The United Way of South Texas is calling it the most successful Spirit of Christmas campaign yet.
Together with The Monitor, United Way and a generous Rio Grande Valley community aided the campaign — an annual effort to encourage the public to help struggling or vulnerable residents during the holidays — by raising tens of thousands of dollars for 12 families in need this Christmas.
Although the campaign is still ongoing, United Way has already seen more than $30,000 in monetary donations for the families featured this year.
The Monitor published 12 stories about as many families who are currently struggling financially due to various factors; many had exasperating circumstances due to only one person in a household being able to work. This made it difficult for some of the families to pay rent and buy basic necessities such as clothes, food and medicine.
With the help of the community these families were not only able to tend to their financial issues but they were also able to provide a good Christmas for their children.
According to Velma Garcia, community investment specialist at United Way, the community responded to the call for action and have so far contributed to a total of $34,000 in monetary donations along with various gift and household items.
In fact, United Way received another $1,000 to help the families Tuesday shortly before she spoke to The Monitor. So the community is still helping and the amount of financial assistance increases.
Garcia explained that with the help of the community many of the children also received the Christmas gifts they were wishing for.
“The little boy in the first feature article, he received a bike and the shoes that he requested in the article,” Garcia said, adding that another family received donations of a stove and a refrigerator to help rebuild their home.
Although the campaign will continue until after Christmas their deadline for gifts and checks was Dec. 15 in order to be able to deliver the money and gifts to the families before the schools went on break.
“On the 16th (of December) they delivered the checks and gifts so they’ll have money and gifts for the kids’ Christmas,” Garcia said, adding that she hopes the donations will help bring a festive spirit to their homes.
Each of the families received a variety of items including bikes, clothing, refrigerators, groceries, household items, blankets and toys. Garcia added that one family also received a bed.
Not only did the public help those in need this year, but CSI: Vegas actress Ariana Guerra of McAllen also took it upon herself to help those in her community.
Last Sunday, on Dec. 18, Guerra held a Christmas Acts of Kindness Donation Drive to help six families in Edinburg and four from the Spirit of Christmas campaign.
Through Guerra’s fundraiser, she was able to raise $7,555 via a GoFundMe page that went toward helping these families during the holiday season. To continue donating, visit the GoFundMe page at gofund.me/23a7d77a, or call the United Way of South Texas at (956) 686-6331 and inquire about these families and the Spirit of Christmas campaign.
Here are the families that were featured in this year’s Spirit of Christmas campaign:
>> The Vasquez family
Family of Edinburg child with cancer short on money, not hope
>> The Quintanilla family
After fire destroys home, Edinburg family needs help picking up the pieces
>> The Salazar family
Facing dire setbacks, needs mount for family of Mercedes mother battling cancer
>> The Rangel family
Mercedes family touched by tragedies live on faith, not much else
>> The Rebollar family
Christmas too costly for Edinburg family learning to care for child with diabetes
>> The Gonzalez family
Mission household labors to make a home out of cramped space
>> The Marina-Alvarado family
Facing illness, Mission family with limited income need help sheltering kids
>> The Posada family
Facing hardship, Mercedes grandparents struggle to keep grandkids together
>> The Hernandez family
Mercedes teen shoulders family’s needs amid health, money issues
>> The Ramirez family
Older McAllen parents struggle to maintain home for children
>> The Orozco family
Mercedes family hopes to raise money to help father combat his seizures
>> The Torres family
Christmas loses magic for Roma family who lost father to COVID
In response to our Spirit of Christmas series, here are related stories of the community stepping up to help:
>> ARIANA GUERRA
After reading The Monitor’s Spirit of Christmas series, McAllen native and actress Ariana Guerra reached out to United Way to see how she could help families in her hometown.
Guerra, with the help of her friend, 28-year-old James Kittleman, and 36-year-old Silvia Ruiz, who works for IDEA Tres Lagos, organized a donation drive titled the Christmas Acts of Kindness to help several IDEA families and others featured in The Monitor’s and United Way of South Texas Spirit of Christmas campaign.
McAllen actress helps donate to families in need during holiday season
>> MERCEDES
The Mercedes community showed up in force to help the Posada family Thursday after they shared their story with The Monitor as part of its Spirit of Christmas campaign.
All of this year’s Spirit of Christmas stories can be found at myrgv.com/tag/spirit-of-christmas-2022.
