Pflugerville family completes Season for Caring wish list of once-homeless mom

David Calabuig and his family were thinking about the holidays this year and what their favorite Christmases have been. "It's when we help people," he said.

Sometimes they've helped neighbors by playing a game of Ding, Dong, Ditch — but instead of leaving something awful, they've rang the doorbell, left a present and ran away. Other times they've helped refugee organizations or kids who needed Christmas presents through Brown Santa, Blue Santa or the Salvation Army's Angel Tree.

This year, the family from Pflugerville looked at the stories of the featured families in this year's Statesman Season for Caring program and decided to do something for Naquisha Taylor.

Taylor, 33, had been homeless for a number of years, but with help from Caritas of Austin, a nonprofit that focuses on preventing homelessness, Taylor moved into an apartment in April. With Season for Caring's help, she was able to secure a bigger apartment, one that had room for her children.

Read more: Season for Caring, Naquisha Taylor: Mother rebuilding family life after homelessness

Two weeks ago, the apartment was empty. By Christmas, it was filled with new beds from Factory Mattress, furniture from St. Martin's Lutheran Church's Move-In Ministry program, and everything that was available on Taylor's Amazon wish list from donors throughout the community.

The Calabuigs continued their Christmas tradition of giving back by completing the rest of Taylor's Amazon wish list— or at least everything that was still in stock.

Last Thursday, they brought a dresser, a TV, a comforter, lamps, china and more. The once-empty apartment now looks like a home.

"Thank you so much," Taylor said to the family. "It's so sweet. We really appreciate it."

"It's like a tradition to try to help a family," said son David Calabuig Jr. "Dad went a little bit overboard this year and became Santa."

"I am so blessed," Taylor said.

Season for Caring partners with local nonprofit organizations to tell the stories of families who have extraordinary needs. All the money and gifts collected help the featured families first, but then help hundreds of other local families served by these nonprofits throughout the year. Season for Caring donations often help families with such basic needs as rent, utilities, transportation and medical care.

Clearing a featured family's wish list means that the nonprofit will be able to help more clients throughout the year because the featured family's needs are taken care of.

This year, in addition to the Taylors, the Afshar family from Interfaith Action of Central Texas also had their wish list completed. Last week, students from Grisham Middle School delivered a U-Haul truck full of gifts.

Nine other Season for Caring families still have many items on their Amazon wish lists:

∙ The Kemokai family is now living in an RV in Granger because of rent increases. On their wish list is music equipment and gear for father Roland, 42, who is a reggae musician, clothing for mother Christine, 38, and computer equipment for sons Ben, 15, and Clement, 17, as well as household items and dog toys for Millie. (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, 512-541-4226; myhaam.org)

∙ Joey Jimenez, 28, who has brain cancer, has on his wish list clothing, pillows, shoes and many practical things for himself and his mother and youngest brother. (Hospice Austin, 512-342-4726, hospiceaustin.org)

∙ Sheri Harvey, 79, has debilitating pain from arthritis. She and her 52-year-old son, Scott, have put on their list many books, incontinence products and a folding walker. (AGE of Central Texas, 512-649-2211, ageofcentraltx.org)

∙ Anatole Lee, 58, who had a traumatic brain injury as well as seeing his employment as a security guard affected by the pandemic, has on his wish list a bicycle, a portable generator, kitchen knives and a TV. (Family Eldercare, 512-450-0844, familyeldercare.org)

∙ Jae Lee, 33, a veteran who is in school to become a social worker, and his daughter, Tiare, 13, have many things on their wish list for Christmas, including socks, gloves, jackets and artist kits for Tiare. (Nominated by Foundation Communities, 512-447-2026, foundcom.org.)

∙ Leslie Romero, 33, has five children, one of whom has had multiple surgeries. Her family has kitchen items, a table, a comfortable desk chair and an iPad to help her son communicate on their wish list. (Any Baby Can, 512-276-8199, anybabycan.org)

Learn more: How to help families through the Statesman Season for Caring program

∙ Sandra Stephenson, 66, is losing her vision because of diabetes. She put on her wish list an elliptical exercise machine, raised garden beds, a new refrigerator and outdoor lighting. Interfaith Action of Central Texas, 512-386-9145, interfaithtexas.org)

∙ Juana Betancurt, 38, a mom of seven whose husband was deported for domestic violence, has on her wish list utensils, curtains, a microwave and a vacuum cleaner — all of which will be helpful when she moves into a new home next month. (SAFE Alliance, 512-665-1858, safeaustin.org)

∙ Araceli Ramirez, 49, has stage 4 breast cancer and is cared for by her 22-year-old son, Jesus. They have towels, furniture, a laptop and small appliances on their wish list. (Breast Cancer Resource Center, 512-524-2560, bcrc.org)

How to donate to Season for Caring

Find the daily coupon in print on Page 3B or go to statesman.com/seasonforcaring.

To donate: Use the link below or click here: https://statesmansfc.kimbia.com/statesmanseasonforcaring

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Pflugerville family completes wish list of once-homeless mom