In honor of Martin Luther King’s Day of Service, a group of students from Lamar Academy went to Estrella’s House, located in Mission, Texas, to help out in the center by cleaning, painting, organizing, and making care packages.
So What is Estrella’s House?
Located in Conway Avenue in Mission, Texas, Estrella’s House serves children from ages 2-17. The Children’s Advocacy Center is the first of its kind in South Texas and overlooks Hidalgo and Starr County. Ever since June of 2000, this center has helped children that have been victims of rape, domestic abuse, and violence to speak up and share their story in a comfortable place. By recording their story, the children do not have to repeat their trauma over and over again while the case is under investigation.
What We Did
Organized by IB Coordinator, Andrea Gutierrez, the visit to Estrella’s House on Saturday morning, January 19, 2018 was packed with work. When we arrived, we were all greeted by Gloria Hernandez, head of Public Relations, who told us what she had planned for the day. Being Saturday, the center was empty and it was the perfect time to get the center clean and organized for Monday.
In total, we were around 35 volunteers ready to take any challenges. We were divided into three groups: people who would clean and organize the closet, those who would paint the walls of the waiting room, and the group who would assemble 100 care packages.
I was part of the painting group along with 9 other people. Before we got started, we were given the supplies which were basically the basics: tape, paint rollers, brushes, plastic, tins, and obviously, paint. Gloria told us to tape the baseboards and outlets so that they would not get ruined with the paint. With 10 people working, we were finished really quickly. Once that was done, we were instructed to paint one wall vibrant lilac and the rest of the room blue.
I am not going to lie, the room was a mess after we painted. The plastic kept moving, causing leaks of paint to stain the floor. The room was also crowded as people who were organizing the closet were walking in and out. Everyone was just doing their own thing, but we are able to make it work and paint the entire room in 3 hours.
Once we finished painting, Ms. Gutierrez grabbed a mop, and started covering the stained floor with water while Valeria Gracia, Adriana Trejo, Giselle Acosta, José Reyna, and I scrubbed the dried paint with a napkin and our feet. At the end, it seemed as if no one had spilled blue and lilac paint all over the floor.
But that was just what I did with my group. Let me tell you what others did in the center. Again, a group of 10 people were in the conference room assembling 100 care packages that would be given to those children and mothers who had to leave their homes. The care packages would contain toiletries, a blanket, and simply the bare necessities.
Finally, the rest of the volunteers organized the clothes and shoes in the center's closet by age and size to make it easier for the employees to identify where the clothes are. They also arranged the toys that were donated by age and gender so that they are easy to see and reach by the children who visit the center.
How You Can Help
Estrella’s House is always looking for donations. Even just one blanket can help all of the children who are in need of comfort.
Below is a list of items that you can donate to The Children’s Advocacy Center of Hidalgo County:
Children’s clothing
Undergarments
Socks
School backpacks and supplies
Toys in original packaging
Packages of diapers/wipes
Childrens' books
Coloring books
Cash donations
Gift cards from local stores
Gas cards
All items must be donated in a new condition. You can also make an online donation by clicking here.
Want to learn more? Click here to visit The Children’s Advocacy Center of Hidalgo County’s website!
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