Client Cathleen Anderson and her daughter are recognized for making great progress toward becoming
self-sufficient. This was part of the Milestones of Hope Celebration.
Juana stands ready for a new life after graduating
from an SA Hope Center program.
Little Violet and her mom, Esmerelda, clients at SA
Hope Center, play in the children’s area while waiting
for an appointment.
opment, financial literacy and parenting
skills, among many other things.
For the past four years, they’ve seen
800-1000 people monthly, loving them
into wellness of mind, body and spirit,
says Executive Director Megan Legacy.
“We also provide senior services and
pastoral counseling,” adds Megan.
The faith-based, Christ-centered
ministry provides a relationship and
safety net in time of crisis. SA Hope
Center ( formerly CHRC) became a
nonprofit in 2001 and in 2014 implemented
a more successful program
model to address the root causes of
poverty. Since then, they have been
hiring more staff to serve more families.
The center now employs 20 staff
members. They bring on 30 master’s
level social work interns annually. This
includes three intern site supervisors,
dozens of volunteers and a counseling
pastor. However, those they helped
kept referring to them as The Hope
Center. There was a branding problem.
“Families have been calling us the
‘Hope Center’ for years,” Megan says.
“The acronym CHRC was very confusing
to the community, especially as we
expand to new sites in San Antonio.
People ask if we are a cancer center or
a research center. And frankly, some
residents are afraid to walk through
the doors if they don’t embrace our
Christian faith. The new name more
accurately reflects the mission of the
SA Hope Center but in no way
abandons our dedication to love and
serve people in the name of Jesus
Chr i st,” Megan emphasizes.
On October 25, the ministry will
host a “Better Together” fundraising
luncheon at the Vista at Valero to
officially announce their name
change and showcase God’s blessings
— the new locations and
greater momentum.
“We are still faith based. We share
the gospel through stabilizing families
and loving them well and then warmly
inviting them into a relationship with
Christ,” she says. “There is no such
thing as hope without Jesus. We just
believe we’ll be able to reach more
people and have a deeper impact for
the kingdom of Christ with a streamlined
name.”
Additionally, SA Hope Center
stands on the threshold of several new
collaborative ventures, providing
services in five locations. For the first
time, SA Hope Center will partner with
Ogden Academy to support the family
engagement staff there.
Ogden Academy, which is in the San
Antonio Independent School District,
was identified as one falling below
critical performance standards. Many
of the problems can be attributed to
trauma in the home, Megan says.
“I am so excited to expand our
family strengthening programs inside
of a school,” she adds, pointing out that
when families are in crisis, perhaps
homeless, or without food, it is unrealistic
to expect academic performance.
Staff Case Manager Carla Castro
offices at Ogden to engage personally
with families of its 800 students. The
former intern with SA Hope Center will
help them obtain employment,
increase literacy and teach parenting
classes. And if families need help
navigating the many crisis situations
poverty brings, the main campus is just
down the street. There they can get
help with things like a food assistance
or classes for grandparents who are
parenting.
Another project that has been
launched this year collaborates with
Restore Education — a tutoring and
testing program serving adults pursuing
a General Education Diploma
5 www.saBeacon.com October / November 2019
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