Community CONNECTION THE 34TH ANNUAL DOC & GAYLE YOUNG FOOD DRIVE
Surpasses Goal, Raising $32,477 and Feeding More Than 100,000 Austin Area Residents The Austin Apartment Association kicked off its annual Doc & Gayle Young Food Drive with a “Gobble Trot” parade on August 12th and a goal to raise $25,000 that would provide 100,000 meals for residents in the Association’s 11-county Central Texas jurisdiction at Thanksgiving.
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he food drive began in 1986 when the AAA Community Service committee raised $600 to feed hungry Austinites. Since then, AAA member volunteers have raised more than $900,000 to purchase and hand deliver Thanksgiving food packages, which include a turkey and all of the trimmings so a local family can enjoy a full traditional Thanksgiving dinner. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, increased community need and social distancing guidelines, fundraising season started nearly a month earlier and 100% of all funds raised were donated DIRECTLY to our Association partner organizations, rather than delivering food packs. Partner organizations include: The Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA), The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services Rainbow Room, SAFE Austin, Foundation Communities, and, new in 2020, local Austin-area food banks such as the Central Texas Food Bank. Our fundraising events took on a new look as well. Beginning with the “Gobble Trot” kickoff parade, socially distanced caravans of 10 cars or fewer drove three separate parade routes through par-
THANK YOU 2020 DONORS! $2,192 - Change 4 Change Properties & Supplier Sponsors BELCO EQUITIES Chandler Creek Apartments Lauren Tuma, Sherwin Williams Mackenzie Pointe Apartments Jarrett Isabell, Contractors Inc Salado at Walnut Creek Tasha Mora, A&A Wrecker and Recovery
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ticipating apartment communities displaying the donation website address and QR code. Throughout September, 15 member properties held “Change for Change” events, handing out breakfast to residents for their spare change donations, socially distanced and masked of course. Three virtual fundraisers were also held, including a Facebook LIVE Telethon in September, an Online Auction and an Online “Dollars for Desserts” Bake Sale in October. Congratulations to the entire 2020 Doc & Gayle Young Food Drive Crew, who spent countless hours volunteering their time making phone calls, sending emails, and thinking outside the box for creative ways to raise funds this year. A very special thanks to our Food Drive “Consultant”, Stephanie Naylor with Flooring Warehouse, and the three Food Drive Chairs: Terri Needham with PS Landscapes, Paige Russell with CREA Management, and Taryn Merrill with Greystar for their amazing leadership. We are so very thankful to EVERYONE who donated their time and money to make this year’s Food Drive another great success – even during a pandemic. See you (hopefully in person) in 2021!
GREYSTAR The Kenzie at The Domain Robyn Riley, Valor Fire
Whitley Chelsea Montgomery, Fidus Construction
Toni Rackley, Flooring Warehouse
Ashton Rosa Montes, Penn Staffing
Folio Ashtyn Bennett, The Steam Team
Alexan Garza Ranch Rene Flores, Platinum Pools
Preserve at Travis Creek Ryan Harmon, Camp Construction
Triangle Shay Mickler and Dedra Bouffard, The Liberty Group
Ladera Karla Urbina, Tri-Supply
Toni Rackley, Flooring Warehouse
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PINNACLE Sycamore Springs Kris Burleson with InterSolutions Urbana Goodnight Ranch Carrie Thomes, Rasa Floors ROSCOE PROPERTIES Hays Junction 1&2 Braden Gore, Elevated Construction SHIPPY PROPERTIES Belmont Place Adrian Garcia, InterSolutions Staffing
