“We serve now over 800 children,” said SJRC Chief Development Officer Cynthia Lopez.
In 2021, the state of Texas awarded SJRC the contract to oversee foster kids’ placement and case management in 27 counties. That excludes Bexar County, which the state still oversees.“We had about 75 employees, and now we have over 270,” Lopez said.“To various placements, doctor’s appointments, court hearings, visitations with their families, picking them up from school, taking them to and from different jobs,” Lopez said.
The few vehicles they had before the grant were older vans, which are great for big groups and the moms they serve with kids. However, they don’t always need that much space, and the vans use a lot of gas.“Honestly, there was a lot of happy tears, not only because it was a year-long process, but because the vehicles were so greatly needed,” Lopez said.“If the children are dropped off in vans like that, it made them a little bit self-conscious.
Riding to school in an average SUV seems like a simple thing, but Lopez said it provides a sense of dignity for children who have landed in the foster system after enduring abuse and neglect at home.“It takes a village to raise a child, and we’re raising 800 children every day, so we need help from the community. We’re so grateful to Valero Energy for being able to provide these vehicles to continue our mission,” Lopez said.
Courtney Friedman is a KSAT anchor and reporter. She has an ongoing series called Loving in Fear, confronting Bexar County’s domestic violence epidemic. She's also covered Hurricane Harvey, the shootings in Sutherland Springs and Santa Fe, and tornadoes throughout Texas. She’s a California native and proud Longhorn who loves calling SA home.