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Luis’s Story
One June 14, 2019, The Rivard Report published an article about our Capital Campaign, featuring the story of Luis Vargas – HNS alumnus and the lead architect on our rehabilitation project. Below is an excerpt from this article. You can read the full story here. Photo courtesy of The Rivard Report.
“I want to be able to give to other kids the opportunities I was given... It means the world to me to know that I will be involved in a little part of that.”
Luis, HNS Neighbor
Luis Vargas spent most of his childhood in a community center in the Prospect Hill neighborhood on San Antonio’s West Side. In between basketball, summer camps, and after-school programs, it became like a second home to him. Now he is back to help the community that helped raise him as the project manager in charge of redesigning a century-old building.
The nonprofit House of Neighborly Service (HNS) and Divine Redeemer Presbyterian Church partner to provide family support and child development programs, senior care, and food distribution in a shared space. The last time the community center, located at 407 N. Calaveras, was redesigned was in 1929.
After all those years of use, the disrepair began to mount: roofs leaked, plumbing broke down, and air conditioning gave out. And the population it serves keeps growing. Rev. Rob Mueller of Divine Redeemer Church mentored Vargas in his youth and kept his name in mind when the church and HNS began renovation plans after an electrical inspection revealed several issues with the building.
Our Mission is to provide opportunities that encourage, educate, and empower the families of our Westside community.
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House of Neighborly Service’s approach to diversity is simple - it’s about embracing everyone. From cultivating a culture where all employees can bring their best selves to work to organizing diversity initiatives that support all.
