Funding Announced for Local Agencies Providing Hurricane Harvey Aid

Ranging from shelter, to food and medicine, and mental health support and counseling, these services proved vital in the days following Harvey’s arrival in Texas.

Austin–When Hurricane Harvey landed on the Texas coast August 25, nonprofit agencies across the state swung into action to provide critical support for those who were affected by the unprecedented storm.

Ranging from shelter, to food and medicine, and mental health support and counseling, these services proved vital in the days following Harvey’s arrival in Texas.  Particularly in rural areas, limited resources were stretched thin to cover the sudden need for these services. Right here in Central Texas, numerous communities were severely impacted by the storm with flooding, downed trees and high winds.

Area agencies stepped in to provide emergency food boxes for people fleeing the storm; churches opened their doors to house those who were displaced by the hurricane; and grief counseling and other mental health services are being provided both in the immediate aftermath and as an on-going need to be met.   These agencies worked swiftly and selflessly to help those in need across our region and state.

Months later, many agencies are struggling to replace supplies, financial support and other expenses incurred during the crisis.

“Many nonprofits here in Central Texas have provided valuable support to meet the critical needs of families affected by Hurricane Harvey, and are continuing to provide needed services. While working to replenish their depleted supplies and funds, they are continuing to help those affected by the devastating storm. We are truly honored to support these community-led efforts on the ground,” said Earl Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer of St. David’s Foundation. Grants to 15 area agencies will total $500,000.

Many of the agencies receiving grants are focused primarily on serving rural areas in seven counties. Among them is Bastrop County Cares, which aims to collaboratively identify and strengthen the social, health, education, and economic opportunities in Bastrop County.

“We were delighted to step in and help out with the urgent needs of families in our area who were displaced by Hurricane Harvey,” said Debbie Bresette, Executive Director of Bastrop County Cares. She continued, “Now with 

St. David’s Foundation help, our local agencies can continue to address these unanticipated needs.”

The agencies from several counties receiving funds include the following:

Bastrop: Bastrop County Cares, Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry, Bastrop County Long Term Recovery, Smithville Community Clinic and Smithville Food Pantry

Janice Bruno, Executive Director, Smithville Community Clinic, said, “The generous funding from St. David’s Foundation will provide the much needed services of a case worker/patient advocate for the free and charitable Smithville Community Clinic. Our goals to heal the body, renew the mind and nourish the spirit will only be strengthened due the support from St. David’s Foundation. The clinic continues to provide hope and healing. Thank you, 

St. David’s, for your support in that mission.” 

Fayette: LaGrange’s AMEN Food Pantry, First United Methodist Church, Second Baptist Church, Second Chance Emporium and Tejas Health Care

Hays: Community Health Centers of South Central Texas.

Lee: Combined Community Action

Victoria: Community Health Centers of South Central Texas 

Henry F. Salas, Chief Executive Officer of Community Health Centers of South Central Texas, said, “Working together with Gulf Bend Center, the local mental health authority in Victoria, we realized there is still a great need to collaborate mental health and primary medical services for people in Victoria who are still affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Funding from St. David’s Foundation will help meet the need.”

Additionally, Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, Central Texas Food Bank and Easter Seals will receive funds to support operations across Bastrop, Caldwell, East Williamson, Hays and Fayette counties.

Andrea Richardson, Executive Director of Bluebonnet Trails, said, “Although not widely known, the impact of Hurricane Harvey on families in Fayette and Bastrop counties was significant. The acknowledgement of the needs and loss by St. David’s Foundation is extraordinary. The awarded grants enable local networks of social services and healthcare to immediately tackle and continue to address needs in our communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey through shelter, food, clothing, temporary housing, medical assistance and counseling related to the trauma of the storm. We stand in awe of the resiliency of our families and the collaboration in the communities of La Grange, Smithville and Bastrop.”

About St. David’s Foundation:

St. David’s Foundation is one of the largest health foundations in the United States, funding $70 million annually in a five-county area surrounding Austin, Texas. Through a unique partnership with St. David’s HealthCare, a Malcolm-Baldrige award-winning hospital system in Central Texas, the foundation reinvests proceeds from the hospital system back into the community, with a goal of building the healthiest community in the world. St. David’s Foundation also operates the largest mobile dental program providing charity care in the country, and runs the largest healthcare scholarship program in Texas. 

The foundation’s strategic priorities include:

• *    Providing Central Texans with the healthiest care in the world,
• *    Creating the healthiest places for Central Texans to live, and
• *    Helping Central Texans become the healthiest people they can be.

Learn more about St. David’s Foundation at www.stdavidsfoundation.org