McAllen - Originally, the Makeover from the Heart Project was for the building of a home for a family in need. However, I think that it encompasses so much more than one project. It also encompasses all that students and faculty of South Texas Christian Academy (McAllen, Tex.) do to help those less fortunate then themselves.
This year Jason Stirewalt was instrumental in having students bring in food items to be distributed to needy families. We received help from HEB who provided the recyclable bags for the distribution and the students ended up bringing in almost 5,000 items of non-perishable food. The food was loaded in the bus with a large group of students to make deliveries at pre-designated addresses.
Another project was collected toys that were taken to an orphanage to brighten the day of children residing there. So this is a continuous work-in-progress. But probably the most ambitious program is the building of a house for a family that would never have an opportunity to have one without this program. Dr. Guillermo Pechero talked about this the first time with me right after my arrival. At that time he told me that he and his wife, Angela, wanted to sponsor a program in which the older students would be able to take part and do something that could be life changing for the students involved, as well as the family that is receiving. From there it has been a process of procuring the land, contracts, city permits, hiring a contractor, and finally the beginning.
A future project that is in the works is a horticulture project. We will be taking some of the land near the back of the gym for our planting. Texas A & M has a training program for teachers in which they are certified as Master Gardeners and teach their student about gardening. One half of the food grown would be donated to one of the local Food Banks.
By: Jim Donlon |