Bastrop's Pastor Roland Nava, also known as 'Vato Claus', and his team of 18 volunteers spent Christmas Day distributing hundreds of gifts and grocery boxes to families in need. According to KXAN, this marks the 11th year of Nava's annual 'Vato Claus' event, which has become a local tradition in Bastrop County, expanding its reach even to cities like Elgin and Smithville as demands increase.
This year, over 500 families felt the generosity of the In The Streets-Hands Up High Ministry's tradition, up from 200 toys when the endeavor first began. "I spoke with one mother who was saying that if we didn’t come, the children would not have had anything," Nava told KXAN expressing the impact of the holiday charity where for some, the gesture means a Christmas gift the children's only. Nancy Horn, who volunteered for the event, expressed her joy at being able to contribute: "My children are grown," she said. "I’ve already spent time with them so that I could do this today."
The pastoral philanthropy doesn’t end with Christmas. The Streets Hands Up High Ministry, led by Nava, also operates an emergency family shelter, SAFE, Secure Acre Family Environment, as reported by Spectrum Local News. This initiative extends its hand to families displaced by natural disasters or other crises, providing transitional housing with a stay of up to three months. Michele Ponder, who moved to SAFE with her special needs daughter, told Spectrum Local News that it feels "pretty close" to home.
The shelters, resembling small homes, are furnished and equipped with heating, cooling, and necessary appliances, allowing residents to live with dignity while they rebuild. "It gives them time to rest and kind of get their thoughts together without worrying what they’re going to do tomorrow," Nava explained. In tandem with the shelter, the ministry also serves the community with regular food distributions, providing essential sustenance to those in transitional periods. Each shelter, costing about $6,500 to construct, is still in need of sponsors to support the ongoing construction.
For those looking to contribute to the cause or learn more about the assistance programs, Nava's ministry's outreach details can be found on their website. As the new year looms, Pastor Nava and his flock of volunteers continue to foster a beacon of hope and relief for countless families facing hardship in the heart of Texas.
