Season for Caring raises $1.3 million, but Austin families, nonprofits still have needs

Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman
·6 min read

A new year. A fresh start.

This morning, the 11 featured families in the Statesman's Season for Caring program start the year with new hope, new possibilities.

Since the American-Statesman launched its 24th year of Season for Caring over the Thanksgiving weekend, the community has come together to raise $1,194,825 in monetary donations and an additional $11,686 in in-kind goods and services. The $1,312,511 total is the third-most at this point in the campaign. It's the sixth year the Statesman's charity program has crossed the $1 million mark.

Since 1999, Season for Caring has donated $18.3 million to local nonprofit organizations to help featured families first, but then help thousands of other people throughout the year with such basic needs as rent, utilities, transportation, medical care and groceries.

Sheri Harvey, 79, sits with her son Scott Harvey, 52. Sheri Harvey has debilitating arthritis that requires nursing care. Season for Caring donations have helped pay the back rent at her senior living center.
Sheri Harvey, 79, sits with her son Scott Harvey, 52. Sheri Harvey has debilitating arthritis that requires nursing care. Season for Caring donations have helped pay the back rent at her senior living center.

The community got to these numbers by meeting the Sheth family's $500,000 match, a $250,000 gift from Pat Munday, and numerous other monetary donations from $5 on up from individuals, families and groups of friends or co-workers.

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

The giving doesn't need to stop with the ball drop on New Year's Eve. Money and in-kind donations collected through Jan. 31 will help the nonprofit agencies and families in the 2022 program.

Here are some of the help the donations have already given to this year's featured families — and their lingering wishes that remain:

  • The Kemokai family, now living in an RV in Granger because of rent increases, spent a night in the Driskill Hotel and got vet care for their dog, Millie. They dream of having their own home. The family needs help with rent or land and a mobile home as well as real estate guidance. The Kemokais also need a gently used car. Smaller items are on their Amazon wish list. Father Roland, 42, would like a mentor for his music career. (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, 512-541-4226, myhaam.org)

  • Sheri Harvey, 79, has debilitating pain from arthritis. The community fulfilled many of her needs for incontinence supplies through her wish list on Amazon. Season for Caring funds helped pay the back rent at her senior living center. She needs a geriatric care manager. She and her 52-year-old son, Scott, need a financial adviser, legal advice on an eviction and help finding a new place to live for Scott. (AGE of Central Texas, 512-649-2211, ageofcentraltx.org)

  • Jae Lee, 33, a veteran who is in school to become a social worker, was able to fill his Academy basket with clothes for himself and his daughter. Foundation Communities will help him with rent while he continues school. He needs gender-confirming care, and his daughter, Tiare, 13, needs summer camp opportunities as well as mental health therapy. In addition, their wish list for smaller items is on Amazon. (Nominated by Foundation Communities, 512-447-2026, foundcom.org.)

Jae Lee, left, shops at Academy Sports + Outdoor after five Season for Caring families received a $1,000 gift cards. It had been years since he had been able to buy clothes for himself.
Jae Lee, left, shops at Academy Sports + Outdoor after five Season for Caring families received a $1,000 gift cards. It had been years since he had been able to buy clothes for himself.

  • Joey Jimenez, 28, who has brain cancer, received many clothing items he needed at Academy, and the Chavez family is helping make some home improvements at his home. Another donor has come through to help with his headstone, but more funeral expenses are needed. His family also needs a bathroom made more accessible for him as well as tree trimming. His wish list is on Amazon. (Hospice Austin, 512-342-4726, hospiceaustin.org)

  • Anatole Lee, 58, saw the community fulfill many of the items on his wish list, including tools to help him resume doing odd jobs. Lee, who had a traumatic brain injury as well as seeing his employment as a security guard affected by the pandemic, needs a gently used van and help organizing his apartment. (Family Eldercare, 512-450-0844, familyeldercare.org)

  • Sandra Stephenson, 66, is on dialysis and has been losing her vision. She will be receiving a second opinion from Dr. Armitage Harper at Austin Retina Associates this month. She needs help with many home improvements including new floors, kitchen, electrical work, painting inside and out, a new deck, fencing and landscaping. Her wish list is on Amazon. (Interfaith Action of Central Texas, 512-386-9145, interfaithtexas.org)

  • Juana Betancurt, 38, a mom of seven whose husband was deported for domestic violence, is about to move into a new home. She needs a mentorship to start a food truck business, as well as a gently used car. Her wish list is on Amazon. (SAFE Alliance, 512-665-1858, safeaustin.org)

  • Naquisha Taylor, 33, is now in a fully furnished three-bedroom apartment because of monetary donations to Caritas of Austin as well as in-kind donations from St. Martin's Lutheran Church and Amazon wish list purchases. Taylor can now move her children into her home after years of being homeless. Her two biggest needs are a gently used car and a mentor for starting a nonprofit. (Caritas of Austin 512-621-9327, caritasofaustin.org)

  • Shogufa Afshar, 39, who came to the U.S. from Afghanistan with her three children after her husband was killed, had almost all of the family's wishes met by the elves at Grisham Middle School. Austin Community College also reached out to help with English lessons and career opportunities. She does need handyman services to help fix a few things in her house. (Interfaith Action of Central Texas, 512-386-9145, interfaithtexas.org)

  • Leslie Romero, 33, has five children, one of whom has had multiple surgeries. The community came through with many sensory toys for her son Amari, but after her apartment flooded on Christmas Eve, her wish list has grown. After that damage, she needs new towels, sheets, a dining room table and living room furniture. She still needs an iPad to help Amari communicate as well as help moving into a new place to live. Her wish list is on Amazon. (Any Baby Can, 512-276-8199, anybabycan.org)

  • Araceli Ramirez, 49, has stage 4 breast cancer and is cared for by her 22-year-old son, Jesus. They received some items on their wish list Her biggest request is a second opinion on her cancer. She also has many home repair needs, including new floors, painting, landscaping, fencing and redone bathrooms and kitchen. (Breast Cancer Resource Center, 512-524-2560, bcrc.org)

How to donate to Season for Caring

Find the daily coupon in print on Page 8E or go to statesman.com/seasonforcaring.

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

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Season for Caring raises $1.3M, but families still have needs