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Nonprofit Alma’s Light is selling “Couchella 2020” T-shirts to raise money for the Hays County Food Bank to help fill the food bank’s increased needs during the coronavirus pandemic.
Alma’s Light is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based out of Katy that sponsors communities in underprivileged school districts by meeting the school supply needs of students and families. According to Alma’s Light Co-founder Richard Griffin, the nonprofit was started by a group of friends that wanted to pay forward the help they received early on in life.
“We're just a bunch of best friends who wanted to get together and help the world in the way that we were helped,” Alma’s Light Co-founder Richard Griffin said. “I mean, we all got to where we are in life, not by our own strength, tears, sweat and blood alone, but by the assistance that we received and the guidance that we had when we were younger and throughout our entire life. So we definitely want to make sure that we pay that forward.”
The T-shirt "Couchella 2020" design.
Richard Griffin graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor’s degree in 2006 and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas State University Alumni Association. He said San Marcos has held a close place in his heart ever since his time in college and so, when the nonprofit had the opportunity to expand in 2019, they decided to expand into the San Marcos community.
Alma’s Light organized a back to school supply drive in August of 2019 for San Marcos Consolidated ISD students and was able, via a donation from Half Price Books, to donate 844 books to Dezavala Elementary School.
“We wanted to help make sure that all kids are walking into the school year on the same footing,” Richard Griffin said. “So we partnered with other nonprofits and last year we ended up handing out a number of backpacks and school supplies to Dezavala Elementary School in San Marcos and we worked with Operation Back 2 School here in Houston to accomplish the same thing.”
The sweatshirt "Couchella 2020" design.
In addition to school supplies, Alma’s Light also provides disadvantaged students financial literacy courses and works to partner with other nonprofits that provide food, supplies and other essentials to district students.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Alma’s Light Cofounder Christina Griffin said, the nonprofit was looking for a way to help area families that were being hit hard. She came up with the idea to host a food bank fundraiser and designed the “Couchella 2020” T-shirt.
“Our T-Shirt fundraiser is a venue for people to help out, while making the best of our stay-at-home mandates,” Christina Griffin said. “With every ‘Couchella 2020’ shirt purchase, every single penny of profit goes toward food banks to help feed families in need. Together we can make a difference and help make sure our children have food on their plates.”
Guzman delivers a basket full of new backpackswith school supplies for Dezaval Elementary students.
The goal is to raise at least $3,000 for the Hays County Food Bank before May 20.
Each purchase of a “Couchella 2020” T-shirt will cover the cost of the shirt and donate $10 to the Hays County Food Bank. The design is sold on T-shirts for $22, sweatshirts for $33 and pullover hoodies for $35. And each design has five color options available. To purchase “Couchella 2020” apparel, go to Bonfire's website. The design will no longer be available for purchase after May 20 and orders will start shipping June 1.
The Griffins also wanted to highlight the work that Alma’s Light San Marcos Regional Manager Lauren Guzman has put into the nonprofit. Guzman helps organize and execute San Marcos events for the nonprofit and is a public relations student at Texas State University.
For more information about Alma’s Light, go to it's website. To donate directly to the Hays County Food Bank, go to the HCFB's website.
