(Seguin) — The spirit of giving is alive and well this holiday season in Seguin.
That spirit was on full display during Friday morning’s KWED Holiday Food and Toy Drive, held outside the Guadalupe County Courthouse.
Nearly $8,000 in cash, along with mounds of food and toys, were collected during the two-hour event in downtown Seguin.
Donations will benefit the Seguin Police Department’s Blue Santa Program and the Christian Cupboard.
This year’s haul included nearly 800 pounds of food, an SUV and cargo truck full of toys, and another SUV loaded with winter coats — a new collection focus for the drive this year.
Seguin Police Chief Jason Brady says the needs are great this year, and he encouraged the community to step up and give.
“Times are tough for a lot of families and if a parent is not trying to prioritize bills and groceries and maybe that is one expense that they could spare, we want to make sure every child has a gift to open at Christmas. We don’t want any child left out in our community,” said Brady.
Seguin is a fast-growing community, and that growth is also creating a greater need to help feed local families.
Christian Cupboard volunteer Nancy Hartfiel says the organization continues to serve hardworking families who just need a little help making ends meet.
She says many people assume those seeking help are chronically in need or just down on their luck.
Hartfiel says that’s not always the case, and many families simply need short-term assistance.
“This sounds terrible, but a lot of people say ‘well, if those people would just get a job’ – so many of the people that come in have jobs. Some of them have two jobs and they still can’t make ends meet because their salaries stay the same and prices go up and one thing that I didn’t realize was – we were looking at statistics at the last board meeting, 40 percent of the people that came in from January to November only came once. They just needed it that one time just to get them over. Some people need it more often but to be there and to help them that little bit to get them over is worth it,” said Hartfiel.
This year also marked the 25th anniversary of the KWED Food and Toy Drive.
KWED General Manager Darren Dunn says he is proud of the community and proud of the staff who make the event happen year after year.
He says the goal is simple — to help improve the lives of people across Seguin.
“I’m really grateful that I get to work with such fine people who make things like this possible for the community. I sent out a note this morning to the group, and I said we want to show the people why what happens in this community matters – why we matter and why taking care of this community matters and I think we were able to do that today,” said Dunn.
Dunn also thanked the sponsors who helped make the event possible.
They include Premier Steel Solutions, Seguin Leads, Beck & Beck Buick GMC, Factory A/C Direct, Chick-fil-A, Seguin Walmart, Su Casa Café, Beyond Coffee, Furniture Warehouse, TriCity Distributors, Heideke’s Country Kennels, Diamond Air, Mi Chula’s Taco Stand, Noe’s Café, Fresh Donuts, Agave Coffee, and Donut Palace.
If you missed your chance to donate, food, toys, and money will continue to be accepted at the KWED studios for Blue Santa and the Christian Cupboard. Donations may be dropped off at 609 East Court Street. Hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
