As football fans around the country prepare to watch the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons face off for Super Bowl LI, the residents of Querencia at Barton Creek – a retirement community – are gearing up for their own championship match to help Garza Independence High School fight hunger. The “Souper Bowl of Caring,” an annual donation event, brings communities across the nation together around the biggest sporting event of the year to empower local youth and help those in need. Querencia residents and team members will participate in the nationwide movement throughout the week in advance of this Sunday’s game by collecting monetary donations, hygiene supplies and nonperishable food items. All donations will then be delivered directly to Garza Independence High School on Monday, February 6. Containers for donations will be located in the community’s lobby and outside of the Limestone Café at Querencia (2500 Barton Creek Boulevard in Austin). Residents, their families, team members and the public are encouraged to donate.
Garza Independence High School serves at-risk students and works with them to ensure they are able to finish their high school education. This annual giving event centers on the year-long partnership between the senior living community and the high school. Querencia residents travel to the school once a month to mentor the children, help with school work, share stories about their lives and provide emotional connections that the children may not experience elsewhere. The volunteers often meet with the students in on-on-one pairings that allow unique bonds to form between the students and residents. The residents also give presentations on different subjects in which they have personal experience or expertise.
“Querencia is honored to support our local youth,” said Nate Weyand, executive director of Querencia at Barton Creek. “The partnership we have with Garza Independence High School is one that brings great joy to the residents, and because of that we want to do everything we can to show our appreciation. We’re proud to use the excitement around the Super Bowl to raise awareness and make a difference in the lives of others.”
