Our Community Service Projects

Buddy Walk

This spectacularly large showing of families, community members and volunteers aimed to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month and to promote the general acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down Syndrome in the community. Our Houston ASDA chapter had the privilege of setting up a booth with a fun, information filled poster board and hands-on interactive activities including Play-Doh filled egg-carton flossing and dry-erase marker tooth brushing. These methods aimed to educate children and families in proper oral hygiene, including the purposes of flossing and brushing, and their proper techniques. Kids were also quizzed on how many times per day and how long they should brush and floss their teeth. The event was a great success and many families were reached. Finally, we acted as path monitors and supported and cheered on the walkers as they completed their journey down Sam Houston Racepark’s racetrack.

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Houston Food Bank

Twice a semester, students from UTSD volunteer at the Houston food bank sorting through boxes of donated food products and other household goods. This includes sanitizing items, checking expiration dates, and sorting them into appropriate bins for distribution to families. Students usually help out for around two hours, which is enough time to sort through around 4,000 pounds of donated goods and package around 3,000 meals for those in need.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE

Houston ASDA members volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House to prepare meals for families living in the house. Many families in need live in the house, and meals are cooked to feed upwards of 50 people!

TRUNK OR TREAT

Every Halloween, the ASDA Community Service Committee and ASDA members participate in one of our favorite events of the year – TRUNK OR TREAT!! About 20 members dress up in costumes and participate in this community event. Children and their families come to trick-or-treat at the neighborhood YMCA located in an under-served community. Over 100 goodie bags were given out to the children, which included a toothbrush, toothpaste, and yes, candy too! There is always a long line at our booths, with children waiting to play the several games we have prepared for them. We have a flossing game that we use to teach children how to floss that is always quite popular. A mother at the event this year expressed how glad she was that we were teaching the kids how to floss properly. Overall, the event is a great success and we look forward to participating again every year!