Blog

KILLEEN, Texas — Six Texas families will have a brighter Christmas this year thanks to the hardworking elves in The Carlson Law Firm. 

Each year, The Carlson Law Firm asks for nominations to bless a family in need of a Christmas Miracle. This year, the firm doubled the number of miracles and helped six families all over the state. 

The full video is below.

Austin – Manuel and Milka

This year we kicked off our Christmas Miracle in the Lone Star State’s capital, Austin. Milka and Manuel were nominated by two different people this year for The Carlson Cares Christmas Miracle after the family lost everything in a fire earlier this year. While  Manuel, Milka and their two young children were sleeping, their apartment caught fire. Manuel was able to get himself, his wife and the oldest child out of the home. However, his youngest son was trapped in his room. Despite the fact that the father could no longer see due to the smoke and flames, he risked his own life and braved the blaze to save his son’s life. As a result, the father suffered significant burns and is now unable to work because of his injuries. 

The family lost everything in the fire. Milka has taken to working overnights so that she can care for her husband and sons during the day. Currently, the family is living with family members. 

The firm received two submissions nominating Manuel and Milka for our Carlson Cares Christmas Miracle. To help the family through this period in their life, The Carlson Law Firm gifted the entire family warm coats. We also made sure their two boys have gifts to wake up to on Christmas morning. The family received a $500 gift card to help  Further, we gave the family $1,000 to start a savings fund for a deposit on a new place to live. 

Bryan – Lisa

Lisa’s husband was deported after being in the United States for more than 17 years. Her husband was going through the proper channels to establish legal residency, however, he was unexpectedly deported to Mexico in October. Since his deportation, she has struggled to provide for her six children that still live with her. She has been looking for a second job to help supplement the income lost from her husband’s sudden departure. 

To help Lisa through her situation, The Carlson Law Firm paid two months of her rent which included water and sewage. Each child received items from their Christmas wish list—including a laptop for her daughter who attends a specialized tech high school. We also gave Lisa an InstaPot to help prepare speedy, healthy meals for her family and a Christmas tree with decorations. 

San Antonio – Amber

Amber has two kids under the age of two. Pregnant and with a young son, Amber left an abusive relationship. She lived in a homeless shelter until she recently got approved for government housing. She had nothing in her home except for two air mattresses, a card table and a few kitchen items. Further, Amber’s apartment did not provide heating or cooling. Seeing the needs of her daughter, Amber’s mother nominated her for this year’s Carlson Cares Christmas Miracle. 

To help make life easier for this young mother, The Carlson Law Firm furnished her entire apartment. We purchased beds, a couch, dining table, kitchenware and a crib for her infant son, as well as a glider. In addition, we purchased her older son toys for Christmas and gave bottles, a baby bath, diapers and wipes for the baby. In addition, we gave Amber a $100 HEB gift card to help with groceries. 

Laredo – Miguel and Martha

Miguel was diagnosed with throat cancer in May of this year. After getting his port put in for chemotherapy, he developed an infection that led to sepsis and other medical issues. Because of his infection, his chemotherapy treatments were delayed until October. Miguel completed his chemotherapy and radiation at the end of November. Miguel’s treating hospital is in San Antonio. As a result, the couple has spent the last several months commuting between their home in Laredo and staying in a hotel after his treatment in San Antonio. 

Because of his illness, Miguel lost his job. And Martha, as his only caretaker, lost hers as well. The family sold household items to help make ends meet. 

Martha nominated her husband for a Christmas Miracle. In her submission, Martha noted that despite “losing a lot of material things, he is winning the fight against cancer. It all came with a price and hoping he will get a bit of what he lost in this request.” 

The Carlson Law Firm readily stepped up to help the family replace some of the things lost. Miguel received several Dallas Cowboy items, including a limited edition jersey; gift cards for gas, and clothes. Martha was given a candle set and the couple’s college student was given a Chromebook.

Temple – Kathryn

Kathryn nominated her four children for a Carlson Cares Christmas Miracle. Kathryn’s husband left her and her children without much one week before Christmas. For the past two years, Kathryn and her children haven’t had much cheer through the holiday season. As a single mom of four, trying to stay afloat meant the kids had a much lighter Christmas than years past when their dad was around. Determined to ensure her kids had everything they needed, Kathryn took on two jobs to provide for her family. Earlier this year, she was able to move her family into a nice home. Kathryn planned to do something significant for her children this year. Unfortunately, Kathryn lost one of her jobs after a rollover car crash involving her two youngest children took her away from the job. 

Her youngest son was ejected from the vehicle and her young daughter suffered injuries from being in an improper car seat. Kathryn remains grateful to just have her children alive and well to celebrate Christmas this year. While her oldest son was gifted a bedroom set months before, her two youngest boys were sleeping on a used mattress on pallets and her daughter shared a bed with her mother. Kathryn’s request was simple: something out of this world. 

The Carlson Law Firm’s Caring elves began putting together a list of what to get the children. In the end, Kathryn’s children received a bunk bed with mattresses for her two middle boys that share a room, her three-year-old daughter got her own bed, and her oldest son received a guitar. Each child got several gifts and clothes for a special surprise on Christmas morning. Finally, Kathryn received a gift card for a massage and a gift card to HEB. 

Killeen – Marlice and Jose

With four kids—one of whom with significant medical needs, Killeen couple Marlice and Jose bring home just enough to take care of their family’s most basic needs. The family’s home lacked central heating and air. The family of six slept in the same room with space heaters to keep warm at night. As a stay at home parent, Marlice depends entirely on the couple’s one vehicle to take their daughter to appointments in Temple and Austin. For the last few months, their car has been in and out of the shop. However, while the small repairs offered the family temporary fixes, their vehicle still remained unreliable. 

To help this family, The Carlson Law Firm contacted Ellis Air to install two window units that provide both heat and air. Additionally, we paid for all car repairs (totaling over $2800) to ensure they are safe on the road in a reliable vehicle. Each child received two items on their wish list, warm clothes and we gave each family member a new, warm coat. Finally, we gifted the parents with an InstaPot, an HEB gift card, and provided a Christmas tree with decorations.

Carlson Cares

For many families, the holiday season doesn’t bring much cheer. This time of year can be costly and lead to significant stress for those on a tight budget. For the families we helped this year, The Carlson Law Firm helped by taking away the uncertainty of knowing what to prioritize. Our goal each year to make Christmas a little less stressful and a little more magical. With Carlson Cares, the spirit of the holiday season is not lost. 

To get the community ready for child passenger safety week, Carlson Cares brought in car seat technicians from the Texas KidSafe Program to the Killeen area to offer free car seat inspections and education to parents and caregivers on Sept. 12. Cars lined up at the firm’s Killeen office as parents, grandparents and expecting parents patiently waited to ensure their most precious cargo was safe. 

Car crashes are the leading killer of children. In fact, research shows that at least 59% of children’s car seats are used improperly. In 2017, child passengers under the age of 13 were involved in a car crash every 32 seconds.

“Some of the most heartbreaking cases we see are children coming in with severe injuries from car crashes,” said Carlson Law Firm Managing Partner Craig Carlson. “No one expects to get in the car and have a crash, but we can’t predict the actions of other drivers on the road. We want people to start asking themselves, ‘is the seat installed properly?’, ‘is my child in the right size car seat?’ these are things we don’t think about when we put our children in the car.” 

Car seat technicians verified the labels, expiration date, recall status and the child’s height and weight to the recommended standards for their seats. If the tech determined the car seat was unfit for any reason, Carlson Cares provided car seats to make sure children left in a safe and secure seat. 

Parents and caregivers were advised on the best practices for child car seat safety. In addition to best practice tips, event attendees received a swag bag full of car safety tools and a one-of-a-kind ‘Charlie the Remembear’ to keep in the front seat of their vehicles to serve as a reminder to check the back seat for their little ones. 

In total, technicians checked 46 seats and replaced 18.

If you are interested in a car seat check, contact the Texas KidSafe Program to schedule an appointment at 888-675-0260.

The Carlson Law Firm’s Aug. 27 blood-drive broke a longstanding record for the Baylor Scott & White Blood Center. Organizers in the Killeen office held the event ahead of the Labor Day weekend because of the National Safety Council’s latest predictions for fatal car crashes over the weekend. 

In total, the law firm collected 22 units, surpassing a 14 unit record set in 2014 for a first-time blood drive. 

The need for blood in Central Texas is at an all-time high. This is in part because of recent tragedies in the state and the summer months being slow for blood donation. Low blood supply before the deadly holiday weekend required immediate action. 

“When we heard this news, we decided that we needed to do our part and help our community,” said Carlson Law Firm Event Coordinator Susie Williams. “We put a plan into action to get our employees and the community involved in saving a life.” 

The increase in car travel makes Labor Day one of the deadliest holidays. On average, about 400 people lose their lives in car crashes over the much-coveted three-day weekend. According to the Red Cross, a single accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood. 

“Our clients often come to us after they’ve been seriously injured in a crash,” said Managing Partner Craig Carlson. “As a firm, we recognize that many of our clients wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for the supply in our local blood banks. The Carlson Law Firm isn’t just dedicated to helping car crash victims in the aftermath of a crash, we want them to know we’re here to support even in the ways they can’t see.”

About Us

Carlson Cares is the charitable arm of The Carlson Law Firm. The Carlson Law Firm has made it a point to continue to invest in building strong relationships with our communities. We believe that promoting personal care and community service is one of the most important components to properly serve our clients. With 12 locations statewide, we are committed to improving the quality of life for everyone in our state. For over 40 years, we have handled countless personal injury cases and assisted many injured victims in rebuilding their lives after tragedy.

The Carlson Law Firm gave 100 backpacks at its annual back-to-school bash on August 3. This year’s Party with a Purpose was a bigger event than last year’s. The event is quickly becoming a staple for many families in the Temple community. 

The firm’s Party With a Purpose welcomed children of all ages, giving away free school supplies, coupons for haircuts, and other items to help local families get a head start on back-to-school shopping. 

For the nearly 20% of residents in the Temple community living at or below the poverty line, getting school supplies for their children is somewhat of a burden. Just a single backpack can cost a family $12-30 depending on the brand and the store its bought from. This can add up quickly for families. Unfortunately, many families are sensitive to the costs of supplies, which can make school supplies for some students unattainable. This is especially true when many schools require specific brands of crayons, tissues, and other supplies. 

“The Party with a Purpose has been such a wonderful event for my office staff and I to plan and put on, as it allows us to give back to our community in a meaningful way,” said Carlson Law Firm Partner Julie Peschel. “Our plan for this year’s event was to provide more backpacks of school supplies and family fun for the members our community, and I am so excited to say that we were able to do that. We look forward to making the event bigger and better in the years to come.”

In addition to the free school supplies, event-goers were treated to carnival-style games, raffle giveaways, a bouncy slide, sno-cones, face painting, music, and more.

About Carlson Cares

Carlson Cares is the charitable arm of The Carlson Law Firm. The Carlson Law Firm has made it a point to continue to invest in building strong relationships with our communities. We believe that promoting personal care and community service is one of the most important components to properly serve our clients. With 12 locations statewide, we are committed to improving the quality of life for everyone in our state. For over 40 years, we have handled countless personal injury cases and assisted many injured victims in rebuilding their lives after tragedy.

Twelve Carlson Law Firm offices across the state of Texas have quietly been working to improve the lives of children in their communities for the last year and we are happy to announce that our charitable program, Carlson Cares, is celebrating its first year as a source of community improvement.

Carlson Cares began as a way to support our employees’ involvement in the organizations they privately support. But the program quickly turned into a community-focused organization in its own right. Each month, a different Carlson Law Firm office location hosts a ‘Party With a Purpose’ where we give school supplies, meals and other materials to help strengthen families in our community and show them we are a resource they can depend on.

In the last year, the program has raised and donated thousands of dollars to local organizations, as well as hosted family-friendly community events for our friends and neighbors from the West Texas desert to the South Texas beaches.

Carlson Cares officially kicked off with a ‘Party with a Purpose’ in Temple, Texas when the firm gave away more than 75 backpacks filled with school supplies and coupons for free haircuts to children in the community.

Another notable event was our Bryan office’s first annual Thanksgiving-in-a-Basket giveaway last November. Bryan’s ‘Party with a Purpose’ attendees received a basket filled with Thanksgiving dinner staples and a $25 gift card to H-E-B to cover the cost of a turkey.

Further, each month, a different location takes several employees to volunteer at local non-profit organizations. For example:

• The Carlson Law Firm’s Killeen office took more than 30 employees in March to volunteer at Families in Crisis, the shelter for women in the area escaping abuse. Employees did everything from cleaning the kitchen to painting to replacing ceiling tiles.
• The firm’s Laredo office took employees to volunteer at the Laredo-Webb County Children’s Advocacy Center.
• Our Round Rock office volunteered time to read to students and donated more than 400 books to an elementary school in their community to encourage summer reading.
• Both of our San Antonio locations volunteered to spend time with children at the San Antonio Children’s Hospital and donated proceeds from its Fiesta 2019 Pin Pandemonium sales to the hospital.
• Our South Austin locations gave back to the community through feeding vulnerable populations. Employees in the personal injury department volunteered at the Caritas Community Kitchen in Austin. While our nursing home team volunteered at the Mobile Food Pantry in Manor, Texas.
• Our Lubbock office held a number of community events in the past year, including a Movie in the Park and a Halloween Trunk-or-Treat.

Our biggest moment occurred when, through our Carlson Cares program, The Carlson Law Firm made Christmas miracles happen for three Texas families in San Antonio, Austin, and Lubbock.

“Our firm is built on a foundation of helping people and this program is an extension of the ways we can and do help,”  said Managing Partner Craig Carlson. “Helping people is more than just sponsorships and giving money to non-profits. We are out here with our neighbors, meeting them and making these connections so that our community knows Carlson Cares is a resource that is available to help them when they need it. ‘We care, we can help’ is more than a tagline for The Carlson Law Firm. We hire for heart and as a result, our employees are very civic minded. Carlson Cares starts with the compassion and drive to give back in each and every one of our employees.”

In the coming year, Carlson Cares will be hosting bigger and better ‘Parties with a Purpose’.

“Our goal this year is to reach more people through the work we’re doing,” Carlson said.