(Seguin) — What began as a blood drive in honor of a young woman fighting leukemia, and later in her memory, is now growing into a full community movement — one that her family says will continue month after month on the grounds of the historic Mosheim Mansion.
This Saturday, the Mosheim Mansion will host the first Erica’s Movies on the Lawn, a new monthly community event honoring the life and legacy of Erica Saucedo.
Patricia Saucedo, Erica’s mother, says families are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs for an evening screening of The Addams Family plus costume contest. Admission is $5 per family. Proceeds will benefit the Guadalupe County Children’s Advocacy Center, a non-profit close to Erica’s heart.
The 32-year-old worked side-by-side with her mother to restore and operate the Mosheim Mansion. Even when undergoing transfusions and treatment at MD Anderson, her mother says she continued managing inquiries for the venue.
However, she says her daughter always envisioned the mansion as more than “just a venue.” She says it was Erica’s dream for it to be a place where Seguin could gather.
“We are going to do Movies on the Lawn to try and really encourage community involvement in Seguin and so with that, the community was a big part of Erica’s life, and we want the Mosheim to really be in her memory and so she asked that we continue that. So, we are continuing that now as a venue and trying to do some community events there. The (Oct.) 18th will be the first Erica Movie on the Lawn community event, and we are going to do those movies on the lawn monthly,” said Saucedo.
The announcement of the movies on the lawn comes just one week after the Saucedo family hosted a blood drive in Erica’s honor — a continuation of the promise made to her after her passing in June.
During her treatment, Erica insisted that future blood drives be held not for her, but as a way to “repay” the donations that helped extend her fight.
In fact, her mother says these events are only the beginning.
“We are setting up a non-profit in her name, and we are going to do this type of give back program not only just through the blood drives but also in being able to do sponsorships for scholarships in her name. There is a lot that we want to do,” said Saucedo.
The movie will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday. The Mosheim Mansion is located at 409 N. Austin St.