HOUSTON (June 26, 2019) — Members of the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) student chapter at South Texas College of Law Houston (STCL Houston) recently delivered both support and sustenance to Houston’s senior citizens — and their four-legged family members.
Through a silent auction held at the law school, the students raised more than $6,000 and donated more than $4,000 to Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston’s AniMeals on Wheels program, an offshoot of the organization’s popular Meals on Wheels program.
“Proceeds from STCL Houston’s ALDF silent auction will help us continue to support over 1,300 pets for more than 500 seniors on our Meals on Wheels program,” said Volunteer Services manager for AniMeals. “Many seniors do not have much family support, and, thus, their pets are their companions and family members. Their pets help them stay physically and mentally healthy and are there for them 24/7. AniMeals feeds their fur-family members so they do not have to share their own meals with their pets.”
Each month, approximately 200 AniMeals volunteer drivers deliver roughly 10,000 pounds of pet food to senior citizens throughout Harris and Galveston Counties. According to Interfaith Ministries, the AniMeals on Wheels program was founded in 2007 to ensure that Houston’s seniors would not feel compelled to share their limited food and resources with their cats and dogs.
More than 80 individuals and companies in Houston donated items to South Texas’ ALDF silent auction, including Congressman Michael McCaul, the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, Houston SaberCats, Houston Grand Opera, Alley Theatre, House of Blues, Karbach Brewing Company, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Kendra Scott, and STCL Houston deans and professors, among others.
“The STCL Houston community really rallied behind us to support AniMeals,” said Kelly Hairfield, South Texas student and president of the school’s ALDF student chapter. “With my grandmother in hospice this past year, the work AniMeals does to support the disabled and homebound elderly really hit home for me. Our family was fortunate to be there for my grandma, but for many elderly individuals, their pets are their only family. I couldn’t be prouder to belong to a school that encourages and supports students giving back to our community.”
Hairfield recently presented a check for $4,072 to Sonya Reyna, AniMeals board member and volunteer driver, to support the program’s mission outreach. “On behalf of the seniors and their pets, a huge ‘thanks’ to Kelly Hairfield and the South Texas College of Law Houston ALDF chapter for their generous donation to AniMeals on Wheels!” said Reyna. “Your donation makes all the difference to homebound seniors, enhancing their quality of life and ability to care for their beloved companion animals.”
About South Texas College of Law Houston:
Founded in 1923, South Texas College of Law Houston provides a diverse body of students with the opportunity to obtain an exceptional legal education, preparing graduates to serve their community and the profession with distinction and to be a positive force for change. The law school develops some of the country’s best litigators, advocates, negotiators, and transactional lawyers, but also empowers every student with something equally valuable: The unshakable notion that a legal education is a tool for making the world a better place. For more information, please visit www.stcl.edu.