[Episcopal Diocese of Texas-El Buen Samaritano, Austin] Austin non-profit El Buen Samaritano announced today the launch of The Grito Challenge. The initiative is designed to raise awareness of the healthcare, literacy, food stability, and spiritual support services they make available for Latino and immigrant families through the organization.

El Grito, which originates from Mexican Independence Day and is characterized as a primal yell that resembles a cry for independence, a halt to oppression, and a soulful shout, inspired the challenge. El Buen dares participants to start a Grito Challenge among family and friends by uploading their Grito videos to social media with the hashtag #GRITOCHALLENGE, then challenging three other people to Grito and tagging them on social media. Participants can upload their most passionate to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Participants are also encouraged to donate to El Buen. The challenge culminates with El Buen’s celebratory El Grito Gala on September 15.

El Buen Samaritano is an outreach ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. It is a faith-based non-profit organization, funded through a mix of local government contracts, private and foundation grants, individual giving, and corporate donations. El Buen works to build healthy, vibrant communities by addressing the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of families.
They achieve this through coordinated medical, literacy, food stability, and spiritual support services to promote healthy behaviors for families. Unlike other healthcare settings, El Buen’s approach to healthcare supports a person’s physical and mental health – a keystone for wellbeing and resilience. El Buen provides quality services to more than 10,500 families each year.

“These are times when it’s especially important to live out our values. With fear of immigrants and anyone who is different or ‘other’ on the rise, El Buen has become more than classrooms and clinics, we are on the front line welcoming all those who aspire and dream. We’ve been doing it for 30 years, and your support is needed now more than ever,” says El Buen CEO, Iliana Gilman.

Give it a try and do your very own grito! Follow these simple steps to take part in the #GritoChallenge:
1. UPLOAD YOUR GRITO VIDEO TO FACEBOOK and/or INSTAGRAM
On your smartphone, make sure that you film your grito video HORIZONTALLY. State your name and why you think it’s important to support El Buen Samaritano (or “El Buen” for short) and the immigrant community. Make
sure to tag @elbuenaustin and hashtag #GRITOCHALLENGE or #GRITOFORGOOD
2. CHALLENGE 3 OTHER PEOPLE
Challenge three friends or family members to participate within 24 hours & be sure to tag them in your post!
3. GIVE TO EL BUEN
Make a donation to support El Buen continuing and expanding its services for another 30 years: https://elbuen.org/donate.

About El Buen Samaritano
In the late 1980s, Austin was seeing a significant change in demographics with Latinos from South America, Central America and Mexico migrating to the city. The Episcopal Diocese of Texas responded by founding El Buen Samaritano, which has grown from a hidden gem that provided a few services out of a small house, to one of the largest nonprofits in Austin.

Now situated on 11 acres, El Buen’s beautiful campus is located in a South Austin neighborhood with three buildings. The first building houses the education and social services boasting seven classrooms, each accommodating up to 20 students and a fully-equipped food pantry. The second building is San Francisco de Asis Episcopal Church, which includes a kitchen for healthy cooking demonstrations and open space for meditation and yoga classes. The third is the Wallace Mallory Clinic, where thousands of uninsured and underinsured families receive quality, patient-centered care.

El Buen Samaritano is located at 7000 Woodhue Drive, Austin TX 78745. For more information
visit elbuen.org, or visit on Facebook facebook.com/elbuenaustin