The Fayette Community Foundation’s Rural Community Health Fund (RCHF), in partnership with St. David’s Foundation, has awarded grants to 19 organizations across Central Texas to support transformative, community-driven health projects. Each grantee plays a crucial role in addressing key challenges rural communities face, ranging from addressing food insecurity and workforce development to navigating mental health and homelessness.
Here’s a closer look at the inspiring projects that will be making an impact in Bastrop, Caldwell, East Williamson, and Hays counties.
Bastrop County Grantees
Bastrop County African American Cultural Center (BCAACC)
Focus: Culture & Workforce Development
The BCAACC mentors an apprentice from an underserved population to operate a heritage museum, enrich local culture, and build leadership skills. This year-long project will equip the apprentice with training in communication, bookkeeping, and program development, creating a sustainable pathway for preserving African American heritage in Bastrop County.
Community of Hope Inc.
Focus: Food Insecurity, Employment, and Advocacy
Through its HOPE initiative, Community of Hope provides meals to seniors and economically disadvantaged families while offering job training and advocacy. This program aims to empower 200 residents with nutritious meals and equip underemployed individuals with occupational skills, creating pathways for both food security and sustainable employment.
Career Tracks
Focus: Workforce Development
Career Tracks’ Medication Aide Training Program addresses the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural Texas by training 30 individuals as Certified Medication Aides. This program not only improves healthcare access but also provides career opportunities for residents of Bastrop, Fayette, Caldwell, and Lee counties.
Elgin Cares
Focus: Senior Care
Elgin Cares is dedicated to uplifting senior residents in Bastrop County by providing meals, exercise programs, and healthcare information. This program fosters community engagement and reduces isolation, supporting the health and well-being of 65 seniors in historically underserved communities.
Rural Health Coalition
Focus: Coalition Building
The Rural Health Coalition’s Equitable Neighborhood Development project combats displacement by educating residents on property tax and homeownership. This initiative will serve 200 residents, empowering them to preserve generational wealth and stabilize their communities.
East Williamson County Grantees
Impact Counseling Services, Inc.
Focus: Mental Health Education
Impact Counseling Services provides free on-campus counseling and crisis support to students pre-K through 12th grade and teachers in East Williamson County. This initiative aims to improve mental health awareness, reduce disciplinary actions, and foster a supportive environment for students and teachers.
American YouthWorks
Focus: Workforce Development
The YW-YouthBuild Taylor program provides job training, GED completion, and certifications for underserved young adults. This program aims to improve employment opportunities in critical fields, such as healthcare and skilled trades, while reducing poverty in East Williamson County.
Neighbors Serving Neighbors
Focus: Food Insecurity
The Summer Meals project by Neighbors Serving Neighbors addresses seasonal food insecurity, providing meals to children in Bartlett, Granger, and Taylor. This program aims to double its reach, supporting over 150 children during the summer months when school meals are unavailable.
Hays County Grantees
Breaking Bread Outreach Ministries
Focus: Support for Unhoused Populations
This nonprofit offers essential services to Hays County’s unhoused population, including food, clothing, and mental health support. By creating inclusive spaces for personal growth, Breaking Bread Outreach Ministries fosters community resilience and uplifts underserved residents.
Hays County Food Bank
Focus: Food Insecurity, Training, and Advocacy
The TUF (Temporarily Unhoused Food) Truck program provides ready-to-eat meals to the unhoused in San Marcos, Buda, and Kyle. The initiative builds trust within the community and encourages participation in benefit programs, improving the food security and quality of life for vulnerable residents.
Outsiders Anonymous
Focus: Recovery
This peer program offers free recovery support for individuals affected by substance use, targeting Hays County’s underserved communities. Through counseling and community engagement, Outsiders Anonymous seeks to reduce relapse rates and promote holistic wellness.
Occupy Campus Ministry
Focus: Food Insecurity for Students
Occupy Campus Ministry provides essential resources to Texas State University students, including food, financial literacy, and mental health counseling. With the closure of multicultural resource centers, this project fills a crucial gap, supporting student resilience and academic success.
Power 2 Prosper Community Development Corporation
Focus: Workforce & Health Education
Through the ACCEYSS Health and Wellness Initiative, this program partners with local organizations to provide workforce and health education, particularly for underserved ethnic minorities in Hays County. The initiative addresses health disparities while promoting community wellness and economic stability.
Homeless Outreach Mitigation and Emergency Center (HOME)
Focus: Unhoused Veteran Support
The Pathway to HOME project assists unhoused veterans by offering skills training, peer support, and application assistance. Serving veterans with disabilities and low incomes, this program provides critical resources for stability, health, and employment in Hays County.
Hays Cares
Focus: Direct Service
The Hays Cares Shoes of Hope project provides shoes, socks, and school supplies to over 1,000 children in Hays County. By reducing the financial strain on low-income families, Hays Cares promotes confidence, school attendance, and community engagement.
ALMS: Alternative Life Moving Strategies, Inc.
Focus: Youth Leadership
ALMS supports youth development through a basketball wellness camp, providing mentorship, health education, and leadership training. This project aims to engage 100 young people in Hays County, promote wellness and build future community leaders.
Caldwell County Grantee
Lions Legacy Academy
Focus: Youth & Sports Access
Stride Forward Transit provides transportation for youth athletes in rural Caldwell County, eliminating barriers that prevent participation in sports. By enhancing access to athletic programs, this project fosters community involvement, confidence, and healthy lifestyles.
Multi-County Area Grantees
The Joe Roland Community Center
Focus: Community Engagement
Serving both Caldwell and Bastrop counties, the St. John Service Project aims to enhance the Joe Roland Community Center by providing residents with aid through operational support, health resources, and community development. This project enhances local capacity and promotes a healthier quality of life in rural areas.
Allure Alliance Inc.
Focus: Workforce Development & Health Education
The Community Health Worker (CHW) Training Program provides essential skills and certifications for community members in rural BIPOC communities across Bastrop, Caldwell, and East Williamson counties. This project promotes health equity, professional growth, and community resilience. The free program aims to train 20 community members annually, enhancing health outcomes in underserved rural BIPOC communities in Texas.
Building Resilience and Health Equity in Central Texas
The Rural Community Health Fund’s 2024-2025 grantees are united by a commitment to fostering resilience and promoting health equity in Central Texas. These organizations are addressing critical needs in their communities and making measurable impacts in the lives of their residents.
Through strategic partnerships, capacity building, and direct services, the RCHF and its grantees empower rural Central Texas communities to create sustainable, community-led change.
For more information on new funding opportunities and success stories as we work together to build a healthier, more equitable future for all, sign up for the Fayette Community Foundation mailing list.
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