Chavez's 210 La Chismosa Group Aids Flood Victims

Residents on San Antonio’s Southwest Side who recently lost homes to flooding have received assistance through a Facebook group with 224,000 members. The platform, known as 210 La Chismosa, shifted from a local gossip hub to a network for sharing information and coordinating aid. Cecilia Chavez, the group’s leader, says the shift came from a need to support neighbors in crisis.

The group’s origins trace back to the 2020 pandemic. During a lockdown, Chavez posted a Zoom recording of herself, her mother, and her aunt exchanging local news. The clip gained immediate traction. "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," Chavez said. The page grew rapidly, evolving from a family chat into a community resource.

Chavez’s path to leading the group was shaped by personal challenges. She grew up on the South and West sides of San Antonio and lost hearing in one ear as a child due to measles. Her determination was tested in 2019 when her son faced a dispute over high school football eligibility. After an appeal failed, the family moved to a Native American reservation in Nevada, where her husband had tribal ties. Her sons eventually played football, and one earned a college scholarship.

A tragic loss in 2024 deepened Chavez’s commitment to the group. Her son, Jose, died in a motorcycle crash. Chavez stated that helping others through the page provided a renewed sense of purpose. "It filled a void. It did. It definitely did," she said. "I want to help. I want to be there for people."

Managing the page requires constant attention. Chavez described the daily routine to Ernie Zuniga, host of the digital talk show Pickup Lines, which is recorded from his vehicle. "You wake up to it, you go to sleep to it," she said. The group currently assists flood victims and Chavez plans to open a community resource center. She maintains her independence by declining certain sponsorship deals.

The next scheduled step for the group is the establishment of that physical resource center. Chavez aims to expand her support network beyond digital coordination. The group continues to process requests for aid from residents in the flood-affected areas.

Chavez’s story highlights the shift from informal online chatter to organized community support. The 210 La Chismosa group remains a primary source for local updates and assistance in San Antonio.