For many families in San Antonio, November marks the start of a season of charitable giving — and triggers end-of-year campaigns for nonprofits who often depend on that holiday spirit (and tax write-off) to sustain their year-round services for those in need.
“The act of giving is personal,” said Jennifer Quintero, director of community engagement for United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. “The majority of people are giving because they themselves often have been in a situation of experiencing need, and are [now] in the position to be able to provide for others.”
And during the holiday season, families are often looking for ways to engage with each other and the community around them through volunteering, Quintero said.
San Antonio is lucky to have no shortage of volunteers for its big Thanksgiving and holiday dinners, such as the Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner, which quickly fills up its registry for volunteers every year.
GivingTuesday, now a global effort, has emerged as a kind of philanthropic answer to the spending splurges of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Nonprofits across San Antonio now host GivingTuesday fundraising campaigns Nov. 28.
While charitable giving has steeply declined nationally post-pandemic, nonprofits and service organizations in San Antonio may not be feeling as much of a pinch, leaders recently told the San Antonio Report.
“We’ve definitely faced some challenges this year, but I wouldn’t say we’re on the same decline as what we’re seeing nationally,” said Glenn Lucadou, chief development officer for United Way. “I think we will likely see giving levels [remain flat] with what they were last year.”
How to help
Looking for ways to help this holiday season and beyond? United Way hosts an online database of volunteer opportunities year-round at www.volunteersanantonio.org.
One popular way to give back to the community at Thanksgiving is to participate in the San Antonio Food Bank’s Turkey Trot 5K downtown on Thursday. About 7,000 people had registered to run or walk as of late last week, said Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the Food Bank. Same-day registration is available for $50.
“It all goes to help families in need,” Cooper said. “If you missed the registration for another volunteer experience, then we’ve got room for you to help a neighbor in need at the Turkey Trot.”
So far, the Food Bank has distributed more than 10,000 turkeys, Cooper said last week, “and we’re trying to do a few thousand more before Wednesday.”
Last year, it distributed about 16,000 turkeys.
The organization’s goal is to ensure that each family it serves receives at least a few core Thanksgiving fixings to celebrate at home.
“I really believe that there’s a real power of the kitchen table,” Cooper said. “When you can get a family around a kitchen table, good things happen.”
The Food Bank serves 105,000 people each week across its 29-county service area and he doesn’t expect those numbers to decrease any time soon.
“The economy is just not providing enough to help people meet their basic needs, and any increase in income or wage got gobbled up with inflation,” Cooper said. “The food bank feels the same impact of supply chain disruption and inflation.”
During the pandemic, the Food Bank experienced unprecedented demand and support, he said. “The need is unprecedentedly high and support is not keeping up, but we’re optimistic … that our city will continue to show up and continue to be there for us.”
More opportunities for giving
Here’s an overview of some giving and volunteer opportunities across San Antonio:
- The Giving Machine: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has installed a machine — part vending machine, part kiosk — that allows people to donate from $5 to $200 to a range of charities including the local food bank, PAWS for Service, Catholic Charities, Interfaith Welcome Coalition and the Center for Refugee Services.
- Project Warmth: Among other commmunity collection drives, United Way is promoting its winter coat drive that aims to provide 800 coats to children. Last year, 250 coats were distributed.
- Adopt a Family: Family Service hosts an annual “wish list” drive for low-income families. Last year, 300 sponsors adopted over 2,000 individuals and nearly 1,000 volunteers wrapped gifts for families in need.
- Holiday Wishes: SAMMinistries’ annual Christmas gift program aims to provide gifts for 600 children facing homelessness whose families participate in the nonprofit’s housing programs.
- Christmas Store: Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM) operates food and clothing collections and distributions year-round but opens a free toy, decoration and supply store for those facing a severe crisis.
- Share your Harvest: In October and November, CAM also collects and distributes Thanksgiving food.
- Come Home to Thrive: Thrive Youth Center, San Antonio’s only shelter for LGBTQ+ youth, is hosting two open houses on Nov. 28 at noon and Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. as part of its Come Home to Thrive campaign. The nonprofit also has an Amazon wishlist for Secret Santas to purchase gifts for residents, and it’s accepting donations of new, unused clothing and gift cards that can be dropped off at Close to Home’s office through Nov. 30.
- Animal care: Shelters and other animal services across the city are typically in need of volunteers and donations of any size, including Animal Care Services, San Antonio Pets Alive, San Antonio Humane Society, Animal Defense League of Texas, God’s Dogs Rescue, SNIPSA and SNAP.
You can search www.SACRD.org , a local directory of human services resources, to find a service or organization you would like to support. The Federal Trade Commission recommends using Charity Navigator, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, CharityWatch or Candid to verify charities. The IRS also has a search function to find tax-exempt organizations.
Disclosures: The San Antonio Report is a nonprofit participating in GivingTuesday. A portion of its end-of-year fundraising campaign benefits Family Service.
