Mayhem struck a charitable heart in San Antonio as the Blessed Angels Community Center, a beacon of hope for families in need, faced a senseless act of vandalism at its Nacogdoches Road facility. According to KENS 5, the intruders broke a window and damaged a door knob, but thankfully left without stealing any of the stored provisions meant to assist struggling families.
Marion Thomas, CEO and Executive Director, expressed her distress over the unwarranted destruction. “My heart just broke. We do so much to help people, and everything we do is free. There is no reason for anyone to try and break in and steal," she told KENS 5. The non-profit, already grappling with financial constraints, now faces additional repair costs. “Money is tight...We haven't gotten any donations in this year. We are working off of last year's donations. So, it makes it hard,” Thomas added.
Blessed Angels Community Center has a robust history of community service, having served two million people in the last five years. Its outreach extends to providing food, clothing, toiletries, and even hosting activities for seniors, referred to affectionately by Thomas as 'my babies.' Prior to this incident, the center had been targeted before, with its delivery vehicles found damaged months earlier, as reported by KENS 5.
Despite these setbacks, the non-profit is set to host its 'Big School Is Out Food' Giveaway on Thursday, June 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. They are expecting to quickly serve up to 900 families with about 200 pounds of groceries each, including diapers and baby clothes. Thomas emphasized the importance of the event and encouraged people to show up early to the address at 14078 Nacogdoches Road.
The San Antonio Police are currently investigating the vandalism. In the meantime, the non-profit is focused on its forthcoming event, undeterred in its mission to aid those in need. It is through acts like these — quiet, persistent, and resilient against the face of hardship — that community bonds are strengthened and hope is nurtured amidst the chaos of our world.
