Tree as a Symbol of Hope for Weavers of Love Community

On the birthday of Sister Elizabeth, community leaders and supporters gathered in Weavers of Love Soup Kitchen in Kingsville, Texas.  In honor of her birthday, Andy Patrick, the new CEO of the ministry and Belinda Patrick, a long time and big supporter, planted a red bud tree with the assistance of the Texas forester who inspected the depth and space allocated for the tree.  Apart from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Andy Patrick and previous CEO Mr. Jose Johnson in the event were people from various organizations and professions: Keep Texas Beautiful Kingsville Board members, Commissioner, Kleberg Judge Rudy Madrid, CHRISTUS Spohn executive Dominic Dominguez, volunteers, friends of the ministry, and Incarnate Word Sisters.

Kingsville residents will also have access to a free mobile clinic through the grant that the local judge had provided with his collaboration with various organizations.  The Weavers of Love has expanded its ministry from soup kitchen, clinic, seniors' community activity and nutrition education center, and community gardening to include food pantry, grief counselling, and free clothing.  The board is planning to also increase its soup kitchen's service days from once a week to a couple of a days a week.  

Pictures from the top left to bottom: mobile clinic with Weavers of Love CEO Andy Patrick, S. Anne Birmingham and Mrs. Belinda Patrick (left), inside the mobile clinic, tree planting, Weavers of Love's supporters with Sister Elizabeth

When the Texas redbud starts to flower, it is the first few signs that can tell the Texans that winter is over.  A secondary name to this is "Judas-tree" with a scientific name of "Cercis canadensis var. texensis".  The best time to plant this is in early spring.

Why this tree?  It is vibrant in color usually pinkish in color and sometimes magenta that flowers during March and April.   Since it is native, it serves as a food for the local insects, butterflies and animals. It is also drought tolerant with low-maintenance being native of this weather in Southern Oklahoma, Central Texas and Northern Mexico.