The Disability Resources Pumpkin Patch received extra helping hands this Halloween season from ACU’s chapter of Hispanos Unidos.
This is the first time in recent years that Hispanos Unidos has volunteered in the Abilene community.
“We wanted to start getting our name out in the community and what better way than a community pumpkin patch?” said David Salinas, senior health promotion major from San Antonio.
Disability Resources Inc. is an Abilene based, non-profit organization. DRI’s mission is to assist developmentally disabled individuals achieve their full potential in a Christian environment.
Mat Molina, Hispanos Unidos’ treasurer, has volunteered at the pumpkin patch in previous years for LYNAY and set up the opportunity for Hispanos Unidos to volunteer at the DRI pumpkin patch, said Ana Arango, sophomore biochemistry major and Hispanos Unidos secretary from Plano.
“We volunteered because we are doing our best to let ACU as well as the Abilene community know that we are here to help those that need it,” said Salinas. “We want to show that the ACU community loves to be a part of the community around us.”
Hispanos Unidos is known around campus for their annual event, Entra la Plaza. Despite the popularity of Entra la Plaza, Hispanos Unidos has remained a small club for the past several years.
“We are really trying to make Hispanos Unidos grow and gain some notoriety,” said Arango. “We are really working on finding ways to reach out past our comfort zone and have a more noticeable effect on ACU and the Abilene community. This was the first of what will hopefully be several little events Hispanos Unidos will try to participate in as a group.”
Several church groups and organizations joined Hispanos Unidos in unloading a large truck full of pumpkins in piles on the front lawn of DRI facilities.
“It was a lot of fun because several groups and churches came out to lend a hand and they even let some of the residents help out, which was something they did differently this year,” said Arango. “I’m excited to try some more projects and try this one out again next year and see if we can keep increasing the number of volunteers.”
