For the past 29 years, Harlingen resident Alicia Lugo has led the efforts to help out hundreds of children living with or affected by HIV or AIDS in the Valley.
The Texas State Technical College nursing professor said she decided to begin the annual toy drive nearly 21 years ago.
“We worked with children who were infected or affected by HIV or AIDS and we lost a little boy at that time, so we just decided to make this our life long project,” she said.
Over the course of the past few weeks, Lugo, along with nearly a dozen volunteers, was busy buying, wrapping and organizing toys for more than 230 Valley children.
But her intent is also to help out the family of the children.
In addition to toys, she bought clothes, electronic appliances and other household items for the neediest families.
"Every day these families have to live with a level of hardship because of the disease,” she told Action 4 News. “Our hope is that we can make at least their Christmas a little bit more joyful for them."
The toys were delivered to the Valley AIDS Council (VAC) in Harlingen.
There, case managers working directly with the children will distribute the toys and items to the families.
"I don’t know where she gets them, maybe she has a connection with Santa," VAC Director Bob Smith told Action 4 News. “This is something that will change their life, make anything that might not have happened otherwise, will because of piles of this."
But the work for Lugo does not end there.
With the Christmas toy drive over, she is now focusing on Easter.
She will once again be leading the efforts give those special children another special holiday.
If anyone is interested in helping out, Lugo can be contacted at (956) 536-2707.
In addition, Smith with the VAC said it is very important to get tested for HIV/AIDS.
They offer free testing and counseling and can be contacted at (956) 428-9322, or stopping by at their office on 418 E. Tyler Road in Harlingen.
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