Campus ‘angels’ spread joy to Austin Academy children

Staff Council distributed the names of 90 children Nov. 4 to faculty and staff members, who will provide holiday gifts for children of San Antonio Independent School District's Austin Academy. The exchange was in the employee lounge in Loftin Student Center.

Each red angel hanging from the decorated holiday tree contained a child's first name, grade level and an interest, said Enrique Castillo, who is Staff Council president and an enrollment specialist.

Austin Academy teachers selected five boys and five girls from each grade from kindergarten through eighth whose names were tied to the angel tree, academy secretary Sally Rodriguez said.

"Some of these kids don't get a Christmas at all," Rodriguez said. "Their parents are unemployed, and they face many hardships. They are excited to get a little something."

In the past, the college's Angel Tree Project has been sponsored by both the women's center and the counseling center.

Staff Council decided to continue giving to the children at Austin Academy, which also recevied school supplies collected during a back-to-school drive in August, Castillo said

Rodriguez said the school supplies were donated to the children who showed up without supplies on the first day of school.

Castillo thought 90 angels would be too many, but after they were all picked up, he still had volunteers wanting to donate money.

"SAC has a caring heart to unfortunate kids," Castillo said.

Gifts priced between $15-$20 should be turned in before Dec. 5 to Paul Sanchez, senior secretary for the English department, in Room 123 of Gonzales Hall; assistant bursar Michelle Gable in Room 201 of Fletcher Administration Center; and clerk Cynthia Cruz in the continuing education registration office in Room 202 of Fletcher; or continuing education specialist Anelia Luna in Room 227 of the academic instruction center, Castillo said.

Gifts will be presented at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at Austin Academy, Castillo said.

Money and gifts can be donated by calling Castillo at 210-486-0641 or Staff Council Treasurer Jackie Hernandez at 210-486-1409.