Round Rock Edition | October 2023

BY GRANT CRAWFORD

Next steps

A closer look

The nonprofit is still fundraising for its new building. As of mid-September, the campaign was $1 million short. Once the full $7 million is raised, it will still take 12-18 months to complete the building. Furthermore, Capital Campaign Chair Nyle Maxwell said the last remaining dollars are the hardest to collect. Although funds are needed for the center to operate, it also takes 25-40 volunteers per day just to open the doors. Regular volunteer Diane Ramirez said donating her time is a fulfilling experience. “I’ve been through it before when I was a little girl. My mom was willing to go anywhere they could help us,” she said. “So my job here is rewarding to me.” Volunteer opportunities include:

Working with area food banks, grocery stores and local gardeners to stock its food pantry with fresh fruits, vegetables and protein, the center processed 1.5 million pounds of food through its pantry last year. Once the new facility is complete, Scott said the Serving Center’s existing space will be renovated to add veterans services offices and double the size of its food pantry—reaching a new demographic, processing more food and offering a greater variety. People who meet the center’s income guidelines can receive vouchers to shop at the clothing and furniture stores; the Computers for Kids Program provides students with refurbished computers; and the Keep Round Rock Warm Initiative collects and distributes winter coats. All of these programs can benefit from the center’s expansion, Scott said.

The new building will give the Serving Center extra space, allowing it to generate more revenue and add new services, such as helping those who are struggling to make ends meet. After seeing a spike in requests for financial assistance during the pandemic, the center is still distributing money above what it had in 2019. More than $1 million in financial assistance was given to Serving Center clients in 2022. Scott said the increased revenue will help expand those efforts, whether it be to help people pay for utility bills, rent, prescriptions or temporary lodging. “We want to see people stay in their house or apartment, keep their utilities turned on,” she said. “If those utilities get turned off, then there are all kinds of fees to get everything turned back on. So we’re trying to help people avoid those disconnections.”

Food processed through the Serving Center’s food pantry

Serving Center financial assistance

Stocking the food pantry

$500K $1M $1.5M $2.5M $2M $3M $3.5M

Answering phones

$3.23M

1.8M lbs.

1.8M

Driving trucks

Organizing donations

1.6M

Working in the gardens

1.4M

Refurbishing computers

Washing clothing

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

SOURCE: ROUND ROCK AREA SERVING CENTER/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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