(Seguin) — A local non-profit group has a new name, that hopefully better reflects its mission of serving families across this area. The Guadalupe Valley Family Violence Shelter is now called the Thriving Hearts Crisis Center.
Executive Director Delilah Reyes says the new name not only better reflects their overall mission, but it also helps to promote their vision for each person that they serve. She says they are more than a shelter, and they wanted the name to suggest that they are there to help families in a number of ways.
“We really wanted to go with something that reflects more of our mission. It’s not just about surviving the abuse or being a victim of the abuse. It’s about surviving it, thriving and healing from those wounds. We want to focus on thriving beyond the trauma of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking,” said Reyes.
The new name comes as the organization celebrates 40 years of service in the Seguin area. Reyes says they now service a much larger territory, with clients now in Guadalupe, Karnes, Wilson and Gonzales counties.
The new name was recently announced during the center’s new signature fundraising event, called the Purple Tie Gala.
Reyes says that the gala was a big success, and they continue to receive more support from the local community. She says they recently received a donation from the Seguin Elks Lodge. The lodge donated $2,000 worth of groceries, that the center will use to help feed the families and individuals that are currently within the crisis center’s shelter.
“The Elks Lodge reached out and wanted to help us with our food needs. That was a very generous offer. Of course, all of us are feeling the inflation on food, and we’re definitely feeling that, housing as many people as we do. We have a full house right now and we really need any support that we can receive. Feeding numerous teens and numerous adults is hard to do. So we really appreciate that donation from them,” said Reyes.
Reyes says they hope that other individuals, businesses or organizations will follow the example set by the Elks Lodge and others who continue to give. She says there’s always a need for household items that many of us might take for granted.
“We’re always in need of those everyday items, (like) laundry soap, bleach, cleaning supplies, (and) paper goods. Anything that you use in your household on a daily (basis), we need those on a constant (basis, including) pillows, blankets, comforters, (and) towels,” said Reyes.
The crisis center is working to help people transition into a better and safer situation. Reyes says they try to allow them to keep some of those items that they might have used when they were in the shelter. She says that’s one of the reasons why they continue to seek donations of these items.
“There are a lot of people that come and go, and those things need to be replaced just because of the wear and tear. We do allow people to take pillows and comforters and blankets with them, especially if they’re moving into a home. You know, they’ve been using those and if they want to take them, we let them. That’s one of those things that we constantly have to replace. We want people to be comfortable. We want them to feel like they’re at home. We are trying to get a good inventory of pillows and towels just because those are things that people don’t want to use too many times. We do cover the pillows with protective cases, but it’s still something you don’t want to use over and over again. So, we do like to try to send them home with them. But if we don’t have enough, we can’t do that,” said Reyes.
Making donations to the Thriving Hearts Crisis Center is easy. You can support them by dropping things off at its Cranny Thrift Shop, in the Crossroads Shopping Center. Reyes says the best way to donate the requested household items is to call the center directly.
“You can call the shelter 830-372-2780 and the staff there will help you set up a time to stop by there and deliver those items. Those new items — we do like them delivered directly to the shelter,” said Reyes.
Reyes says they have a number long-term plans that are in the works. She says that will eventually include a large capital campaign, that will help them raise money to build a new shelter. Meanwhile, she says her staff and the center’s Board of Directors will continue to work to support families in crisis throughout this part of Texas.