Flood-Struck Families Receive Aid From 224,000-Member Online Network

Online community members delivered supplies to homes on San Antonio's Southwest Side after recent flooding.

The relief effort was organized by Cecilia Chavez through her Facebook group, 210 La Chismosa. The group has more than 224,000 followers. Members used the platform to coordinate the distribution of aid to affected neighborhoods.

Chavez spoke about her background on the digital talk show Pickup Lines. The show is hosted by KSAT reporter Ernie Zuniga. She explained how personal history influenced her work. Chavez grew up on the South and West sides of San Antonio. She described a childhood shaped by strong Latina women. She contracted measles as a child, which caused hearing loss in one ear.

Her family faced challenges that tested her resolve. A dispute over high school football eligibility threatened her son's ability to play. An appeal for the decision failed. Chavez moved her family to a Native American reservation in Nevada. Her husband had tribal ties in that region. Her sons eventually played football, and one earned a scholarship.

The online group started during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chavez uploaded a video of a Zoom call with her mother and aunt. They were exchanging gossip during the conversation. The post gained rapid attention. She said, "COVID hit and social media was really big. So I uploaded a Zoom meeting between me, my mom and my aunt and we were all gossiping and it just took off."

Managing the large group requires constant effort. Chavez stated, "You wake up to it, you go to sleep to it." The platform also serves as a coping mechanism for her personal grief. Her son Jose died in a motorcycle crash in 2024. She said the work filled a void. "It filled a void. It did. It definitely did," she said. "I want to help. I want to be there for people."

Chavez plans to open a community resource center in the future. She recently declined sponsorship opportunities to maintain her independence. The group continues to share information and assist residents in need.