SAN ANTONIO — This Thanksgiving, students from the George Gervin Academy are showing that the season of giving is about more than food and festivities — it's also about connection and compassion.
Elementary and middle school scholars from the tuition-free charter school recently visited the Newell Retirement Community to share a heartfelt gesture: handmade Thanksgiving cards filled with gratitude and love.
The students spent weeks designing colorful, handwritten messages to bring joy to the senior residents. Each card was carefully crafted, and their delivery sparked an emotional exchange of smiles, laughter and stories. "I'm happy to see them because I don't get to see my grandparents that often," one student said.
The initiative was part of the academy’s mission to instill values of kindness and community service. The school was co-founded nearly 30 years ago by San Antonio Spurs legend and NBA Hall of Famer George Gervin and his sister, Texas state Rep. Barbara Gervin Hawkins, the school emphasizes more than academic success. With three campuses across San Antonio
The school provides dual-language education, free transportation and free meals — along with lessons in gratitude and giving back.
"They got to see this happen... and now that they are seeing the smiles on the elderly's faces, it's really kind of shocking to them, you know, knowing that they have the power to do that for somebody, which is awesome!" said a school administrator.
As the students said goodbye, their impact was clear. For the seniors, the cards and conversations brought warmth to their Thanksgiving season. For the students, it was a lesson in the power of empathy and the joy of giving.
The George Gervin Academy’s effort reminds us that gratitude transcends generations and that a simple act of kindness can bring a community closer together.