SAN ANTONIO – The Housing Authority of Bexar County proudly partnered with Hug Me Ink for their 5th Annual Back2School Bash on June 30.

Helping to Unite by Generating Mental Empowerment (HUG ME) Ink started the back-to-school event in 2018, with hopes of “empowering families with the necessary resources and tools”.

The organization started out by giving 50 backpacks to children in need, and every year since then, the backpack donations have only increased, with a record 650 backpacks distributed in 2021.

“Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, this has caused a lot of families to lose jobs or be put on hold of jobs and thus has caused financial challenges for families. With the upcoming school year starting, we don’t know what that will look like. HUG ME Ink wants to be able to provide to the community a FREE event in which attendees will be able to obtain FREE school supplies, community resources and more,” the organization told sponsors in a letter.

This year, 240 backpacks were distributed to those in need, and 22 vendors were in attendance providing school supplies and much needed resources to those in attendance.

*This article was written by Jim Lefko and aired on News 4 San Antonio*

SAN ANTONIO – Four local women were recognized today for achieving housing self sufficiency.

They’ve spent the past five years working with the Housing Authority of Bexar County and now are getting anywhere from $3,000 to $12,000 to help with housing down payments.

“We are so excited. It’s a journey for five years and we are so proud of those families that worked really hard to make that graduation happen,” says Neldys Ortiz, interim executive director of the Housing Authority.

Sara Goode was one of the graduates who was honored today.

“It means that we can finally get off Section 8 housing and have something to call our own,” says the mother of five.

The participants accumulated money in an escrow account as their income increased over time.

“It does help you save so that way you can have your own home,” Goode says.

Today they received graduation certificates as well as the much appreciated checks.

“It’s something that I worked in for 5 years. It’s going to help me buy a home. Down payment for a home,” Goode says. “Probably stay on my side of town on the Southside and it will make my kids very happy because they’ll have a home to call their own.”