For over a decade, serving Austin-area women and children has been a cornerstone of outreach for the Travis County Medical Alliance (TCMA), as they help families achieve housing stability and self-sufficiency.
TCMA is now in its 15th year partnering with Saint Louise House, a nonprofit that provides accommodations and resources to Austin-area women and their children as they navigate the path to permanent housing.
“The alliance has been historically women, so the work of a woman-centered nonprofit resonates really deeply with so many of the members,” said former TCMA President Berenice Craig. “Saint Louise House’s mission hits home for so many of us. We’ve just fallen in love with serving our community this way.”
Since 2011, TCMA members have dedicated countless hours to bolstering Saint Louise House’s efforts, volunteering multiple times a year to provide meals, coordinate donations, and host community events that raise money for the organization.
One of the most significant ways the alliance helps Saint Louise House is by furnishing multiple apartments a year for women and children experiencing homelessness. With the help of member donations, TCMA has gifted families everything from cookware to toothbrushes, often filling pantries with staple foods and children’s rooms with toys.
Through these donations, the alliance provides “literally everything a woman would need to move into a home and have a livable space for her and her children,” Ms. Craig said.
For Ms. Craig, volunteering at Saint Louise House is deeply personal. Years ago, she navigated the challenges of raising a child on her own as a single mother before meeting and marrying her husband, Austin anesthesiologist Jason Craig, MD. That experience showed her the importance of a strong support system – which is why she calls Saint Louise House’s work “life changing.”
After her TCMA presidency, Ms. Craig joined Saint Louise House’s board as its vice president of philanthropy.
In addition to its volunteer efforts, TCMA annually raises money for Saint Louise House and other organizations through the alliance’s Party with a Purpose event. Each year, he gala-style gathering brings the local medical community together to award financial grants to organizations that enhance the health of central Texans.
Last year, TCMA raised $50,000 and gave $10,000 to Saint Louise House.
“This work is one of those things that just changes your heart,” Ms. Craig told Texas Medicine Today. “Setting up a safe space for a mother and her children who’ve been living on the streets or otherwise … is one of those real Santa Claus kinds of moments. It’s a beautiful experience.”
Interested in volunteering at Saint Louise House? Email info@saintlouisehouse.org to get involved. For more information about the Texas Medical Association Alliance, check out the organization’s website.
Alisa Pierce
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1469