UTSA employees help 'Adopt-A-Family' program

By Jennifey Lilly and Misty Kelley
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs Networking Committee

(Dec. 16, 2008)--Families are referred to San Antonio's Family Service Association (FSA) for a variety of reasons including poverty, job loss, death of a family member and other critical circumstances. To provide some support for the families, staff members from the UTSA Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs coordinated the adoption of 22 of these families this month through the FSA "Adopt-A-Family" program.

Families ranged in size from one senior citizen to 10 or more family members. Gifts filled six cars and trucks and included basketball hoops, bicycles, a chest of drawers, clothes, gift cards, personal necessities, toys and more.

Participating UTSA offices and organizations included Athletics, Campus Recreation, Career Services, University Center Events Management, Financial Aid and Enrollment Services, Inclusion and Community Engagement Center, Housing and Residence Life, Orientation and Family Programs, Registrar, Student Activities, Student Life and Judicial Affairs, University Center, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, The Oaks and Chisholm Hall staff, Special Events Center, Women's Resource Center, UTSA women's basketball team and the UTSA Ambassadors in Training. Additionally, Counseling Services and the Child Development Center adopted families on their own.

Families are still available for adoption. To adopt a family, contact Elsa De La Fuente at (210) 299-2400. For more information, visit the Family Service Association Web site.