The Baylor College of Medicine community again showed its substantial generosity during the 2022 Holiday Gift Drive.

More than 450 toys and gifts were donated at five Baylor locations in the Texas Medical Center between Nov. 30 and Dec. 14 to benefit BEAR Houston, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization that provides hope and help to abused or neglected children in Harris County, as well as the caseworkers who care for them.

Jose “Alex” Alanis, communications and community outreach associate, coordinated drop-off boxes at five locations, including 176B at main Baylor, the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, McNair Campus, Jamail Specialty Care Center and the Phoenix Tower.

Hundreds of toys and gifts were donated by the Baylor College of Medicine community for BEAR Houston in December 2022.

According to its website, BEAR is the only local nonprofit working with Harris County Resources for Children and Adults and the Texas Department of Family Protective Services to offer programs specifically for abused and neglected minors.

In addition to gifts during the holidays, the organization has BEAR Rooms packed with new emergency supplies – formula, diapers, shoes, clothing, snacks, toys and stuffed animals – for children recently uprooted from a living situation. The highest population served through BEAR Rooms are infants to 11-year-olds.

“I thought it went great with Baylor College of Medicine’s values,” Alanis said. “Now that we’ve (partnered with BEAR) this year, I feel it will grow even more in the coming years.”

Alanis is in the midst of planning volunteer opportunities for Baylor faculty and staff to take part in 2023, including an opportunity in January with Bayou City Blessings in a Backpack to ensure children in need have food on weekends and school breaks.

View volunteer opportunities in Community, internal communications and InTouch.

By Julie Garcia

Hundreds of toys and gifts were donated by the Baylor College of Medicine community for BEAR Houston in December 2022.