Smurfit Kappa supports children in vulnerable communities in Texas
Smurfit Kappa, one of the global leaders in paper-based solutions, has associated with San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries to expand their Children’s Enrichment Center (CEC).
The San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries seek to help the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless attain self-sufficiency by offering, with dignity and compassion, shelter, housing, and services.
Through their CEC, the Ministry provides specific assistance to families in the Transitional Living and Learning Center (TLLC), creating a nurturing environment and helping vulnerable children improve the quality of their lives and avoid homelessness.
The investment will allow the acquisition of a facility next to the current TLLC. Furthermore, the funds will support the construction required for the CEC as well as modifications to the existing space. This project will support an additional 32 school-aged children and increase the support of the toddler and preschool space for 32 participants.
While providing critical help to many more children beyond the existing facilities, Smurfit Kappa aims to support, through its partner’s good policing, a nurturing environment to meet the needs and interests of preschool and school-aged children and their families to promote the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual development of these kids.
Besides building basic skills and academic knowledge, this project emphasizes the importance of healthy habits, such as good hygiene, nutrition, and exercise. Overall, Smurfit Kappa believes that the supportive services will promote healing and restore joy to its youngest residents.
The TLLC and CEC have already benefited 76 families (165 children and, overall, 253 individuals). Of those, 95% maintained stable housing two years after exiting the program, 50% of toddlers and 80% of preschoolers showed less disruptive behavior, and 100% of toddlers and preschoolers showed progress in motor skills, language skills and granted a high school seniors’ degree.
“At Smurfit Kappa we keep working to employ all of our capabilities to fund projects focused on helping families in need, as well as young and disadvantaged children through health and nutrition, basic care and early education. With this project, we strengthen our role in San Antonio, where we have the honor to operate, as partners committed to protecting the people in significant risk of poverty” Eduardo Rubio, CEO of Smurfit Kappa North America.
