Readers’ donations relieve families

Gifts provide basic needs and bring some holiday joy to needy children and adults.

As this new year dawns, 12 families in Central Texas are waking up with new hope. The desperation they faced last year has been eased by donations from Austin AmericanStatesman readers.

Analicia Rodriguez, 20, who grew up in foster care and is raising daughters Anastashia, 3, and Aleina, 2, at the Austin Children’s Shelter, now has the comforts of home waiting for her, thanks to readers and Star Furniture.

With a GED and a nursing assistant certificate, both earned last month, Rodriguez is looking for a job to support her family and will be looking for an apartment.

Jamie Yancy, 33, and Eddie Cousins, 38, were raising their six children in a home that was in need of repairs, and they could never get ahead financially.

Amplify Credit Union gave their home a makeover with new carpeting and furniture. The credit union also will give them financial counseling to make their dollars stretch.

Patrick Wilson, 63, was feeling isolated in his South Austin apartment. Emphysema makes every breath a struggle.

But he now has two things he really wanted: a stereo to listen to his music collection and a banjo from Cirrus Logic employees.

These are three of the Season for Caring featured families whose stories you’ve been reading since Thanksgiving.

Almost $300,000 has been raised so far in this 14th year of the program. The financial donations will help featured families first, then will help other families with rent, medications, groceries, car repairs and other basic needs all year long. Season for Caring becomes the emergency relief fund for the 12 featured non- ByAsher Price andJazmine Ulloa

End-of-the-year rains contributed to a slew of collisions Monday, including two fatal wrecks.

Authorities said one person was killed and two were injured in a four-vehicle crash shortly after 9 a.m. in the 11000 block of Anderson Mill Road near U.S. 183 in Northwest Austin.

And the 20-year-old driver