Statesman Season for Caring families need cars, car repairs

Kimberly Ysla and Charlie Medina’s five children love volunteering. They were planning on helping with Christmas present donation drives this season, but after the family’s car broke down, that has limited the ways they can volunteer. 

“We have to research more what we can do,” Kimberly Ysla said.

They have a small car to get to work, but nothing to fit a family of seven. “We can’t go out like we used to,” she said. Instead they stay home or make multiple trips to shuttle the kids.

Cedar Park musician Anitra Coulter Blunt’s car was totaled after a hit-and-run last year. She lost the means to get herself and her mother to doctors’ appointments and to get her to gigs. She’s been paying a friend for the use of a car to get around, but she needs a new car, in addition to repairs to her home, which was damaged in the July Fourth weekend storms. 

Janie Farias and Sylvia Reyna need a van with a wheelchair lift to make it easier to leave their San Marcos apartment. Farias. 68, is in a wheelchair after losing her right leg to an infection following a knee replacement surgery. Reyna, 71, has a brain tumor and chronic pain that makes it very difficult to help her partner into their car. “I need surgery and I don’t have it because I need to help her,” Reyna said. 

Many of this year’s Season for Caring families need a gently used car, SUV or van, or car repairs, to help them get around Central Texas. Each year, the Statesman tells the story of 12 families or individuals who have been nominated by local nonprofits. Since launching on Nov. 30, this year’s program has reached more than $247,000 in monetary donations. Philanthropist Brian Sheth is matching up to $500,000 in donations.

Money raised will help the featured families first and then help many others through the nonprofits. Transportation needs are always high on the list for both the featured families and the clients served by the nonprofits.

For the Ysla Medina family, a seven-passenger vehicle would ease a lot of the family life logistics. To make a vehicle donation or another item on their wish list, contact Foundation Communities, 512-447-2026, foundcom.org.

For Coulter Blunt, 51, a car would make it easier to get to medical care and singing opportunities. Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, 512-541-4226, myhaam.org. 

For Farias and Reyna, a vehicle with a wheelchair lift would help Reyna’s back, make Farias more self sufficient and open the possibility of a surgery for Reyna. Community Action Inc. of Central Texas, 512-392-1161, communityaction.com.

Car repairs or a reliable used car would help Gloria Villeda, 72, and her grandson Sebastian, whom she’s raising. SAFE Alliance, 512-356-1563, safeaustin.org.

Jennifer Maldonado, 50, a grandmother with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, needs car repairs for her own car as well as help repairing her late-husband’s truck to give it to her granddaughters, which was one of her husband Arthur’s last wishes. Hospice Austin, 512-342-4700, hospiceaustin.org.

The Babrakzai family, who came to the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2023, need a second car as well as driving instructions for mother Fahima and son Irkamullah. Interfaith Action of Central Texas, 512-386-9145, interfaithtexas.org.

Martiza Carbajal, 43, who works in the cafeteria in two local schools, needs a car to fit her family of six. Communities in Schools of Central Texas, 512-462-1771, ciscentraltexas.org .

Julie Freeman, 60, a Round Rock grandmother who has breast cancer and is raising her five grandchildren, would like a second car for the teenagers to be able to help with transporting themselves and their siblings to and from school. Breast Cancer Resource Center, 512-240-2560, bcrc.org.

Mattie Freeman, 78, doesn’t need a car, but her daughter Joann, who comes to town between work shifts to care for her mother, could use gift cards for gas stations. Interfaith Action of Central Texas, 512-386-9145, interfaithtexas.org.

The Statesman is sharing the stories of all 12 Season for Caring families through Jan. 31. Donations will be matched up to $500,000 by Brian Sheth. Find more stories at statesman.com/seasonforcaring. 

You can donate online or use the coupon on Page 2B and mail it to Austin Community Foundation, c/o Statesman Season for Caring, 4315 Guadalupe St., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78751. Make checks payable to “Statesman Season for Caring.”

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