The entry titled “In times of hardship, El Buen sees more requests for help.” Imagine having to choose between using your meager earnings to
pay the rent or getting life-saving medicines, between keeping your car or depending on public transportation, says Lil Almonte, director of outreach at in South Austin. “These are some of the circumstances many of our working-poor families face on a daily basis,” Almonte says. El Buen has been serving working-poor Hispanic families since 1987. These days, the economic downturn makes its work harder. The nonprofit reported a 38 percent increase in food pantry requests in the last quarter of 2008, compared with the same period the year before. To learn how you can donate to El Buen’s Primary Needs Program, contact Almonte at lalmonteelbuen.org.
And if you’re looking for a little fun with your charitable work, El Buen is hosting a Mardi Gras ball on Feb. 24 at the Austin Music Hall at 208 Nueces St. The event begins at 8 p.m. and features dancing, masks, music and food. Tickets start at $60 and proceeds benefit the charity’s children and youth programs. For information, go to www.elbuen.org/mardigras