Madonna Center, Inc.

Our family programs benefit all ages. In 2016, of more than 5,000 people served, more than 1,500 were families. Out comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges of urban poverty begins with basics like food and emergency services. We distribute hundreds of thousands of pounds of food each year to families in need through weekly food distribution stations at our center. We maintain an emergency food bank, emergency infant items closet and pet food pantry for families in crisis. We offer referrals to other San Antonio to help our families in need find help with housing, utilities, transportation, health care and employment services. We maintain a small computer lab for families without computers or Internet access. Our growing initiatives include programs like the Mother and Child program, community gardens and community health fairs. Our partners in these endeavors include the San Antonio Food Bank, Catholic Charities, local universities, church groups, civic organizations and other generous supporters. Our sports field is open to all family members. All struggling families benefit when their children and elders benefit from our programs specifically for those age groups.

Our Senior Citizens Program offers weekly learning-centric socialization for seniors 60 and older. For a cost of only $20 a year, with stipends from donations for seniors who cannot afford it, we offer field trips, healthy meals, arts and crafts, lifelong learning opportunities and healthy eating/healthy lifestyles education. We provide transportation to our center for those often isolated seniors who otherwise lack transportation or bus fare to reach our center. Additional services include translation, information and referrals, counseling, health screening and immunizations. More than 50 seniors were enrolled in our Senior Citizens Program in 2016, and those numbers are expected to more than double in future years. In addition, more than 150 seniors receive monthly food commodities in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank, Project Hope and the federally funded Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). A new senior garden brings together seniors and senior volunteers in a learning and hands-on setting with raised garden beds and wheelchair access to promote seniors growing their own healthy produce. Intergenerational learning, healthy lifestyles/healthy eating initiatives are being planned.

HIPPY is an evidence-based family support model that works directly with parents in their homes to give them books, activities, and skills needed for them to take responsibility for preparing their children for school. Parents receive 30 weeks worth of school readiness curriculum designed to prepare their children for success in school. One-on-one time spent studying HIPPY’s math, science, language, and literacy curriculum will help ensure long-term academic success for children as young as three.

In summary, the program will offers training and support for newly-hired community member(s) who will then serve as conduits of information, collaboration, and sustained engagement with residents. These individuals, called "Connectors" will use peer-to-peer conversations and surveys to reach and better understand their neighbors, connect them to resources, and find out what is needed in the community. Connectors will complete a six-week intensive training institute offered by LISC San Antonio beginning early in 2021 to maximize their ability to recognize and build on existing neighborhood assets and help neighbors achieve community goals.

The Connectors program is part of a broader emphasis on Social Determinants of Health in San Antonio. Connectors are intended to reach individuals at the neighborhood level--those left out of the traditional engagement sphere--supporting better access to care and more informed health decision-making. Connectors will assist with resources across the social determinants of health, including economic and housing stability. Mental and physical health benefits also accrue from engagement and sense of agency delivered through community-based programming.