Feb 2022: SABN Lions Club donates care packages to support LGBTQ+ youth

In February, our San Antonio Bexar Necessities Lions Club partnered with Marathon Petroleum’s PRIDE Employee Network to support LGBTQ+ causes by collecting essential items to include in “Love for All” care packages for Thrive Youth Center’s Street Outreach Program.

Thrive Youth Center reports, “LGBTQ+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than non-LGBTQ+ youth, and 45% of homeless young adults identify as LGBTQ+.” The outreach staff at Thrive Youth Center helps homeless youth on the streets with crisis counseling, care packages and referrals to other services.

To support the outreach program, community members purchased essential items from an Amazon Wish List, such as bottled water, snacks, socks and antibacterial hand wipes, among other essentials. Volunteers put together the care packages, which included handwritten notes expressing positive sentiments and encouragement to the youth.

The ”Love for All” campaign raised over $1,000 in donated items and our partners at Marathon Petroleum donated a monetary gift of $500 directly to the organization. The care packages and monetary donation were delivered to the Thrive Youth Center on Saturday, February 12.

“A special thank you to our community for their generous donations and time to help make this effort a success,” said Club Vice President Ann Islas. “We’re proud to support Thrive Youth Center and their mission to end LGBTQ+ homelessness and empower LGBTQ+ youth to thrive in all areas of their lives.”

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Additional reporting provided by MPC communications team.