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In April, The Carlson Law Firm’s South Austin personal injury team volunteers at Caritas Community Kitchen, serving over 230 lunches to guests in attendance.

The Carlson Law Firm has committed to investing in our community in meaningful ways. Most food kitchens, food pantries, and meal programs rely entirely on volunteers. Giving back in this way allows us to help families and individuals who truly need help.

“Soup kitchens rely on volunteers and charitable donations,” Carlson Law Firm attorney Nathan Kennedy said. “We want to move the conversation forward on helping end hunger in our community and this is just one way that we can do this.”

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 has committed to investing in our community in meaningful ways. Most food kitchens, food pantries, and meal programs rely entirely on volunteers. Giving back in this way ensures that children in need have access to food before and after school, on weekends and holiday breaks. In April, our South Austin team spent a morning helping the Central Texas Food Bank hand out over 9,000 pounds of food to 125 deserving families and kids at their Mobile Food Pantry, and

“No child in our community should miss a meal or go to bed hungry,” said Carlson Law Firm attorney J.T. Borah. “A full stomach helps kids focus in school by regulating their energy and mood. Further, well-balanced meals boost the brain’s mental clarity and memory.”

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 sent more than 30 employees to revamp the Families in Crisis facility on March 30 in Killeen, Texas.

Families in Crisis is one of the few emergency shelters in Bell County that provides services for women and children leaving abusive situations. Bell County is one of the worst counties in the state for domestic violence and child abuse, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The country has a great need for the services Families in Crisis has to offer.

Carlson Law Firm employees worked in groups painting, cleaning and organizing the kitchen, mowing the lawn, pulling weeds and repairing playground equipment. Additionally, the firm ordered ceiling tiles to replace several old and dark tiles to brighten up the facility.

The Carlson Law Firm’s Chief Operating Officer Lisa Griffin serves on the board of Families in Crisis.

“The families living here deserve a place that makes them feel safe and comfortable,” Griffin said. ”We want to make sure survivors feel empowered and protected, and that these facilities feel more like a home than a transitional, temporary shelter.”

Since 1981, Families in Crisis has served victims of domestic violence by offering emergency shelter, food, clothing, school supplies, diapers, and other necessities. In addition, the nonprofit organization provides assistance through helping residents obtain housing, employment, skills training, financial assistance, and legal advocacy. The program also offers support for victims of sexual assault and non-residential family violence and supportive services for veterans and their families.

In addition to providing services for abuse victims, Families in Crisis also provides services to the homeless and sexual assault victims.

Learn more about the services provided by Families in Crisis.

Established as a federal holiday in 1983 at the urging of his wife Coretta Scott King, the third Monday in January is a day spent honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The purpose of this special day is to honor the man who fought for racial equality, financial equality and justice by committing acts of service, big or small, within your local community.

Dr. King was assassinated because his message gave hope to an oppressed people. However, over the years, his message has transcended beyond the Black community and Civil Rights Movement to touch the lives of people from all walks of life, all over the world. For this reason, he remains revered for the work he did to improve the lives of the oppressed. Instead of using the MLK Day of Service holiday to sleep in, you can take a cue from the life of Dr. King and turn a day off into a day of action.

Ways to Serve Your Community this MLK Day

Serving others is not just about altruism, it is a great way to spend a day off and honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Donate Gently Used Clothes and Shoes

Fill two needs with one deed and use your day off to declutter your closet and help others. Items that you no longer wear such as shoes, coats, pants, shirts, blouses and even purses and eyeglasses can become another person’s treasure. Donate your items to a worthy cause dedicated to improving the lives of those in need. Purging your closet to help those in need is a great way to spend your day off while doing good. Check out the following organizations to find a worthy cause you support:

• Soles 4 Souls
• The Salvation Army
• American Red Cross
• Dress for Success
• Career Gear
• Share Your Soles
• Change Purse
• One Sight
• United Way

Visit a Nursing Home or Senior Living Community

It is estimated that as many as 60-percent of nursing home residents never have visitors. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and negligence are more likely to occur when residents have little to no visitors. Not only will you do some good in holding nursing homes accountable, but these nursing homes often rely on volunteers to interact with residents. For example, you can volunteer to call bingo, wow residents with your musical talents or even use your humanitarian clown act to entertain residents.

Prepare Displacement Kits for Families

While the Red Cross and other organizations step up to help families in the aftermath of a fire or natural disaster, you can still do your part to help displaced families. Even if some of the items in a family’s home can be salvaged, it can take weeks or even months to get clothes and other items returned. Displaced families need basic necessities such as clean clothes, sleepwear, and new underwear. Additionally, you can collect food, feminine and other hygiene products, pet food, diapers or gift cards to local stores to aid the family.

Do a Random Act of Kindness

While the number of businesses who give employees the MLK Day of Service holiday off continues to grow, more than 50 percent of workers will still have to report for duty on Jan. 21. However, even if you have the time to volunteer, you can still perform a kind act for another person. Buy snacks for your coworkers, pay for the person’s coffee behind you at a coffee shop or even something as simple as holding the door open for someone. A simple act of kindness doesn’t require much work.

Martin Luther King Jr. died at the young age of 39. But in his short time, he spread a message of love, diversity, tolerance, and kindness. MLK Day is the perfect opportunity to bring the compassion and kindness into the world that he hoped to see. As you begin to consider ways that you can serve your community this Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it’s OK to think outside the box. Small gestures toward a specific individual can make just as big of an impact as volunteering to help hundreds.

On Nov. 15, The Carlson Law Firm asked for submissions to bless someone in need with a Christmas Miracle. We asked for stories from the heart, and to let us know how we can make a difference in your loved ones’ lives. Within days, we received hundreds of worthy nominations. We were so overwhelmed with the response that instead of blessing one family with a Carlson Christmas Miracle, we decided to select three. Throughout December, we delivered gifts to these very deserving families.

Erica in San Antonio:

The Carlson Law Firm’s charitable program Carlson Cares delivered a Christmas Miracle to a Lubbock grandmother raising her four grandchildren. Just as winter weather began to move in, the gas company was forced to cut off Mary’s gas in October because of a gas line leak.

With dipping temperatures leading to snow storms, the family endured some of Lubbock’s coldest nights without central heat. In addition, they had to rely on their microwave to eat because Mary has been unable to use her range stove. While Mary has worked hard all of her life, a workplace injury put her out of a job. Unfortunately, she has spent the last several months supporting her grandchildren on a limited income. As a result, she has been unable to afford the gas leak repair costs. 

In mid-November, The Carlson Law Firm announced that it was accepting nominations for its first annual Carlson Christmas Miracle. In response to the firm’s call for submissions, Mary decided to ask for one simple miracle: feed the kids Christmas dinner.

Rather than just give Mary a dinner for one day, The Carlson Law Firm decided to fix the problem. The firm coordinated with a local plumbing company to go to Mary’s home to repair the gas line. In addition, we asked Mary for a Christmas wish list from each of her grandchildren, ages 2, 8, 10 and 14. We fulfilled each child’s Christmas wish list.

On Dec. 18, Carlson Law Firm’s Managing Partner Craig Carlson joined Lubbock attorney Russell Shrauner to make the special delivery to Mary’s home. Carlson and Shrauner delivered the gifts for each child, a special gift for Mary to open on Christmas Day and a gift card to a local grocery store to cover the costs of Christmas dinner for Mary and her grandchildren.

Amy in Austin:

An Austin family is enjoying a Christmas Miracle this holiday season thanks to Carlson Cares, the charitable arm of The Carlson Law Firm, spreading comfort and joy.

Amy, her husband, and four kids moved to Austin for a better life after her husband was offered a job. The family packed up everything they could fit into a small truck and made the move. However, shortly after the move, her husband suffered a stroke which put him out of work. Amy also deals with health issues that have kept her from working. While the family is regaining their footing through her husband’s temporary work, Amy was unsure if she would be able to give her kids a Christmas this year.

She wrote to the Carlson Cares Christmas Miracle asking for nothing more than gifts for her four children ages 6,7,8, and 17. In her letter, she described her dread going to the store at the time of year knowing that her four kids will ask if Santa can bring them certain items for Christmas. Because she knew deep down that they would not be able to purchase any gifts this year.

On Dec. 14, The Carlson Law Firm went to the family’s home to drop off a Christmas tree, Christmas decorations, and gifts for all of their children. Each of Amy’s children got everything they wished for on their Christmas list. In addition, the firm surprised the family with an HEB gift card and a check to cover the family’s rent for the month of January.

Mary in Lubbock:

The Christmas season just got a little cheerier for Erica and her children. The San Antonio mother, her three children, and grandchild are sleeping in warm beds tonight thanks to Carlson Cares, an initiative by The Carlson Law Firm, bringing comfort and joy to families in need this holiday season.

Erica found herself and her children in search of a new place to live after fleeing an abusive relationship. Additionally, a cancer diagnosis and subsequent illness left her unable to work.

With the help of community resources, she along with her children were able to move into a new apartment in San Antonio. However, for months, they lived without furniture and slept on the floor.

Currently, she is in remission after a battle with colon cancer and recovering from a splenectomy after doctors found an aneurysm in her spleen. Day in and day out, Erica woke up to take care of her children and her grandson. However, because of her weakened immune system she has to wear a face mask that she has to wear for the rest of her life.

“I have to wear a mask every day now,” Erica said. “Any little thing can get me sick, anybody’s germs.”

When The Carlson Law Firm began asking for submissions for A Carlson Christmas Miracle, Erica’s ex-sister-in-law responded with her story. Her former sister in law’s request for Erica and her family was simple: this family just needed beds.

The Carlson Law Firm decided to furnish Erica’s apartment with queen beds, mattresses and box springs, and dressers. Additionally, the family received a Christmas tree and all four children in the home received Christmas presents. The firm also provided the family with a $100 H-E-B gift card to purchase their Christmas dinner.

You can watch the families’ stories on The Carlson Law Firm’s YouTube https://youtu.be/IBrkuFsj6TU

On Saturday, October 27th, members of our Round Rock and North Austin office locations combined forces to help rebuild the Reset Home at Reset Mentoring. From hanging drywall to hauling trash, the team of attorneys and legal assistants did it all.

Reset Mentoring is a non-profit organization that was created to help teens reset their lives. The program works exclusively with Williamson County Juvenile Services.

Recently, the non-profit launched a new initiative: the Reset Home. Working hand in hand with sponsors, donors, and volunteers, Reset Mentoring purchased the Austin bungalow and began renovating it to become a place where teens can go if they can’t go home, for whatever reason that may be.

The Carlson Law Firm places helping others above all else.

“Not everyone is afforded the same opportunities and giving back to your local community is one of the best ways to help,” said Round Rock legal assistant Brittany Rosborough.

North Austin attorney Nicholas Merz enjoyed being able to work towards an effort that others could benefit from.

“When putting up some of the drywall, I could envision one of the teens using the room in the future. It was really nice,” he added.