Celebrating South Texas!
www.welcomehomergv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • October 23, 2019
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We’re just connecting the dots.
VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 2 • October 23, 2019 • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley • • •
hello FROM KRISTI
One
thing I know about our Winter and Converted Texan friends--you like to give back to your communities. We often talk about the economic impact you have on our region, but what goes unmeasured are the countless volunteer hours and donations you make to our local nonprofit organizations and families in need while you’re here. I come from a nonprofit background. My first job was development director for the RGV American Red Cross. I saw firsthand how our Winter Texans mobilized in times of disaster or helped by raising much-needed funds for the organization. It makes me proud to see all you do for others, so effortlessly and without the need for recognition. If you’re looking for an organization to support this season, you’ll find a long list of nonprofit organizations on our website that would love to hear from you...or call Big Lew! He would love to hear from you, too! • We’re just connecting the dots,
Kristi
THANK YOU TO OUR
2019-2020
SEASON SPONSORS
Photo by Eryn Reddell Wingert
Story and Photos by Eryn Reddell Wingert
“I
t is the world’s largest Christmas project for children,” says Elizabeth Dukquits, area coordinator for Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child. In 2018, 10.6 million gift-filled shoeboxes were shared with children worldwide; 8.8 million of those came from the United States. Overall, 168 million children have received a shoebox since the
inception of Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child started in the United Kingdom in 1990, partnering with Samaritan’s Purse three years later. The project’s reach is vast, but the concept is simple: OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 >>