The nonprofits of Brownsville spend most of their time helping residents in the community. On Saturday, they spent the day helping each other.
Twenty-five local nonprofits teamed up for the Big Give Brownsville, a 24-hour fundraising event where volunteers collect donations at five intersections in the city for much of the day and invite people to give online.
Scott Wolfe, intersection chair for the Big Give and Children’s Museum of Brownsville board member, said the nonprofits raised $25,000 last year and hoped to exceed that on Saturday. The event allows them not only to collect donations but gain visibility in the community, he added.
“It’s a boost (of funds), and if anything there’s no other event where the nonprofits are all out together fighting for the same cause,” he said. “The slogan is ‘all for one, one for all.’”
Sonja Culbertson, 15, rallied five friends to join as volunteers during the Children’s Museum of Brownsville shift.
“I like to volunteer and give back to my community,” she said, adding that the response from drivers had been good. “Even the little contributions can make a big difference.”
Evonne Lopez, Friendship of Women’s education and volunteer coordinator, said the organizations that participate in the Big Give take part not only for themselves but for each other.
“I think it’s been really good,” she said. “(Drivers have) just been opening their windows, purses, coin bags and donating.”
Daisy Lopez, victim and education manager at Friendship of Women, said the Big Give donations help the nonprofit’s clients in ways grant money can’t, such as when someone needs to pay to see a doctor after an emergency.
“All of the agencies are addressing the community’s issues together, and we want our community to be better and stronger,” she said. “We have to start with supporting each other.”
Learn how to donate at www.thebiggivebrownsville.org and facebook.com/thebiggivebrownsvilletx.
