TJJD News & Announcements

Youth from Ayres Halfway House in San Antonio participated in an exciting event on April 12. Pam Colaw, the Director of Hidden Springs Youth Ranch, brought two of her cowboy ropers to teach our youth how to rope steers. The cowboys spent the evening teaching the techniques of roping. Our youth really enjoyed this event and have been invited to tour her ranch and ride the 10 therapy horses there sometime soon.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Ministries of the Third Cross (MOTC) joined Ayres Halfway House youth for their annual spring retreat on March 16-18, 2018. MOTC is a retreat ministry focused on criminal justice, which aims to provide an experience of supportive, spirit-filled transformation. The retreats have taken place at Ayres House since 2003 thanks to Dr. Jorge Cuellar and his team, in collaboration with church members across the city. Ayres staff are extremely grateful to Diana and Henry Alameda and team leader Greg Guzman for coordinating this event. The next retreat will be in July.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Ayres Halfway House youth participated in a rewarding community service project, “Christmas for Seniors” on Dec.15, 2017. Volunteer Council Member Glenn  Faulk organized the project and raised almost $2,500 from generous community sponsors to provide lunch and Christmas presents for 54 residents at the Newell Retirement Complex. Ayres youth assisted in setting up, serving the seniors, eating lunch with the seniors and cleaning up. Santa made an appearance and brought smiles to the face of everyone in the room.

SAN ANTONIO – Ayres Halfway House youth participated in a two-day Ministries Of the Third Cross Retreat on Dec. 17, 2017. Members of the MOTTC group treated the youth to uplifting fellowship, music, and worship. The retreat members volunteered their time to cook for, serve and lift up our young men in an incredibly powerful way, that even brought the shyest youth out of their shell. At the end of the retreat the group members surprised the youth with Christmas gifts for each young man in the house.  All youth in the program participated and even lead prayers and songs. Many MOTTC members asked to sign on to volunteer with our agency to mentor in the future. It was a wonderful experience for all and they have already began the process of returning for a full, four-day retreat in the summer.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Art teacher Debra Mersky is back this spring at Ayres House providing weekly art classes to the youth. The classes have evolved to include a cooking class every fourth session. Obviously, with growing teenagers a class that offers an extra meal through the day is always a house favorite.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Ayres House and Volunteer Council for TX Youth in San Antonio received a special gift on the eve of its annual Christmas dinner for the youth and staff. New volunteer Karen Grady, inspired from her past six months of volunteering at the halfway house, shared her experience with her friends. These goodhearted friends in turn provided two donations from Stone Oak Rotary and Cheryl Armstrong. The donations, valued at $1,000, helped provide Christmas gifts for youth at Ayres house. Photo: Volunteer Johnny Cuellar helps serve Ayres House youth and staff at the Christmas dinner.