Community
Frigid Temperatures

SAN ANTONIO (February 12, 2021) — The City of San Antonio continues to monitor upcoming inclement winter weather conditions. City services will continue as normally scheduled, unless noted below. Residents are encouraged to report any service issues to 311 for support. The San Antonio Fire Department also provide winter weather safety information at this link. The public is encouraged to stay home, if possible.
Public Works
- The Public Works Department stands ready to support SAPD (the City’s Emergency Command Department) and TxDOT’s response to potentially severe winter weather conditions. Beginning Saturday, February 13, 2021, through Monday, February 15, 2021, Public Works will monitor conditions around the clock and place dozens of crews on standby.
- Based on the weather events, Public Works will be prepared to dispatch crews from service centers to spread a gravel, de-icing mixture on highway overpasses connected to City streets that are not maintained by TxDOT.
- Public Works will also have street sweeping crews on standby to remove accumulated de-icing material from roadways, once weather conditions have improved. Residents are urged to please contact 311 to report any concerns about fallen tree limbs or malfunctioning traffic signals.
Department of Human Services
- Senior Centers: Curbside pickup and delivery of meals by the Department of Human Services is cancelled on Monday, February 15. Meal distribution will resume on Tuesday, February 16, at its regularly scheduled time.
- Shelter for people experiencing homelessness: The Department of Human Services continues providing resource updates to homeless service providers and street outreach workers to encourage people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to access available shelter options. Haven for Hope is open to anyone seeking shelter from the cold. All clients sleep indoors and are given blankets, food, snacks and cold weather clothing, including warm jackets. Haven for Hope has expanded cold weather sleeping capacity for individuals to stay inside and warm the entire weekend. DHS and SAMMinistries teams have visited known homeless encampments this week to update people experiencing homelessness about the weather forecast and offer transportation to shelters and cold weather gear. The City of San Antonio also has hotel rooms on standby in the event that additional shelter space is needed.
- Emergency shelters: These locations will be practicing social distancing, requiring masks and limiting numbers
- CUB (Church Under the Bridge) 724 Chestnut, 78202 (near Nolan and HWY 281) – 5:30 p.m. Saturday through Monday night to hand out about 40 bed tickets. It’s first come first serve. Once they have a ticket, intake process will begin at 7pm. Dinner, breakfast and a movie will be provided.
- Life Restored Church: 400 Arbor Place will open Saturday, Sunday and possibly Monday night for 20 people. People can start lining up at 5 p.m. to request a ticket for a bed and those intakes will begin at 6 p.m. They will also provide dinner, breakfast and a movie.
- Haven for Hope is open to ANYONE seeking shelter from the cold that will be willing to shelter in place and follow CDC guidelines of social distancing and mask wearing. All clients sleep indoors and are given cold-weather clothing, including warm jackets. They will open for this emergency weather process at 3pm (Friday February 12, 2021). This is not an official campus enrollment, so no clean urine analysis or ID are required.
- Salvation Army Dave Coy Men’s Shelter- 226 Nolan Street Nightly shelter enrollment begins at 3 p.m. daily through 8 p.m. meals provided too first come first serve. Individuals must be 18 years or older and provide a picture ID at the time of enrollment. New visitors will receive the first three nights for free and enrolled clients pay $12.50 per night.
- Corazon Ministries at Travis Park Church: 230 E. Travis 10-12 people starting February 11th thru possibly Tuesday or Wednesday or when below freezing stops. Showers will be available. They will check people in at 4pm. taking the first 12. Light breakfast each morning guests will leave the building and the space will be cleaned for the next evening. Their medical center is open on Sundays at 8am and Thursdays at 4:00pm. They will operate as normal.
- Last Chance Ministries: 404 Brady Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78207. They can take approximately 75 men and women (no children). Doors will open at 8 p.m. Point of contact is Pastor Janie (210) 873-0660
- Roy Maas Youth-3103 West Ave. Alternatives Centro Seguro Drop-in Center for youth ages 24 and younger remains open 24/7
- Warm supply resources and HUBs:
- Catholic Worker House is not opening for emergency shelter but will keep moving forward with their usual food distribution Monday through Friday. They are closed on the weekends. But they will serve lunch bags Friday morning along with breakfast and hot lunch Monday morning.
- CAM: 110 McCullough – food distribution on Friday and Saturday morning beginning at 7:30am. During distribution they will be handing out hand warmers, jackets, and blankets, socks, hats, gloves. Showers will be closed Saturday and Monday. CAM will hang signs on property for folks to know where to go. CAM will resume morning meal service Tuesday morning. Contact (210) 223-4099 www.cam-sa.org.
- San Fernando HUB: 319 W. Travis South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH), in partnership with the City of San Antonio Department of Human Services, organized a collection drive for cold weather materials, including jackets, blankets, socks, and more. Items can be picked up at the San Fernando Homeless Resource Hub located at 319 W. Travis St. from Monday to Friday between 1 and 4 p.m. Meals are provided at this HUB as well.
- Outreach workers and nonprofits serving the homeless have been in the field and will be disseminating information and supplies. CAM will have signs on their fences laminated all weekend to guide people where they can go for help.
Metro Health
- COVID-19 Vaccines: COVID-19 vaccine appointments at the Alamodome scheduled for Monday, February 15th have been rescheduled to Friday, February 19th at the same appointment times. People seeking a warm place to stay should call 211.
- COVID-19 Testing: COVID-19 Testing Sites located at Cuellar and Ramirez Community Centers will be closed February 13th- 15th due to inclement weather. For the latest information visit the website.
Animal Care Services
- The best way to protect pets during a winter storm is to bring them inside. Pets (especially cats) are safer indoors. If you are unable to have pets inside, consider purchasing an insulated doghouse or build a protective enclosure that shields your pet from the elements and gives them a safe, warm place to rest.
- Although outdoor pets need proper shelter because it protects them from the elements, it’s also the law here in San Antonio and violators face zero tolerance during extreme weather events. Fines generally start at $300 per violation.
- Pets who stay outdoors without shelter may also seek warmth anywhere they can. To prevent a dog from escaping the yard, repair broken fencing and gates and fill in any holes along fence lines.
Parks and Recreation Department:
- The Drive-Thru Jammin’ Jams event has been rescheduled from February 13th to the 20th.
Information in American Sign Language is also available at http://sat.ahasalerts.com/Default.aspx
Community
Emotional Emancipation Circles: Nurturing Black Mental Health

By Ayana Brown, MHPS
“We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind.” – Marcus Garvey
As Black Americans, we carry the weight of our ancestors’ struggles, resilience, and triumphs. Our collective history is filled with pain, but it is also infused with strength. In the face of ongoing challenges, it is essential for us to prioritize our emotional well-being and seek healing. There are more than 100 types of therapy, yet few are culturally based. Even fewer are made available to Black, Indigenous and People of Color, or the BIPOC community. One powerful tool that can aid in this process is the Emotional Emancipation Circle (EEC).
Emotional Emancipation Circles from the Community Healing Network (CHN) provide a safe and supportive space to confront and heal from the psychological and emotional wounds inflicted by racism, discrimination, and systemic oppression. Endorsed by the late Maya Angelou in 2009 and supported by the Association of Black Psychologists, EECs are rooted in the understanding that our mental and emotional well-being is as important as our physical health.
These support groups are structured and evidence-based settings where people from the diaspora participate in open and honest talks, allowing us to express the various feelings of being Black. We share our tales, worries, hopes, and dreams with the knowledge that we are not being judged. We offer support to one another via active listening, empathy, and affirmation, forming links of healing and resilience. We also discover our genuine history.
Empowered by what I was first exposed to in Panama, I became a certified facilitator in 2021. I recognize that the BIPOC community struggles with insufficient access to resources and feels their individual needs are overlooked. As a disabled veteran, caregiver, and parent, I am passionate about advocating, consulting, and collaborating with a nationwide network of providers dedicated to education and empowerment. This is a service that REACH Peer Support Services offers to “fill in the gaps” between our community needs and what is offered.
The Community Healing Network has formed these circles globally. If you want to learn more about CHN and other BIPOC-focused mental health resources and services for your church, organization, or family, go to (ReachPeerSupportServices.com). Those who join the newsletter will know about the next EEC location first.

After serving honorably in the United States Navy, Ayana Brown, MHPS, launched REACH Peer Support Services, LLC in 2021 to use her various experiences towards her passion, empowering families to heal with advocacy and non-judgmental support.
Business
San Antonio Airport to Set Record for Travel During Memorial Day Weekend

More people are packing their suitcases for trips in and out of San Antonio International Airport (SAT) than ever before. SAT will see a record-breaking number of travelers – close to 190,000 total – from Thursday to Memorial Day. During that 5-day period, there’s an estimated 14% increase in scheduled seats to and from SAT compared to 2019 and a 19% increase since last year.
“We’re expecting the busiest Memorial Day weekend travel in our airport’s history,” said Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports, San Antonio Airport System. “People want to fly and it’s getting more affordable to do so. We are seeing more competitive fares with the addition of Spirit Airlines over the last year – and that’s helping our travelers find better deals on flights that are too good to pass up. We’re also expecting our busiest summer ever, but right now we’re focused on making sure everyone has a smooth experience in the days ahead.”
According to the Transportation Security Administration, here’s a day-by-day breakdown of how many passengers are expected to fly in and out of SAT:
- Thursday: 38,514
- Friday: 38,600
- Saturday: 34,000
- Sunday: 38,100
- Memorial Day: 37,700
Fly Away Valet has also set records recently. Earlier this month, the company reported a gigantic increase in parking spaces at SAT since the service began in 2020. The service started with 80 spaces and now has 500.
Last week, valet operations were consolidated to the Short-Term Parking Garage for both pick-up and drop-off of vehicles.
For more information and to watch a video showing how to valet park at SAT, please visit the airport’s website.
Community
75 Years of Providing Worldwide Service as Zetas and Friends

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, “The Mighty” Southern Region is hosting its 94th Southern Regional Leadership Conference and 55th Southern Regional Amicae Leadership Workshop from June 8 – June 10, 2023. The conference site is the Marriott Rivercenter, located on the River Walk at 101 Bowie Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205.
The theme,“Celebrating 75 Years of Providing Worldwide Service as Zetas and Friends,” is aligned to Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated’s efforts to address and bring awareness to health disparities and social determinants in Texas and Louisiana. The Southern Regional Leadership Conference is hosting two events that are open for the public to attend: a Health Justice Townhall and a Public Program that includes a Night of Performing Arts.
The Southern Regional Health Justice Townhall is June 8, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be moderated by Dr. Stacie NC Grant, International President and CEO of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. The town hall will provide a platform for open and honest dialogue on health justice, healthcare, health disparities, and social determinants. The panel will consist of experts in the fields of health, civic and social advocates and leaders who serve as Champions for health justice and equity.
“The Mighty” Southern Regional Public Program is June 9, 2023, from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. It will consist of recognition of San Antonio community leaders who are Embracing the Extraordinary with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and a Night of Performing Arts featuring Billy Ray Shepard.
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