February begins another giving season at The Caring Place. You may be thinking we just left a giving season, but financial crisis for families doesn’t end when the holidays do. I hope you'll take a moment to read this issue of "Another Month of Caring" and allow us to share why the latest campaign is important. The Amplify campaign, hosted by the nonprofit I Live Here I Give Here, began as a giving campaign to rally around Central Texas nonprofits 10 years ago. The Caring Place has benefited from Amplify's name recognition throughout Central Texas. This campaign recognition has been especially helpful to The Caring Place's fundraising efforts. Our organization has created powerful matching campaigns, making Amplify our most effective fundraiser of the year. With your help, we anticipate another successful year. It truly is the best time to donate if you are a supporter of The Caring Place and want to help our neighbors in need.

Amplify is known as a 24-hour online giving campaign, however no one wants you to forget the date, so you can can start giving NOW! Just know that the deadline to give online on the Amplify portal is Thursday, March 3rd at 6:00 PM. Are you ready for us to tell you the reasons to give in this campaign?

All donations are being matched! How?

• Our Board of Directors made an amazing $40,000 contribution to create a wonderful matching fund.
• Businesses and individuals in our community also give to create a match before the campaign begins! Steger & Bizzell, First Texas Bank, Eagle Bank, Prosperity Bank, Texas Crushed Stone, Georgetown Railroad Company and The Gabriels Funeral Home all contributed funds to a special matching fund for The Caring Place! This created an additional $18,000 in matching funds!
• The I Live Here I Give Here campaign has raised matching funds for Basic Needs organizations, too!
• With some of these matching funds, the more we raise, the more we receive.
• Each donation our community makes to The Caring Place on the Amplify platform, dollar for dollar, will be matched until these funds are depleted.

Platform and Credit Card Fees are Reduced!

• Due to the fundraising work of I Live Here I Give Here, money is being raised to reduce or remove all platform and credit card fees. THIS IS BIG! Historically, The Caring Place has paid close to no processing fees due to the amazing work done for this Central Texas campaign. We think it's important that fundraising campaigns don't impact a donor's gift with fees, and Amplify Day is no exception. You should feel like your gift is directly helping those in need and through the Amplify campaign, it will!

Neighbors may visit the Food Pantry at 2000 Railroad Avenue, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Neighbors will need to ensure their Caring Cards have been updated during their first visit of the year. Those updates can be made across the street at 2001 Railroad Avenue. So far new processes are running smoothly, and our expanded Food Pantry space is making grocery gathering easier than ever! Need Food? Learn More...

Like many businesses and organizations during this pandemic, The Caring Place also has dealt with temporary staff/volunteer shortages. While we are doing our best to manage these issues, we want to share some helpful information that will aid neighbors in avoiding additional processing delays when requesting financial assistance.

• All assistance begins with a phone call to 512-943-0700.
• Leave a working phone number with an available working voice mail.
• Full Intake Packets are available for pick up at the PS building. (you must still call to request assistance prior)
• Please allow 48-72 business hours for initial return call.
• When submitting documentation, submit ALL that was requested at one time to avoid any delays in processing.
• To help streamline the process, please notify your landlord that TCP will be calling for rental verification.
• Return calls for status updates are not guaranteed.
• You may visit the PS lobby to enroll in the Food Pantry Program while your financial request is being reviewed.
• If all required documentation is not received within 14 days, the request will be canceled and it will be assumed that assistance is no longer necessary. If assistance is still needed, please begin the process again. 

Thank you for your patience and assistance as we work with you!

The Caring Place service area includes our neighbors in Georgetown, Andice, Bartlett, Florence, Granger, Jarrell, Jonah, Schwertner, Walburg, Weir and the portion of Hutto that lies within GISD. Neighbors in these communities are welcome to partake in Food Programs or request financial assistance when a crisis arises.

Our Donation drive through continues to be open Monday - Friday, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Visit our website to learn more about what we take. Learn More...

Pro Tip: Place your items in a box, bag or bin that you can part with so that we may quickly take your items and move to the next car.

The Shops at The Caring Place is open to the public on 2000 Railroad Avenue, Monday - Saturday from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Second Helping is open to the public on 3700 Williams Drive, Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

We love when you shop with us! Our expansion of Donation hours is bound to increase the treasures to be found, so check it out soon!

Each week we have many dedicated volunteers coming in to do a variety of tasks to support our mission. These Food Pantry volunteers are creating grocery carts of assorted food for our neighbors to pick up once a month.

A member of our team would love to help you navigate questions or concerns at The Caring Place.

• Monetary Donation Assistance
• Amplify Campaign
• Item Donations
• Programs & Services
• Community Engagement and Speaker Requests
• Volunteer Relations
• Media Requests

You can email us at info@caringplacetx.org and your question will be forwarded to the correct department.