An Austin, Texas neighborhood charity that bakes and gives bread to the 183S Homeless Camp, Esperanza Community through donations.
2024 Wrap-Up
This year has flown by at the Esperanza Community and progress has been made in so many areas. The plan to have an additional 100 shelters ready by the end of year was delayed by many factors. But, in the 4th quarter, unfinished shelters started to arrive and the contractors began water and electrical work on the other side of the camp. Looks like the initial shelters that arrived in late 2024 will be ready for occupancy in the 1st quarter of 2025 and all 100 should be occupied by the end of this year. Volunteers have completed additional sets of shelter curtains above the 200 sets that were promised and all were done ahead of schedule. So thankful for all the volunteer seamstresses and those who donated material for the effort.
Alot of transition is taking place at the camp. New folks are coming into the camp and replacing those who are moving out into their own housing in the community. The support at the camp from The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF) employees is enabling this transition to occur.
A BIG THANK YOU to my main volunteer Mary Lou and all the volunteers who have answered the call to sew and bake. Also, I am grateful to all those who have donated clothes, blankets, toiletries, suitcases, household items and miscellaneous items for those at the camp. Mary Lou helps me stay on track and bakes often for the folks plus several middle school and high school bakers helped during the summer as part of their community service.
As always, kudos to the Westbank Library (Rhonda especially) for providing a continuous supply of books and magazines for me to deliver to the camp. Can’t tell you how much they look forward to them when I show up with a box or two. Hoping to have a small section in the community center for bookshelves when it is completed this year. A second thank you to national non-profit I Support The Girls (Zuzanna) for their feminine products for the women at the camp. The menstrual items, bras and underwear have been so appreciated by the ladies there. Also, you would not be able to keep up to date without this website which was designed and is kept up by my high school designer Julia. She has been invaluable and is a gem.
To all my volunteers, new and old, you continue to make a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. If Not Us, Who? has been answered by the generous efforts you have provided for those at the camp. It has been wonderful to see our community helping other communities. We are all in this world together. Your kindness will be rewarded. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Truly,
Greta
