warm clothes for winter, and toys under Christmas trees.

"We're fortunate to be part of such a compassionate and giving community," said Burnett. "I'm confident the donations will make a meaningful difference for many families and individuals. I hope to see the Holiday Hope Drive become an annual tradition!"