Johnny “Rene” Gonzales, the namesake for the JRG Ranch in East Bernard.
By M.G. Angulo –
In East Bernard, Texas, there is a ranch family who looks forward to the holiday season each year not just for the bright lights, presents, holiday tunes and family-famous recipes, but rather because of the opportunity to spread cheer in their community.
Some time ago, the JRG Ranch in East Bernard developed its Adopt a Family Program, which circles around Johnny “Rene” Gonzales, the ranch’s 27 year-old namesake and son of Angie Palacios-Webb. “Rene is autistic, and everything we do revolves around him,” Palacios-Webb said proudly. The ranch and its cooking team is named after him, and years ago, Rene’s family decided to give him one of the greatest gifts of Christmas: a lesson of bestowing mirth on those less fortunate.
The program’s roots are found in the JRG Ranch’s December 2008 cook-off, which in addition to delicious barbecue, included candy bags, wrapped gifts and a family friend who played Santa. “Some of our team members rounded up all of the children from other cooking teams and brought them to our team tent, and Santa handed each of them a gift,” Palacios-Webb said. “We did some caroling with the children, played games, and at the end of it all, we gave each of them a candy bag.” The cook-off teams loved it. The parents loved it. And without question, the kids loved it. But a truth revealed itself that year: Some of those children, in the midst of their gratitude, admitted that the gift they received at the ranch would be the only one they received that year. “Right there is what started the program for us,” Palacios-Webb said.
Robert Vasquez, Cleveland Brown, Angie Palacios-Webb, Robert Garza, Lucky Webb, Gilbert Garcia, Cody Haas, Belinda Palacios, Joe Samaniego as Santa and Melinda Vasquez at the JRG Ranch’s annual cook-off.
In 2008, the ranch’s Adopt a Family Program began, and every year since, the ranch adopts three to four families, all of whom are interviewed so the ranch family can determine what the family needs and what all of the children like. “We do to the best of our abilities screen each of the families, but sometimes we can’t help ourselves, and we adopt them all,” Palacios-Webb said. “God is good, and He always seems to provide for us in some form or fashion.”
As part of the adoption, families receive a turkey, ham and nonperishable foods to ensure a wholesome Christmas dinner, and the parents and children receive gift cards. But the highlight of the adoption is the cook-off gathering held on the East Bernard ranch. Each child receives two to four gifts while at the celebration, plus they have the opportunity to play games and win prizes. Then, there is an old-fashioned meal. “We serve them a big barbecue with all the trimmings, not to mention lots of desserts, and we all sit and eat together,” Palacios-Webb said. “We make a campfire, make s’mores with the children and give the parents a little time to just relax and enjoy the country.”
Volunteering in the community, Palacios-Webb noted, “is not about being needed, but about where we are needed.” Every year, the ranch hosts a birthday trail ride in honor of Rene, and the proceeds go toward the Adopt a Family Program. “Classic Chevy Sugar Land has supported the organization for the last four years and enjoys attending the fundraisers and activities. Angie is a wonderful customer, and we will continue to support The JRG Ranch,” said Classic Chevy Sugar Land’s Ray Aguilar.
In the spirit of volunteering, Palacios-Webb said volunteers are always welcome to join the JRG Ranch’s Adopt a Family Program effort and can reach out to her on the ranch’s Facebook page “JRG Ranch.” “Volunteering is very important to us,” she added. “It’s our way of giving back to the community, family member or friend. Volunteers help improve the quality of our lives and are very special and humble individuals. If there weren’t volunteers, people wouldn’t receive help in their time of need.”
Classic Chevy Sugar Land
13115 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478
(281) 491-9000
www.classicchevysugarland.com