(Courtesy photo/City of San Benito)
BY INDI “TRINA” JOHNSON
Special to the NEWS
In the thick of a sweltering South Texas summer, relief came not from a cold front or an air-conditioned building, but from the quiet hum of a simple box fan, as families across Cameron and Willacy counties recently received relief through a partnership between The Salvation Army and H-E-B, which teamed up to distribute fans to residents in need.
“We saw gratitude because, as we know, it’s been pretty hot,” said Major Angel Hernandez, Corps Officer for The Salvation Army. “These fans help families, especially children and seniors, stay cool. The community was grateful to H-E-B and The Salvation Army for the assistance.”
Behind the scenes of that distribution effort was Jessica Gonzales, associate and presiding municipal judge for the City of Rio Hondo. Gonzales, who is currently running for Justice of the Peace Pct. 3, Pl. 2, has long used her platform to connect residents with services, often bringing quiet attention to the work of groups like The Salvation Army.
“Growing up like many people in our community, I grew up in a household with limited income, in a wood frame home with no central air,” Gonzales said. “It was a big deal to have a window fan to provide much-needed air flow to help circulate the heat in and out of our home. Even with both parents working, we couldn’t afford window fans for every room.”
Though her life looks different today, Gonzales said the memory of that discomfort stays with her. “As an adult, I have been blessed to be able to afford a more comfortable living, but I can relate, and this is what motivates me to help those in need.”
She keeps an active presence in local outreach networks and uses social media as a tool to guide others toward help. “I make it a point to find community resources that are available to citizens and use my social media to reach out to people.”
Gonzales, a member of Friends of the Library, sees the public library as more than a place for books. “I know that the library is available to everyone to come in and cool off, get out of the house, read books, and meet others in the community.”
She also promotes groups like the San Benito Food Pantry and encourages residents to use what’s available. “In other network groups, I have found that the San Benito Food Pantry is a food distribution organization available to those in need and also encourages others to go and get food.”
Her volunteer work with The Salvation Army has included distributing heaters during winter to elderly and underserved residents. “I was raised to believe that if you can help someone, you should,” she said. “Fans might seem small, but they can save lives in extreme heat.”
Hernandez said H-E-B’s donation made the recent fan distribution possible and praised the continued generosity of community partners. Still, he said, needs remain high across the region.
“In San Benito and throughout Cameron County, we offer food pantry, utility assistance (when funding is available), clothing vouchers for the homeless and veterans, coats for children, back-to-school supplies, Christmas gift assistance, children’s programs (free to the community),” he said.
As summer turns toward fall, The Salvation Army is preparing for two of its most significant annual outreach efforts. “We are in the process of preparing for two of our biggest and most important events,” Hernandez said. “The first is our fundraiser, the ‘Red Kettle Campaign.’ All funds raised help to continue to assist those in need in Cameron and Willacy counties. The second is our Angel Tree Program. This program helps families in need provide Christmas gifts for their children.”
Right now, the organization needs non-perishable food donations to help stock the pantry, as well as gently used clothing for its Family Store. “All the funds we raise go back into our community to help those in need,” Hernandez said.
Utility assistance, he noted, is a growing request. “We have had families requesting utilities assistance, but unfortunately, because of low funds, we at this time cannot meet this need,” he said. “But the one way we are trying to help is by providing the families with food assistance so they can take those funds and put them towards their utilities. We are working hard to raise funds to be able to help with utility assistance.”
The fan drive was just one day, but the spirit behind it stretches far beyond the event. With partners like Gonzales helping connect the dots between resources and the people who need them, small acts of service continue to ripple through the community, even in the middle of the heat.
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