Expressing Gratitude: Ettling Center Distributes Holiday Meals to Community Members
On Tuesday, Nov. 26, UIW’s Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability and the Office of Communications and Brand Marketing (OCM) coordinated the distribution of Thanksgiving meal kits at UIW’s 2nd annual Blessing Boxes distribution event.
These “Blessing Boxes” were created to support members of the UIW community in need during the holiday season, including students, staff and employees from UIW’s Sodexo and Aramark Auxiliary Services teams. The boxes were packaged by volunteers to include cans of green beans, pumpkin pie filling, yams, a package of rolls, two boxes of stuffing mix and a turkey. Donations for the boxes were generously provided by the San Antonio-based RK Group, a national culinary and hospitality leader committed to sustainable practices.
“The purpose of this distribution was to express our gratitude,” said Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez, director of the Ettling Center. “We thank our support staff whose efforts create a wonderful working environment for us all. This distribution reflects our institutional commitment to supporting and assisting our community, particularly those in greatest need.”
During the event, Gonzalez reflected on the founder of the Ettling Center, Sr. Dorothy “Dot” Ettling, who envisioned a campus community dedicated to improving our global society through inclusivity and fostering a sense of connection via service. These boxes serve as a testament to her vision, continuing the Center’s vital work even after Sr. Dot’s unexpected passing in 2014.
Approximately 83 members from UIW’s various departments and offices gathered in front of the Luella Bennack Music Center to hand out the boxes. This year, 300 Blessing Boxes were provided to community members, expanding the scope of aid previously provided during the first event in 2023, at which 70 boxes were distributed.
“It was truly a blessing to provide the Blessing Boxes for so many campus community members,” expressed Gonzalez. “This initiative resulted from a collaborative effort, coordinating the logistics of packaging, preparation and delivery, made possible by the generous support and assistance of the members of RK Cares, UIWPD, Special Events, OCM, Ettling Center, Sodexo, Aramark, UIW Auxiliary Services, UIW Transportation, UIW faculty, staff and student volunteers. Their collective generosity and collaborative efforts were instrumental in facilitating this initiative.”
The Ettling Center is eagerly awaiting what the 3rd Annual Blessing Box event will bring in 2025 and remains committed to offering meaningful and thoughtful programs and events for the UIW community.