Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center aims to help 75 students through Back-to-School Campaign

HAYS COUNTY  — The Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center is getting ready for the upcoming school year with its own Back- to-School Campaign that helps raise funds to provide brand new backpacks, supplies and clothes for students.

Last year, HCWC served 2,054 individuals who have experienced either domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or child abuse with direct services across all programs, according to Chief Executive Officer Melissa Rodriguez. Nearly half of those served were children who either witnessed their parents be a victim of abuse or were directly abused themselves.

Several of the families that HCWC serves were forced to make difficult adjustments to their family structure, Rodriguez explained, including loss of home, their job or childcare, along with other factors that sometimes prevent them from being able to provide the basic necessities for their children. For this reason, HCWC created the Back- to-School Campaign 10 years ago to help students start the school year off right.

“We spearhead this campaign because we believe every child deserves the best start to school, regardless of the experiences their family may have endured,” Rodriguez said. “We also know that many of our families have difficulty asking for help, especially if they’re experiencing abuse and our programs are uniquely qualified to offer confidentiality and empower parents to choose the type of supplies and clothing their child(ren) need.”

Rodriguez said that over the years, she has heard from HCWC staff that clients have shared how truly grateful they are to have the donations to help their children go back to school with new clothes and supplies.

“It’s been an enormous help to these families to not have to worry about their children being taken care of during a difficult time of transition. HCWC staff has seen growing needs in clients for everything from housing, employment, food insecurity, clothing, medical needs — all of which are exacerbated by the trauma they are experiencing as a family unit,” she said.

Home Aid Austin, Lennar Homes and Sunflower Bank have also partnered together to donate backpacks for the cause.

HCWC’s goal is to help at least 75 children that the center currently serves across its programs and “we’re about halfway to our goal,” Rodriguez said.

Those who are interested in contributing to the campaign can donate $75 per child, which will go toward purchasing  gift cards that provide a brand new backpack filled with school supplies and funds for one or two outfits. HCWC is accepting donations for the Back to School Campaign through mid-August; however, the organization will still accept funds and items year-round.

To make a donation to the campaign, visit www.hcwc.org/back-to-school. Year-round monetary donations to HCWC can be made at www.hcwc.org/donate and a list of ongoing donation needs can be found at www.hcwc.org/get-involved/wishlist.