Texas FSA state office employees sponsored six families from Snook, TX. Food, toys and clothing were donated to make the holidays better for these families.
The Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA) shared their holiday spirit by making Christmas special for six struggling families in Snook, a small, rural city in Texas.
Each year, the FSA holiday committee organizes a charitable activity in which state office employees can voluntarily participate. Last year employees donated toys and food to local organizations. This year the committee decided to sponsor six families and provide them with food and toys.
“While working with the Brazos Valley Food Bank during the summer, it came to our attention that not all rural communities have local access to assistance programs,” said Shay Florence, farm loan program technician. “We decided to follow the FSA mission of supplying resources to rural communities and selected Snook as the recipient of our help,” she said.
Rosio Harris, FSA budget technician, contacted Anita Wicke, a nurse with the Snook Independent School District to obtain information on needy families and to arrange all of the details.
The families selected did not have the means to prepare a special holiday meal or purchase Christmas gifts for their children. Employees selected a family member and shopped for clothing and gifts for that person. Food items, including hams for all six families, were donated to ensure that the families have a warm meal for the holidays.
Shortly after the shopping began, the agency was notified that one of the families lost their home due to a fire. Employees purchased additional items such as towels and bed linens for the family.
“This holiday project brought a sense of cohesiveness and achievement among employees,” said Harris.
After all of the gifts and food were collected, the holiday committee arranged the items in containers with decorative cards and delivered them to Snook ISD. Each child also was nominated to receive a bike from local businesses that partnered to give away 150 bikes to children in need.
Harris received a call from one of the families and was told how grateful the children were when they saw all of their presents.
“God sends people like you to give hope to those who are struggling,” said Wicke. “You have been the guardian angels for six Snook families,” she said.
— by Cassie Bable, public affairs specialist
