Child Advocacy Fair aims to connect community with ways to help foster children

Event ‘one stop shop' for people to learn how they can make difference

SAN ANTONIO – If you have ever been moved to help abused, neglected children in foster care but haven’t been sure how, the third annual Child Advocacy Fair could be the place to start.

Organized by Trulight 127 Ministries, the event connects people with several organizations that work with and support foster children and their families.

“The whole point of this event is to bring the community together to help find ways to help kids who have been abused and neglected who are in foster care system,” said Sondra Ajasin, founder of Trulight.

The fair will connect attendees with groups such San Antonio Threads, a nonprofit that provides a store where teens in foster care can find new clothes for free.

“It’s more than just the clothing,” said Cathy Hamilton, founder and CEO of San Antonio Threads. “I think our teens are pleasantly surprised that our community cares.”

The event highlights a variety of ways people can make a difference, big or small.

“We will have agencies here that can license you to become a foster or adoptive family. We have agencies here that will help to get you registered to babysit or do respite for families who are licensed,” Ajasin said.

Donations and volunteers are also crucial.

“You know, sometimes it’s when you go to HEB or Walmart and buy a pack of diapers. Buy an extra pack and drop it off at a facility because they need it,” said Tara Roussett, CEO of SJRC Texas.

Each group will have an information booth where people can learn about what each organization does, and volunteers will provide a tangible way people can help.

“They will hand you a card that says 'Our agency needs size 4 diapers and wipes. Our agency needs teen clothes size 16 to 18,’” Ajasin said.

The Child Advocacy Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Summit Christian Center, located at 2575 Marshall Road.

And there will be something for the whole family. Booths will be set up inside and outside and there will be food trucks, a fire truck and a bounce house.

The church’s carousel will also be open for kids to enjoy.

“Really, it’s for anyone who has a heart to care for a child,” Rousett said.


About the Author:

Myra Arthur is passionate about San Antonio and sharing its stories. She graduated high school in the Alamo City and always wanted to anchor and report in her hometown. Myra anchors KSAT News at 6:00 p.m. and hosts and reports for the streaming show, KSAT Explains. She joined KSAT in 2012 after anchoring and reporting in Waco and Corpus Christi.