Laredo Cancer Society
Embracing Hope, Empowering Lives: Transforming the Cancer Journey Together Group stock Photo Mrs. Griselda Valdivia & Elva Dominguez, are real life stories of cancer survivors here in Webb County. Their support through the Laredo Cancer Society provided them the services and emotional support they needed to get through while they went under Chemo Treatment. The support of Laredo Cancer Society gave them a second chance to live and get through challenging times by providing financial assistance and emotional support through the group called “Cancer Friends.”
Imaginarium of South Texas
Unlocking Minds, Inspiring Innovation: Empowering Learning at the Imaginarium of South Texas Nora Murillo the Executive Director of Imaginarium of South Texas Nancy Sanchez’s children came to the Imaginarium of South Texas to expand their learning in Mathematics by meeting weekly with tutors to guide them with their assignments and giving them the opportunity to do creative projects that helped expand their education. The Imaginarium of South Texas is a STEM focused program that prepares our future generations by giving them the opportunity to learn through creative projects while bringing together parents with their children. The Imaginarium of South Texas also provides yearly scholarships for students who meet the qualifications of their program.
Laredo Animal Protective Society
Caring for Our Beloved Companions: Promoting Pet Health and Well-being in Laredo One of the Laredo Animal Protective Society dogs up for adoption Laredo Animal Protective Services provide the necessary services to spay and neuter your pets at an affordable price through certificates provided by The United Way of Laredo. Spaying and neutering protects against some serious health problems, prevents unplanned litter, and improves the overall health for your pet. The Laredo Animal Protective Society also provides a No-Kill Shelter, and a Pet Pantry for your dog food needs. https://vimeo.com/605868618
Literacy Volunteers of Laredo
Juan Arturo Lozano & Martha Saldierna, a married couple of 51 years, heard about Literacy Volunteers through the radio on channel 89.9. There she heard about the Literacy Volunteers Program, which is a program that provides literacy skills, computing, and the tools necessary to prepare for a citizenship’s test. Since they became residents of the US, they made it a goal to learn English. Although they have both taken English classes at a university in Tamaulipas, they gained a much better understanding of the English language because of the program. https://vimeo.com/761620746
Sacred Heart
At the age of 15, Sacred Heart Children’s Home welcomed Audrey Castillo into her new home. During her stay, she built close connections with the Sisters as they supported her journey by teaching her life values, morals & priorities for her future. “They have supported me in every way that they deemed suitable to help me create a foundation of success.” Her guidance and support from the sisters have allowed her to grow and develop as she enters a new chapter finishing University as she serves for the United States Navy. Her guidance from the sisters have given her the necessary tools to become successfully independent. https://vimeo.com/761594154
Casa De La Misericordia
From an early age, Maria De Los Angeles Ibarra, suffered mental and physical abuse starting at a young age and throughout her life until her adulthood. Her life of abuse continued throughout her marriage until her child bearing years. Her children gave her the courage to escape the abuse she was encountering to protect them from a life of violence. She sought asylum from Casa De Misericordia when a neighbor recommended their assistance to her. There she was able to begin the process of healing through education, counseling, and assistance to be able to leave her perpetrators with services that can assist her and her family. https://vimeo.com/761563493
Laredo Cancer Society
LAREDO CANCER SOCIETY, (956) 615-4297, 1700 E. Saunders Ste. A 110 Helps, supports and provides assistance to cancer patients to help them pay gas, rent and utilities when the hospital bills stacked up.
Pillar Strong
PILLAR STRONG, (956) 723-7457, 6406 Mcpherson Unit #2 Provides readily accessible, quality mental health and substance abuse addiction care for men, women, youth, and families in an atmosphere that promotes compassion, respect and well being for all.
Girls Scouts of Greater South Texas, Inc.
Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program for girls, with proven results. There’s nothing like helping girls find their voices and use them to change the world. Although girls are of top priority within the organization, the volunteers who guide them are key to what makes the Girl Scout Movement going. As a Girl Scout troop leader, individuals are called to the challenge of filling important roles in girls’ lives; The should be a fearless leader, an empowering role model, and an innovative event organizer, among other qualities. Girl Scout volunteer, Veronica Ramirez, shares her perspective on being a leader to Troop 9158 and gives credit of motivation to the girls she leads. At the start of last year, the coronavirus outbreak struck immediately at the end of cookie seasonand ultimately made troops and their leaders pivot with the change much like that of the rest of the world. This year, the Girl Scouts are back, and have found safe and innovative ways to carry on the tradition of helping their local communities, becoming resourceful and creative during the downtime. Within the last year, the twenty-six members of Troop 9158 of Laredo, Texas rose up to the challenge together and have participated in numerous community service acts such as collecting donations for Las Alturas Nursing Home, gathering necessary supplies for the Pantry of Hope as well as supporting the same organization’s “Hope in A Bag” program for children in foster care. Girl Scouts is a girl-led movement meaning that girls play an active part in figuring out the what,where, when, how and the why of their Girl Scout activities. “I do my best at ensuring that our troop as girl-led as possible,” says troop leader Ramirez. “Twice a month my co-leader and I make time to meet on Zoom and hear ideas from the girls which there always is!” Ramirez says. It is important to guide and inspire girls as they embrace new challenges, build important skills, and take the lead within the community. “Their motivation motivates me on a daily basis and even keeps me active within my community,” says Ramirez. “Mentor a Girl Scout or work with other adults to provide the kind of behind-the-scenes support that makes it possible for her to make amazing new memories at Girl Scouts! Reach your full potential as you help her discover hers, and together, change the world!” Girl Scouts a non-profit organization that provides programs with the support of grants and donations. They are a proud member of the United Way of Laredo. Your support of United Way, helps to ensure that agencies like the Girl Scouts provide programs for girls in our community. For more information on how you can support the United Way or any of their network of agencies contact the United Way at uwlaredo@unitedwaylaredo.org or visit their website at www.unitedwaylaredo.org If you are in need of community resources and are not sure where to turn dial 2-1-1 for information on programs and services in available in our community. https://vimeo.com/606017405
South Texas Food Bank
The South Texas Food Bank’s (STFB) has been serving the South Texas community for over 30 years. Their mission is “to alleviate hunger in the eight-county service area in the South Texas area by collecting and distributing food through partner agencies and programs while creating awareness and educating the community on the realities of hunger.” The organization was established in the late 1980’s when state and federal governments were not able to provide sufficient resources to alleviate the hunger problems in Laredo. Several concerned citizens and community leaders decided to create a community food pantry to help feed the hungry in our community. Today, with the support of community sponsors and partners, the South Texas Food Bank serves eight counties: Val Verde, Kinney, Maverick, Dimmit, Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, and Starr. Besides providing support to food pantries the STFB has several programs that help support targeted areas of need. Some of the programs they have are the Adopt a Family, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps), the emergency food assistance program, the Backpack Program, and the Kid’s Café’s. Guillermo Sosa never thought he would need to turn to the food bank for help. He felt a ping of strangeness on his first visited the South Texas Food Bank. He had worked hard to ensure he would have the means to provide for himself and his family. But COVID-19 had forced itself upon Sosa’s life, as it did with many others, leading them to change how they lived. “But, you know, the employees at the food bank were so polite that it comforted me in seeking this assistance,” Sosa said recalling his first visit. The double c and s in the word success stands for more than a reminder of enunciation. It serves as an important reminder of togetherness. Together, for example, people can spread more hope. As a freelance photographer, Sosa began to slowly lose his way of earning money. His creative outlet would also be unfortunately affected by the grip of the pandemic. However, Sosa began feeding his creativity through the culinary arts. With each supplemental box he received from the food bank, Sosa was confronted with an offering of possibilities. “I’ve always enjoyed cooking. The food bank just revived that for me,” Sosa said. “I would get all these ingredients and since we had to stay home, I’d make a different plate each day.” The food bank had inadvertently helped Sosa satisfy two hungers: his physical need as well as his hunger for creating. Sosa has since created many plates with the ingredients provided to him by the South Texas Food Bank and has regained his footing. Your support of United Way, helps to ensure that agencies like the STFB are able to provide food to families in south Texas. For more information on how you can support the United Way of Laredo or any of their network of agencies contact the United Way at uwlaredo@unitedwaylaredo.org or visit their website at www.unitedwaylaredo.org If you are in need of community resources and are not sure where to turn dial 2-1-1 for information on programs and services in available in our community.
