Celebrating helping hands

The Good Neighbor Settlement House celebrated its 65th anniversary last Wednesday at the Exceptional Emergency Center of Brownsville.

The nonprofit agency was established in 1953 by the First United Methodist Church and provides services to the needy such as meals, showers and health care. They serve about 250 people a day and receive around $250,000 per year in grants from agencies including the United Way of Southern Cameron County and the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation and other contributors.

Jack White, the executive director of the Good Neighbor Settlement House and a UTRGV social work lecturer, said volunteer efforts are what make the services possible and invites the community to volunteer.

“There are all kinds of ways in which you can prepare food, serve food or help with maintenance,” White said. “There’s almost nothing that you can identify as a skill in this town that Good Neighbor doesn’t need.”

Alexandra Guzman, a UTRGV social work senior, is an intern at the settlement house. Guzman said she enjoys interning and has learned a lot by seeing what happens behind the scenes.

“They have to offer a lot of services for, like, the homeless and for people who are in need,” Guzman said. “That’s something that I want to do, help individuals find the resources they need to have a better life.”

Frank Lara, a Brownsville resident and president of Brownsville Elks Lodge No. 2876, is also a volunteer. Asked why he decided to volunteer, Lara said that people need help.

“Not everybody is blessed like us,” Lara said. “We’ll continue helping for as long as we can.”

Xavier Anderson and Melissa Jareño, Brownsville residents attending the event, like what the Good Neighbor is doing to help the needy.

“They help people out with, you know, the simple basics, such as nutrition, so that helps a lot, especially in this community,” Anderson said.

Jareño complimented the Good Neighbor’s many years of work.

“A lot of people remember them,” Jareño said. “They’ve touched a lot of lives.”

“It’s actually very nice having a nonprofit for 65 years,” Anderson added. “I think that shows that there’s a lot of local support from the community … just regular people, as well, [lending] a hand for people that obviously hit a hard time in life.”

White recognized some of the individuals who have supported the Good Neighbor Settlement House.

“I’d like to thank Dr. [Kazim] Hussain, Mary Yturria, the county judge, [Eddie Treviño Jr.],  everybody that’s taken time out of their busy schedule to come and just celebrate this event with us,” he said.

To volunteer, visit the Good Neighbor Settlement House, located at 1254 E. Tyler St. in Brownsville, to fill out a form or download the form online at www.goodneighborsettlementhouseinc.org.