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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Texas chapter.

We all love our beautiful city, so why not demonstrate it?  Snoball.com, an online platform based out of Austin that encourages viral social giving will be hosting Love Austin Week from February 13-17. Inspired by Valentine’s Day, the purpose is to encourage Austinites to show love for their city by supporting a different local charity everyday this week. Here is a list of what will be going on this week:
 
Benefitting Austin Pets Alive
When: Monday, Feb 13th 10 am-2 pm
Where: Adoption Location in 2nd Street District & Dog Biscuit Benefit at participating cafes and restaurants
 
Austin Pets Alive is in need of monetary donations to help save the lives of sheltered dogs and cats in Austin. Their wish is to raise money to renovate a Mobile Pet Adoption vehicle that will help rescue and relocate animals. APA is also in need of funds to support their new building where they plan to house all of the animals. The organization welcomes animal lovers to adopt or contribute by making monetary donations. Visitaustinpetsalive.org to learn more about the organizationand meet their furry friends!
 
Also: Downtown Austin businesses are encouraged to “Adopt a Dog” for the day of Monday, February 13th and walk their dog at 12 p.m. to raise awareness.  Dog biscuits will be sold around Austin at participating restaurants and cafes for $2 and all proceeds benefit APA.  You can also help by making a “Snoball” donating to Austin Pets Alive onsnoball.com. Some participating restaurants are Austin Java, Uncle Billy’s, and Ski Shores.
 
A Benefit for the Trail Foundation
When: Tuesday, Feb 14th 12:00 -1:00 p.m.
Where: City Hall Plaza
 
It’s Valentine’s Day so show some love to our beautiful running trail! Runners, joggers, and walkers are invited to participate in a one mile or three mile social run. The run will begin at 12:15pm and will be followed by delicious food and great music. There will also be local health and wellness non-profits on hand to promote healthy living in Austin.
 
The Trail Foundation’sgreatest need is to increase its membership. The Trail attracts 3,000 to 15,000 walkers and runners every day – that’s over 1.5 million annual visitors. The Trail Foundation works tirelessly to clean the trail and keep Lady Bird Lake beautiful. The cost to become a member is $45 (only $25 if you’re a student or starving artist) and will help support the foundation.
 
A Benefit for Overton Elementary School
When: Wednesday, Feb 15th 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where:At the Overton Elementary School
Overton Elementary’s landscaping was deeply affected by last year’s drought. The lack of water along with broken sprinkler system left the property without most of its vegetation. The goal is to makeover the school’s landscape so that students have a healthy and beautiful environment in which they can learn and grow. Donations are needed, but mostly the help of the community in order to transform the school’s landscape. So gather your friends and family to help beautify this school once more.


Benefiting AIDS Services of Austin 

When: Thursday, Feb 16th All day, with testing at noon.
 
AIDS Services of Austin’s greatest need is to raise awareness and to increase funds. To raise awareness, everyone in Austin is encouraged to wear a red pebble in their shoe as a reminder. Pebbles will be supplied to those who would like to participate. Offices that participate will receive three emails spread throughout the day that raise awareness for the great work at ASA. At noon, there will be a testing facility downtown.
 

Bernice Chuang is a fourth year double majoring in Broadcast Journalism and Communication Studies-Human Relations and doing the Business Foundations Program (aka business minor) at the University of Texas at Austin. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Bernice is a fan of good country music and yummy barbeque! At UT, Bernice is a resident assistant at an all-female residence hall and currently serves as a senator representing her residence hall, Kinsolving, on the Resident Assistant Association. She also leads a small group bible study for Asian American Campus Ministries and sings with her campus ministries’ a cappella group. When she’s not juggling her various roles and commitments, Bernice enjoys exploring downtown Austin, shopping with her fellow RA staff members, reading books on faith and spirituality, learning how to cook and tackling various dessert recipes, and spending quality time with friends.