Bay Area ST

Claire Collura, the 2026–2027 board chair, is motivated by a strong commitment to service and a belief in compassionate leadership. She considers philanthropy both a responsibility and a privilege, viewing it as a way to support others and strengthen her community.

Claire joined Bay Area Service Teens seeking meaningful volunteer opportunities beyond school. She found a place to make a difference, build friendships, and develop as a leader. Her first leadership role as Teen Liaison for Project Snuggle inspired her to contribute more broadly. She later served as Vice Chair Philanthropic Programs and Chair-Elect, and now steps into the role of Chair, eager to guide the auxiliary and advance its mission. For Claire, leadership means expanding the impact of her service and empowering others to do the same.

Of the many philanthropic programs she supports, Claire’s favorite is Notes for Folks, where she creates thoughtful cards and uplifting messages for seniors. This program reflects her appreciation for small gestures that help others feel seen and valued.

This fall, Claire will begin her senior year at Clear Lake High School, where she is actively involved in Orchestra, Garden Club, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), and National English Honor Society (NEHS).

Outside of school, she pursues Girl Scouts, reading, and drawing, activities that demonstrate her creativity, curiosity, and dedication. These interests inform her thoughtful approach to service and leadership.

Grateful for the opportunity to serve as board chair, Claire looks forward to a year of collaboration, growth, and meaningful impact.

We are honored to acknowledge that, thanks to the volunteer efforts of Bay Area Service Teens, we accumulated a total of 3,411.5 service hours through our philanthropic programs, fundraising initiatives, support for the Bay Area Service League, and community involvement during the fiscal year 2025-2026.

Based on the Independent Sector's volunteer-hour value, we have contributed $123,291.61 to the Houston-Galveston Bay Area.

Bay Area Service Teens created warm, cozy fleece blankets to comfort the youngest residents arriving at the shelters of Bay Area Turning Point and The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Inc. Often, these children come with little more than the clothes on their backs, leaving behind their cherished belongings.

While individual teens have crafted these blankets, once a month, during our designated philanthropy day, the effort becomes a collective undertaking through our philanthropic program, Project Snuggle.

Thirty-one (31) fleece blankets were created following our membership meetings.

Thank you to Melanie Lovuola, our adult liaison, and Marley Auttonberry and Drew Garcia, our teen liaisons, for your leadership throughout 2025-2026!

Our Notes for Folks volunteers are busy after membership meetings, coloring cards for the holidays, get-well wishes, and birthday milestones.

Bay Area Service Teens prepare these messages of encouragement and celebration for the memory care residents at Discovery Village Clear Lake. Three hundred twenty-five (325) cards were colored and distributed during the year.

Our members recognize the importance of celebrating the generations who came before us and paved the way for all the privileges, opportunities, and advancements we experience today.

Thank you to Cindi Matthews, our adult liaison, and Lauren Lowe, Lucy Lowe, and Gabby See, our teen liaisons, for your leadership throughout 2025-2026!

"This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours. It floats in majestic silence above the hosts that execute those choices, whether in peace or in war. And yet, though silent, it speaks to us — speaks to us of the past, or the men and women who went before us, and of the records they wrote upon it." ~ President Woodrow Wilson, 1917

Crafted with Care allows members to design cute and clever gifts for the young residents at The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Inc., and the Bay Area Turning Point shelters.

Children ages 4-10 receive this as a token from our teens, whether to wish them a happy holiday or to celebrate a particular milestone.

Members created 270 specialty-themed mementos throughout the year.

Thank you to Roxann Zamora, our adult liaison, and Julia Change, Ava Kisner, and Hannah Sultando, our teen liaisons, for your leadership throughout 2025-2026!

Bay Area Service Teens believe companion animals in shelters, hoping for their own families, should receive support through donations of food and supplies.

The Cause for Paws philanthropic program aims to improve the League City Animal Care shelter’s inventory levels through these donations. Ten (10) members delivered food and supplies throughout the year.

Another way the organization supports the dogs and cats in residence at the Pasadena Animal Shelter and Bay Area Pet Adoptions/SPCA is by assembling pet adoption kits, which are delivered to these program partners during the school year.

When they select their new pets, these kits are given to families and include items to kickstart their new home experience. For the year, 350 adoption kits were delivered to these two shelters.

Thank you to Linda McCormack, Leslie Schwanke, and Teresa Teaster, our adult liaisons, and Allison Huang and Emily Zwart, our teen liaisons, for your leadership throughout 2025-2026!

After each membership meeting, the volunteers assemble special birthday boxes to bring a smile to the faces of kids who may not otherwise have the opportunity to celebrate their special day.

For 2025-2026, members assembled and delivered 280 Birthday in a Box bags to League City Elementary and McWhirter Elementary in Clear Creek ISD, and to K.E. Little Elementary and San Leon Elementary in Dickinson ISD for at-risk students in the Communities In Schools - Bay Area program.

Thank you to Judy Gordon and Trudy Kennedy, our adult liaisons, and Lauren Barrera, Alexia Hoang, and Andrew Kisner, our teen liaisons, for your leadership throughout 2025-2026!

Microwaveable meals, drinks, and sweet and salty snacks are packaged monthly during the school year and delivered to district personnel, who distribute them to students facing food insecurity. In collaboration with Bay Area Service League, 9,450 meals were assembled and delivered to Deer Park ISD, La Porte ISD, and Texas City ISD through the Snack Attack Packs initiative.

Addressing this community concern is part of the auxiliary’s Basic Kneads philanthropic program. Collaborating with the organization is the largest aspect of the program. It also includes volunteering with other nonprofits that serve those who need a nutritional boost and donating to pantries that provide this option.

Fourteen (14) Bay Area Service Teens donated time or supplies to the Clear Lake Food Pantry or Interfaith Caring Ministries - ICM, or collaborated with Saint Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church of Nassau Bay and the Galveston County Food Bank.

Thank you to Sarah Foulds, our adult liaison, Cecilia Felterman, Reid Hamilton, and Lexi Murphy, our teen liaisons, for your leadership throughout 2025-2026!

Ethan Haile delivered his monthly donation to the League City Animal Care shelter, supporting Bay Area Service Teens' Cause for Paws philanthropic program.

Providing food and supplies helps maintain inventory levels at their desired capacity for the companion animals residing there until they are adopted.