Students from South Texas College of Law Houston (STCL Houston) today donated nearly $18,000 to ABC13’s 39th Annual “Share Your Holidays” Food Drive, benefiting the Houston Food Bank. This gift equates to 52,842 meals for hungry Houstonians.
For the eighth year in a row, South Texas Law earned the honor of “largest academic donor” to this holiday food drive for the Houston Food Bank.
The law school’s Student Bar Association (SBA) leaders — including Vice President Kendra Watson and Treasurer Krystal Joseph — presented an oversized check to ABC13 anchor Samica Knight at the station Friday morning.
“The amount reflected on this check was not a one-time donation,” said Joseph. “It was a collective effort by students, professors, and our local community. This amount reflects bake sales, Facebook fundraisers, restaurant profit-shares, students donating their own money, and more. This important food drive gave us an opportunity to serve our Houston community and help those in need this holiday season, and for that I am grateful.”
South Texas Law has partnered with ABC13 on its holiday food drive benefiting the Houston Food Bank for more than two decades. Last year, the school’s SBA food drive raised nearly $17,000 to put food on the tables of hungry residents of Houston.
STCL Houston students partnered with Houston restaurants Russo’s NY Pizzeria, Chick-fil-A Sawyer Heights, Lola, and Liberty Taco, which generously contributed a portion of sales during specified times toward the food drive.
“We are continually touched by the kindness and generosity of our fellow Houstonians, from individuals to companies to schools,” said Houston Food Bank President and CEO Brian Greene. “Today’s donation from South Texas College of Law Houston will have a direct impact upon people’s lives in our community, and will not only help to fill their plates during the holiday season, but nourish their souls as well. We thank the students and staff for sharing their holidays with this very generous donation.”
The school’s food drive launched Nov. 1 and concluded today with the live check presentation.
While much of the student body participated in the campus-wide drive, South Texas faculty also played a large role in encouraging donations for hungry Houston-area families. Many professors offered first-year students incentives for their contributions, including extra study sessions for upcoming exams, in addition to matching their students’ financial donations to the drive.
“We could not have raised this money without the team effort and school-wide support we received from professors, students, staff, and alumni at South Texas College of Law Houston,” said Watson. “This significant initiative is a chance for us to give back to the Houston community where many of us hope to begin our legal careers.”
While the school has welcomed both food and financial donations in past years, this year Watson and Joseph — in addition to SBA President Erin Jensen — encouraged the student body to focus their efforts on monetary contributions, since the Houston Food Bank can leverage its vendor relationships to make $1 stretch into three meals.
“Participating in this community-wide initiative to benefit the Houston Food Bank is an honored tradition at South Texas College of Law Houston,” said Jensen. “I am incredibly grateful for the continued support these fundraising efforts receive from so many in the South Texas family.”
