Intertek Employee Amanda Villasenor volunteered on Saturday, June 6 with local grocer HEB, in Uvalde to help pass out food, drinks, and other items to the community of Uvalde, Texas. The San Antonio Food Bank ran the food distribution and was able to offer needed items such as milk, water, baby wipes, bread, and frozen meats to those in need.  Stuffed animals were offered as therapy tools for families still grieving. Amanda stated that the volunteer experience was a very emotional time for her. 

When she first heard about the tragedy, the safety  of her niece and nephew were heavy on her heart. While they do not live in Uvalde, she could not help but think that something like this could have happened to them as well. It is incredibly sad and hit close to home for so many.  

It is difficult to understand that someone could be so cruel and do what they did to those children and teachers. Uvalde is a small-town with a strong community bond, but this tragedy has tested that strength.   

With this type of event occurring more often and when it happens so close to your home, it instills a sense of fear.  Families will be sending their children back to school when the summer break is over and hopefully will be able to do so with a better sense of security. 

Being there and meeting the affected community was very emotional.  But at the end of the day, the volunteers were able to help over two hundred families which made it a very fulfilling event as a volunteer.