San Benito honors Sunny Glen during Foster Care Awareness Month

By AI, Created 6:51 AM UTC, May 29, 2026, /AGP/ – The City of San Benito proclaimed May as National Foster Care Awareness Month and recognized Sunny Glen Children’s Home for 90 years of work with foster youth in the Rio Grande Valley. The move spotlights the scale of Texas’ foster care system and the local groups that support children through trauma, housing and family placement.

Why it matters: - San Benito’s proclamation puts a public spotlight on foster care needs in the Rio Grande Valley. - Sunny Glen Children’s Home has served more than 25,000 children since 1936, making it a long-running local safety net for vulnerable youth. - Texas has about 28,000 children in foster care, ranking second in the nation, according to the federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. - Local organizations often carry much of the load in communities like San Benito, where foster youth need housing, therapy, education support and family placement.

What happened: - The City of San Benito, Mayor Pedro “Pete” Galvan and the city commission proclaimed May as National Foster Care Awareness Month. - The city recognized Sunny Glen Children’s Home for 90 years of service to foster children across the Rio Grande Valley. - Sunny Glen thanked Galvan and the full commission for the recognition and for supporting local youth and families.

The details: - Sunny Glen opened in 1936 with six children in a small house near La Feria. - The nonprofit has operated from its San Benito campus since 1945. - Sunny Glen’s mission is to provide a place of hope for every child. - Children in Sunny Glen care receive therapy, education support, trauma-informed care and transitional living services. - The organization also serves pregnant and parenting youth and human trafficking survivors. - Sunny Glen’s stated goal is to help children return to or build a permanent, stable family. - More information is available at Sunny Glen’s website.

Between the lines: - The proclamation signals that foster care is not just a state issue but a local one with visible community stakes. - Sunny Glen’s broad service model reflects how foster care providers now address trauma, housing stability, education and family reunification at the same time. - The emphasis on local support suggests nonprofit capacity remains essential in a state with one of the country’s largest foster care populations.

What’s next: - Sunny Glen will likely continue using Foster Care Awareness Month to draw support for volunteers, donations and awareness. - The organization says community help remains important to sustain services for children and families in care. - San Benito’s recognition may help keep attention on the needs of foster youth beyond May.