小蝌蚪视频

On Thursday, Feb. 19, Catholic Charities San Antonio hosted the kickoff event for the annual 40 Cans for Lent food drive in collaboration with the Archdiocese of San Antonio and its Catholic schools. This longstanding Lenten tradition encourages the community to donate canned goods to help support neighbors across San Antonio who are facing food insecurity.

Students from K-12 schools that fall under the Archdiocese of San Antonio, including UIW’s Brainpower Connection schools, gathered at the to organize the thousands of donations Catholic Charities had already received. Notably, a portion of the donations were contributed by several attending schools as well the 小蝌蚪视频 (UIW).

"Every Lent, we host a 40 Cans for Lent kickoff with Catholic schools, universities, corporate partners and interfaith friends to raise food for our food pantries around the city and Archdiocese," shared Catholic Charities President/CEO and UIW '03 alumna, Ada Saenz. "Our goal is to raise 125,000 pounds of food to stock our shelves and feed our neighbors in need. We are so very grateful to our community for serving with us by joining us in this Lenten almsgiving and look forward to celebrating our work together!”

UIW’s Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability (ECCLS) attended the event along with UIW’s mascot, Red the Cardinal, to demonstrate their support for this noble initiative.

“This initiative is a vital part of a broader community-wide effort to alleviate food insecurity and provide tangible support to individuals and families facing food challenges during the Lenten season,” noted ECCLS Director, Ricardo Gonzalez. EdD. “Through sustained engagement in this collaborative program, the University has exemplified its commitment to social responsibility and community solidarity. Over several years, the University has contributed more than 5,000 pounds of canned goods, making a significant and measurable impact on the lives of those in need in the local community.”

The ECCLS has coordinated its own efforts on the Broadway campus to combat food insecurity. They created the Cardinal’s Cupboard Food Pantry, which “is open to UIW students, faculty, staff and employees to access non-perishable foods, basic hygiene products and other basic needs” (uiw.edu). With similarly aligning goals, the 40 Cans for Lent food drive is one that the ECCLS has proudly supported for the past seven years.

To further support the initiative, the ECCLS will place donation collection bins across the UIW Broadway campus throughout the Lenten season so that the Incarnate Word community can get involved and contribute.

“In alignment with the vision established by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and our esteemed founder, Sr. Dorothy "Dot" Ettling, CCVI, the ECCLS views this program as a transformative educational opportunity for students to engage as a global citizenship and demonstrate their role of being socially responsible for issues in their community,” shared Gonzalez. “By fostering an inclusive atmosphere of compassion and support, the ECCLS aspires to be a source of hope and assistance for individuals facing heightened vulnerability, thereby actualizing its mission to serve as a beacon of light for others.”

Hundreds of students spent the day organizing donations and hearing the wisdom of Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The day was a demonstration of the commitment UIW and other local schools have towards supporting their brothers and sisters in need.

Donation bins on the UIW Broadway campus can be found in the Cafeteria, the Landing, Hortencia’s and outside of the ECCLS office (inside the Columkille Administration Building).