It’s hard to conduct business in an environment that’s uncomfortably hot or cold, but that’s the situation that Family Service Association faced at their headquarters on San Pedro Avenue. The old heating and air conditioning units frequently broke down, with repairs and high utility bills costing the nonprofit agency about $60,000 a year. A 2020 High Impact Grant from Impact San Antonio solved that problem.
By last March, the new units were in, resulting in greater comfort for agency staff and clients. The increased efficiency of the new units has saved them $40,000 so far in the form of lower utility bills and no repair costs.
“It has made such a difference, you can’t imagine,” said Mary Garr, president and CEO of Family Service Association. “Now we have dependable heating and cooling, and we’re saving money.”
The money saved is being plowed back into agency programs. They have hired two more promotoras — community liaisons — for the Por Los Ninos program, which is aimed at reducing child abuse by teaching parenting skills. An additional financial counselor has been hired, as well as a workforce development manager to support the job pipeline for disengaged youth.
“The promotoras are an extension of the work we do in the community,” Garr said. “They go to people’s homes and tell them about the services we offer. We link them to us and to other agencies if the services they need are something we can’t provide.
“We work in neighborhoods with documented higher rates of poverty, child abuse, and other issues,” she said. “A lot of times people aren’t hearing about the resources available to them. We have a conversation with them so they understand what we offer.”
Garr and Catie White, vice president for development and donor engagement, pointed to the increased demand for FSA’s services during the pandemic as a reason the extra funds are especially welcome.
“When the pandemic started, we saw a huge spike in immediate needs due to lost jobs, cuts in salaries and family members becoming sick,” Garr said. “And there is a digital divide because many clients don’t have computers and the Internet. All our locations stayed open this whole time for families to come in and get tutoring. We also partner with the Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and other agencies to see that needs are met.”
White said financial counselors help families deal with the fallout from the pandemic. “For a lot of our families, it’s the financial ramifications of the pandemic that have hit them hard. Now, people can find out what programs they qualify for.
“The savings from the new HVAC have not only proven to be a cost saver for us, but savings benefiting our families, too.”
