For more than 25 years, our campuswide Gifts for Children (GFC) project has been an important and heartwarming activity in which our faculty, staff, students and residents participate to create happier holidays for children in our community.
Moving forward, we are evolving the way we support children through the GFC program by partnering with a different nonprofit each year. This year, we are partnering with one of our State Employee Charitable Campaign nonprofits, Respite Care of San Antonio, Inc. Respite Care provides community and residential programs for children with medical and special needs, including 24/7 residential children’s homes, community respite and developmental child care programs.
Through our partnership with Respite Care — the only licensed shelter in Texas that accepts children with medical needs — there are four opportunities to donate toys and/or volunteer this holiday season.
1. Bring the magic of the holidays to children in Respite Care’s shelters
Respite Care operates two emergency shelters that help children with special needs and/or complex medical conditions along with their siblings. Often, children arrive after being removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Please select a toy that speaks to your heart, knowing that a child healing from immense trauma will benefit.
All toys purchased by Dec. 8 will be wrapped and delivered Dec. 25. UT Health San Antonio employees who contribute will receive a tax/donation letter in the mail or via email if they do not select “anonymous” when making a purchase.
Click here to select an item.
2. Help littles in the developmental child care center reach their potential
Respite Care also offers a developmental child care center for families who often struggle financially with affordable child care. The center’s staff selected toys to help increase a child’s developmental potential. Gifts will be given to parents so they can quietly give their child a gift this holiday season.
All toys purchased by Dec. 8 will be wrapped and delivered to the child’s parents prior to Dec. 25. UT Health San Antonio employees who contribute will receive a tax/donation letter in the mail or via email if they do not select “anonymous” when purchasing. Click here to select an item.
3. Bring the holidays year-round to Respite Care’s emergency shelters
Respite Care staff selected items for Respite Care’s sensory room and nursery. The sensory room is available for children 6 and older, while the nursery is devoted to children at or under the age of 5.
An onsite clinic operated by UT Health San Antonio’s School of Nursing provides necessary medical care to all children at Respite Care. Donated items also will go to the clinic.
Contributions will go toward the items listed below. University employees may donate online here and note that they are a “UT Health San Antonio employee” or mention the “UT Health San Antonio Christmas Project” to ensure their donation is designated toward this initiative. Funds donated by Dec. 8 will secure the purchase of the items below, in the priority order listed as funds allow. UT Health San Antonio employees who contribute will receive a tax/donation letter in the mail or via email at the conclusion of the campaign.
| Nursery Items Wish List | Priority Level (low, medium, high) |
Number Requested | Total Cost |
| Glider rocker | H | 2 | $1,358.00 |
| Bilingual book set | H | 1 | $63.50 |
| Climb and play soft blocks, large-scale | M | 1 | $329.00 |
| Soft and washable blocks | M | 1 | $59.99 |
| 6’x9′ alphabet activity rug | M | 1 | $549.00 |
| Toddler library – sturdy storage | M | 1 | $229.00 |
| No-climb bookshelf | L | 1 | $239.00 |
| Pull-along educational snail | L | 3 | $98.97 |
| Sturdy crib with drawers | L | 2 | $1,318.00 |
| TOTAL | $4,244.46 | ||
4. Volunteer opportunities
Three volunteer opportunities are currently open to UT Health San Antonio faculty, staff, students and residents. Please find the links below.
- Cooking at Davidson House – Respite Care of San Antonio | GivePulse
- Cookie decorating at the developmental child care center – Respite Care of San Antonio | GivePulse
- Wrapping gifts for the children of Respite Care – Respite Care of San Antonio | GivePulse
Please support the critical needs of the children at Respite Care by making a contribution today. Thank you for your generosity.
Sincerely,
Mercedes Esquivel
Senior Program Coordinator, Undergraduate Medical Education
GFC Co-Chair esquivelm4@uthscsa.edu
James P Garza
Practice Manager, Primary Care Center
GFC Co-Chair garzajp@uthscsa.edu