![Walking through the tunnel created by the cheerleaders and Celebrities, senior Frances Tran smiles as the soccer team is sent off during DEN for their playoff game against Rouse tonight. Tran said the wins against Smithson Valley and Alamo Heights gave the team a morale boost to take on the Raiders tonight. “I know we were not 100% confident in those games,” Tran said. “But, Rouse is a big opponent for sure. We’re definitely going into tonight with a lot of morale [because of the previous wins].”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/frances-tran.jpg)
![Holding a bucket of materials in one hand and a roll of tape in another, anatomy and biology teacher Tyler Terry prepares for a lab. Terry said his proudest moments are when his students are happy to see him. “When I take my wife to a football game or something and a bunch of students want to say hi to me or they like to smile and wave and it just makes me feel good that the students are really kind and supportive of me,” Terry said. “[I’m also] proud when I see students perform really well in their extracurriculars because I can see how hard they’re working in my classes, [so] when I see that they’re also working so hard in other things. Like they’re winning band competitions or they’re getting awards for their theater productions, or I see them put on their choir shows, that’s like, wow, you guys are incredible.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rags-6.png)
![Catching a ball, junior Alivia Robinson plays at the Cedar Park vs Glenn game. Having played since she was 5 years old, she is dedicated to softball and has committed to UTPB for softball. “When I got my offer it took me a very long time to decide where,” Robinson said. “Softball has always been my dream for college, and UTPB is my fit. When [I committed] I knew I was going to be loved and supported.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lilly-Adams-3.13aliviaedit-901.jpg)
![Holding her dog, Nova, senior Ariana Balakrishnan poses for her senior pictures while Nova wears a bandana with her college decision. Balakrishnan applied to 18 colleges in total, but she decided on Columbia in the end. “Right before I clicked the button to open Columbia’s letter, I literally looked at the camera and go ‘This is just gonna really suck because I wanted it so bad,’ and I clicked it and all of a sudden you hear trumpets,” Balakrishnan said. “There’s a video that plays when you open it and I actually didn’t watch the video, I just watched the screen go black, because every day of December before ED [Early Decision] I would go on YouTube and watch the acceptance video to manifest it, so immediately when the screen went black, I started screaming and jumping up and down. And my parents in the video are like ‘What are you doing, where’s the letter,’ and I was just screaming ‘I got in, I got in.” I just started crying, and it just felt like everything in the world came together.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ariana-2-300x217.jpg)
As the breeze becomes colder with every passing day, dressing for warmth becomes a necessity. The holiday season is getting closer and closer, and the thought of Christmas is on everyone’s mind. However, those who are less fortunate begin to prepare for the next few months of freezing temperatures and difficult times. But, we can do something to help. Volunteering time, money, food, or gifts can change lives. There are many places in Austin that aid those in need during the holiday season, and below is a compiled list of volunteer opportunities in the greater Austin area. The following provides brief information regarding these service organizations, but to learn more or find where to volunteer, each link will take you to their website with further descriptions.
Holiday Wishes is a program founded by Partnerships for Children, with its purpose being to give children connected to Child Protective Services (CPS) in Central Texas happy memories surrounding the holidays. Volunteers are able to donate, send gifts, or sponsor a child to help turn their wishes into smiles. Although Holiday Wishes is explicitly a Christmas time program, Partnerships for Children is open to volunteers year round, with many opportunities to help children, youth, and families that are connected to CPS make long-lasting memories.
Coats for Kids is a community project hosted in Austin annually, where The Junior League of Austin, Jack Brown Cleaners, iHeartRadio and KVUE all partner to give warmth to those during the holiday season. More than 30,000 coats are distributed to children and youth each year, and the help of volunteers is vital. Whether community members donate coats, volunteer to sort the clothes, or help distribute, large amounts of volunteers are necessary in order to make this project successful.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program is intended to collect and distribute toys to America’s youth during the holidays. Children who are less fortunate deserve to have a happy Christmas and look forward to the excitement of gifts. The holiday season is a time for joy, and Toys for Tots actively works to put smiles on the faces of children all around Austin. Spanning over eight counties in the Central Texas area, Toys for Tots has already distributed 42,831 toys providing 36,172 children with support during the past two months.
Mission Accomplished is another great nonprofit organization that serves Austin and its surrounding areas, focusing on giving those in need a helping hand. Their goal is to aid in getting people off the streets by giving them temporary housing, food, and care-packages. As of right now, Mission Accomplished is hosting Operation Clean Clothes (OCC) in which volunteers are able to help wash, dry, and fold clothes for those who aren’t able to do so themselves. Various places including churches and libraries around the Austin area have come together with Mission Accomplished to host days where volunteers are able to help out and learn more about the laundry services provided to those in need.
Being the largest prepared feeding program in the Central Texas area, Mobile Loaves & Fishes food trucks take to the street every night to give food to those in need. During Christmas time, they are asking for larger amounts of donations and volunteers to provide those with a sufficient holiday meal. Additionally, through their Community First! Village, Mobile Loaves & Fishes provides housing for the homeless.
Austin Humane Society, the longest-standing no-kill, non-profit animal shelter and adoption center, has been working this holiday season to provide abandoned animals with a warm home for Christmas. Many animals around the Austin area have never experienced a holiday season full of love, but this could change with the help of volunteers. By socializing with both cats and dogs, volunteers are able to share a meaningful experience with animals while also serving their community.
Stop Abuse For Everyone Alliance (SAFE) is dedicated to helping out those who have experienced domestic abuse in their lives. They are now accepting holiday gift donations for those affiliated with the program which will be doubled thanks to Dell Foundation to further help survivors of abuse through their healing journey. One of the great things about SAFE is that those who will receive the donation are all of age, not just children. While most holiday volunteer programs focus on Austin’s youth, SAFE aids those of all ages, making it a great option for volunteering or donating.
This holiday season, Caritas of Austin is pairing with South Congress Hotel to help end homelessness in the Austin area. $15 hotel rooms will be available to book, giving those in Austin who are struggling through the cold a warm place to stay. Caritas of Austin also has many other donation and volunteer opportunities throughout the year, and are constantly pairing with other foundations and organizations to provide homes and shelter to the homeless around the Austin area.
