Upcoming Events


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2012
Maria Calcaben
Resident Services Coordinator
San Marcos Housing Authority
512-396-3367
maria@smpha.org

San Marcos children end summer with a big splash

SAN MARCOS, Texas, April 19, 2012 -- A local non-profit organization, The PODER Learning Center, is hosting an annual Schlitterbahn trip for the children of the families involved with the San Marcos Housing Authority.
“We strive to provide our youth with the opportunity to learn many of the skills needed to become strong community leaders,” said Maria Calcaben, PODER Resident Services Coordinator.
The San Marcos Housing Authority hosts annual events for the members and their families. One of these events consists of the PODER Learning Center, along with two other programs, taking the children to Schlitterbahn at the end of each summer.
Calcaben said PODER currently has around 20 children that attend their after-school care services. Around 40 to 50 children overall attend the Schlitterbahn trip. Calcaben said end of summer is a perfect time to go because it is right before school starts and puts a nice ending to the children’s summer activities.
PODER Learning Center hosts fundraisers to raise money to allow the Schlitterbahn event to happen. Calcaben said they hold garage sales, cook lunches, and provide raffles to raise the money.
“The PODER coordinators and myself put the event on, but we couldn’t make it happen without our parent chaperones and volunteers that come out and help with the children,” said Calaben. “It really is a great event that we look forward to every year.”
The San Marcos Housing Authority offers many different supportive services to the citizens of San Marcos. One of the components is the Youth Development Program, which provides a place where school-aged children in San Marcos can go to find support and encouragement.  The Youth Development Program serves around 90 children at three different sites, one of them being the PODER Learning Center.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2012


Maria Calcaben
Resident Services Coordinator
San Marcos Housing Authority
512-396-3367
maria@smpha.org

PODER will celebrate National Night Out with residents this year

SAN MARCOS, Texas, April 19, 2012 -- PODER Learning Center will be hosting events for National Night Out in October.
PODER will be celebrating National Night Out along with other neighborhoods in San Marcos, Texas in the fall. National Night Out is a national event which celebrates the coming together of neighbors and friends one night a year.
                The event will be sponsored by local businesses such as HEB, as well as volunteers in the community. The night of the event will be October 2, 2012 from 4-7 p.m. and will be open to the Allen Woods neighborhood.
“This community, not just Allen Woods, but San Marcos wants to have a good environment for everybody,” said Calcaben, Resident Services Coordinator. “The goal of Texas’ night out is to bring the community together and also have an awareness that there is a tight-knit community here and to keep kids off the streets.”
PODER is planning to add more events this year in order to draw more adults to the celebration. There will be many booths and games for the children including cake walks, face painting, and crafts.
Volunteers are needed to help with booths and events happening on National Night Out as well as donations and can sign up to help by calling PODER directly or walking in and talking with Maria Calcaben. For more information you can visit the San Marcos Housing Association website or call them at 512-353-5058.
PODER is a community center located on Thorpe Ln. in San Marcos, Texas. It was first opened in 1988 and currently acts as both an after school program and center for the neighborhood residents to participate in weekly events for all ages.

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