San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
COUNCIL MEMBERS PARTNER AT HOLIDAY DRIVE-THRU
The holiday drive-thru celebration at Port San Antonio was a reminder that the pandemic hasn’t canceled the holidays.
On Saturday morning, a long line of vehicles stretched a quarter of a mile from the San Antonio Museum of Science & Technology parking lot where District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales and District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia waited with presents. Volunteers directed the motorists to the distribution station where they received a bag of warm tamales and a bag stuffed with a variety of gifts.
Children’s eyes lit up as they stared from back seats at hundreds of yellow and purple bags stacked at the parking lot.
“Ooh, look at your Fiesta mask,” Garcia, wearing a Baby Yoda Christmas sweater, said to a woman as she placed the bags in the back seat. “Happy holidays!”
The venture was the first joint Council District 4 and 5 drivethru celebration hosted by Gonzales and Garcia. The museum of science and technology sponsored the event.
Officials said 500 residents registered for the drive-thru at 102 Mabry Dr., where masks and social distancing were required. Motorists remained in their vehicles during the event that took place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Boxes filled with 7,200 tamales lined two tables draped with black linen. Volunteers spent Friday stuffing bags with PPE masks, hand sanitizer, toy airplanes, Fiesta medals and information about resources for the winter if needed.
Gonzales said normally her district puts on a big Christmas party with a visit from Santa Claus, mariachis and gifts for guests. Last year 400 people attended the District 5 party. She said they had reserved a space at the St. James Community Center but with COVID that wasn’t possible this year.
“We still wanted to celebrate and we could help small business by supporting them,” Gon
zales said. “It is fun to have a joint event, and I’m glad that we’re able to do something for the community.”
District 5 communications director Victor Landa said with Port San Antonio skirting the two districts it was the logical place for the event.
Douglas King, president and CEO of San Antonio Museum of Science & Technology, thanked the councilwomen for coming up with the idea.
“This means a lot to people having a hard time figuring out how to celebrate,” King said. “And knowing that somebody is out here who cares about them too.”
Mayor Ron Nirenberg, wearing an orange and white Whataburger sweater, joined in to hand out bags. Some drivers yelled out, “Thank you Mayor Ron!” Others snapped photos and some complimented his festive garb.
Sandra Flores, 41, drove up in her truck accompanied by her three children, Keyla, 20, Jailene, 15, and Gael, 10. Flores waved through her opened window and thanked the Mayor and the councilwomen for the presents.
“It’s a good thing in the pandemic,” she said, “and a nice gift for the family.”
Garcia said this time of year is an important time to remind people that the holiday spirit is upon the city and everyone can still celebrate safely.
“Councilwoman Gonzales and I share the border of District 4 and 5,” she said. “We know that our residents in Districts 4 and 5 have been hit very hard by COVID with not only the highest number of cases and, unfortunately, deaths. We wanted to team up and say we’re proud of the work done to reduce the numbers, and we ask you to continue to be safe. And we just wanted to give back a little bit of holiday cheer.”