Season's Greetings
from The Caring Place!
While this has been a year full of trials, it also has been a year to rejoice in our community. You have shown up for us by giving, encouraging and sharing. We have a lot to be thankful for, and we are especially grateful for you!
We hope that you have a wonderful holiday season remembering all the good you have done collectively this year to help your neighbors.
Warm Regards,
Ginna O'Connor, Executive Director
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Donating Items Before and
After the Holidays!
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Our community LOVES to donate items around the holidays. Families are making space for new things or realizing the new year is a great time to make life a little simpler. Our stores love being part of that process. Keep in mind, this year, due to the many changes we've made to prioritize our mission during the pandemic, that our hours to take donations in the 2000 Railroad Avenue drive through are limited. You may bring items to our drive through from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the following upcoming dates:
December 14th and 28th
January 11th and 25th
Have quality furniture you need picked up? We do that on Wednesdays and Fridays. Please call 512-943-0711 to schedule that service.
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Shopping for Good Beyond the Holidays! |
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This is a FANTASTIC time to shop in our stores. We have holiday decor, gift items and Gift Cards! However, we hope you remember us all year long! You can find shopping details for both of our thrift stores at caringplacetx.org/shop.
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Wait, are you doing last minute gift purchases on Amazon? You can start "shopping for good" there, too! Use AmazonSmile and designate The Caring Place as your favorite charity! Learn more at caringplacetx.org/amazonsmile or watch our video! You can use AmazonSmile to help The Caring Place all year long!
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What you Need to Know About Our Services to Those in Need... |
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Our format and hours have been modified due to COVID-19 and will stay updated at caringplacetx.org/covid19. We will scale up as resources and safety allow. Here are the details the community needs to know before arriving at The Caring Place for services or food:
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Programs & Services via Telephone:
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Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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Services: Financial Assistance includes help with rent, mortgage, utilities, transportation, emergency dental and prescriptions. Assistance is available with a verifiable proof of crisis. All financial assistance will be handled remotely. Non-financial assistance (i.e. clothing, appliances, housewares, etc.) is not available at this time. Please call 512-943-0709 and leave a message regarding your need and someone will contact you within 48 business hours with the next steps. Please do not arrive at The Caring Place office unless instructed by staff. Programs & Services staff will direct you via phone if you need to print documents to return to our office at 2001 Railroad Avenue.
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Food Programs:
Fresh Food for Families and the Drive Through Food Pantry are open to all neighbors in need or impacted by COVID-19. The Caring Place practices social distancing, and you will not need to exit your vehicle during food distribution. You do not need to bring any documentation to receive food. You will only answer a few simple questions from your car. Have questions about Food Programs? Please call our main line at 512-943-0700.
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Drive Through Food Pantry
On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. join us in the 2000 Railroad drive through to receive shelf stable food items and occasional fresh items.
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Fresh Food for Families
On the 1st, 3rd and 5th Monday of the month The Caring Place offers "Fresh Food for Families" in the 2000 Railroad Drive through. The fast-paced event runs 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. The next events are December 7th and 21st.
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Food Programs in the Bartlett Area:
- December 9th (2nd Wednesday of the month) 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 645 West Clark St. in Bartlett.
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Breaking News & Meaningful Stories |
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Our Annual Appeal by Board President,
Holly Steger Stevens
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Dear Friends,
This is my second year as president of the Board of Directors of The Caring Place. The only thing worse than having a pandemic during your second year as president is having a pandemic during your first year as president. Nobody wants to be at the helm of a previously-perfectly-healthy, 35-year-old ship that is headed into a squall of epic proportions. Fortunately, my previous year’s experience imbued me with an adequate amount of confidence that we could weather the storm by battening down the hatches, relying on the generosity of the people of our community, and counting on an important ship -- stewardship -- to keep us afloat.
And you have.
As the sea of COVID-19 destruction roiled across the world:
- We shuttered our stores -- the source of 65 percent of our revenue.
- “Stay home and stay safe,” we told our nearly 500 volunteers -- the people on whom we rely so heavily as our workforce.
- We stopped accepting donated goods -- the indispensable lifeblood of The Shops at The Caring Place and Second Helping.
- We shifted our distribution of financial assistance from walk-in to call-in appointments -- a change that is missing an in-person, human touch.
- We canceled our annual fundraiser, Deep in the Heart of Caring, and our holiday event, Sweets, Treats and Trees -- two fun events that garner both financial benefits and community recognition.
- We created new ways to make food available to hungry families via our drive-through lanes.
- We adjusted our sails when it came to the logistics of meeting needs while staying distant.
And we held our breath.
As an organization who depends on the largesse of the community, whether it is through donations of goods and food, shopping at the store, financial contributions, or grants, we worried that COVID-19 would prove to be insurmountable.
And it has not.
Like a tsunami, financial donations surged through our doors. The people of Georgetown, government organizations, local foundations, faith based organizations, small businesses, large businesses, and other non-profits lifted us up. I am reminded of Sally Fields acceptance speech at the Oscars in 1985 when she said, “You like me!” You like us. You really like us.
And it shows.
Of course, the storm has not passed. We need you to continue to help us help others with your financial contributions until we are full steam ahead with: our stores completely open; our donations department at the ready every day to receive your gently-used items; our volunteers back at their posts; and, our food pantry bustling again with clients.
And we know you will.
The Caring Place got its start during the stormy financial downturn of the mid-1980s. The economy was in shambles, people were losing their jobs, parents could not afford clothes for their kids or food for their families. Out of this, two women, Yoli Branson and Marty Maxwell, gave life to The Caring Place – a place where people with emergency needs could get help keeping their heads above water.
And they did.
During its beginning, my father, Charlie Steger, was The Caring Place’s first president of the Board of Directors. As a fledgling philanthropy on its maiden voyage, navigating the waters of a newly formed organization during a financial maelstrom was certainly a challenge. But he knew the people of Georgetown were a giving lot and prone to acts of kindness.
And they were.
Three and a half decades later, we are again facing troubled waters and do not know if we are in the eye of the storm or nearing the catastrophic aftermath of the surge, but mitigating the damage and meeting needs is of paramount importance. We may suffer the impact of coronavirus for months to come; we need your help. Please donate online at www.caringplacetx.org or send your donation to The Caring Place, P.O. Box 1215, Georgetown, TX 78627.
You are our port in the storm.
With warm regards,
Holly Steger Stevens
President, Board of Directors
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Special Thank You & Announcement!
Our Spirit of Caring campaign came to an end on Giving Tuesday, December 1st. We are thrilled to announce the Spirit of Caring campaign exceeded its goal of $150,000! Along with the wonderful Giving Tuesday donations, we are reminded how much our community supports The Caring Place. You believe in the work of this organization and care about your neighbors, and it shows! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us lighten the burden of our neighbors in need.
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Need a Quick Guide to our Hours & Services? |
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Click on the image below to download a pdf flyer you can print & share! Thank you for being an ambassador for The Caring Place! Note: This flyer reflects NEW store hours which have already begun! All locations are CLOSED December 24th, 25th and January 1st. Please stay tuned through Social Media and the Media section of our website for any further modifications to our schedule during the holiday season.
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Thank you for your support! |
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