Non-Profits Make Requests for County Assistance
Fayette County Commissioners Court met last Thursday, July 11, to start crunching the number for next year’s budget.
Last Thursday they met with representatives from 10 non-profit agencies that receive funding from the County. Historical Commission
The Fayette County Historical Commission requested $5,000, the same amount they requested last year. Historical Commission Chairwoman Bobby Nash said her organization plans to use some of their funds next year to set up booths at community events such as the Fayette County Fair. By doing so, Nash said she hopes to attract new members.
“We’ve got to encourage some younger members,” Nash said. “Shirley (Schaeffer) and I are some of the youngest members, and we’re well over retirement age. We need some younger people who are interested in the history of the County. I don’t know of any other way to do it than to go out and grab them.”
Combined Community Action Kelly Franke, Executive Director of Combined Community Action (CCA), requested $12,000. That’s an increase from $10,000 last year. Of that amount, Franke said $9,000 would be used for their Meals on Wheels program.
“The cost of food supplies have gone up over the last few years,” she said.
Meals on Wheels served 26,331 meals to 223 older adults in Fayette County in 2023.
Franke said the remainder, $3,000, would be used for their community assistance programs such as rent and utility assistance.
CARTS
Capital Area Rural Transportation (CARTS) requested $10,000 this year. That is the same amount they requested last year. CARTS provides very inexpensive or in some cases free transportation for residents in Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Travis and Williamson County. Dana Platt, Community Engagement Director for CARTS, said her organization is launching an on-demand ride service in La Grange. Residents can go to ridecarts.com/now to learn more about the service.
Family Crisis Center
Cathy Henzen, Executive Director of the Family Crisis Center in Bastrop, requested $8,500, the same amount as last year. The Family Crisis Center serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Bastrop, Colorado, Fayette, and Lee Counties. Henzen said her organization assisted 33 Fayette County victims last year. The Family Crisis Center operates a domestic abuse hotline and they provide shelter for women and children escaping family violence.
Children’s Advocacy Center
Megan Webb, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center serving Bastrop, Lee and Fayette Counties, requested $20,000. Last year they requested $18,000. The Children’s Advocacy Center helps law enforcement and prosecutors collect evidence of child abuse. They conduct forensic interviews with young victims, and they conduct acute sexual assault examinations. They also provide counseling, community outreach and educational programs.
County Judge Dan Mueller asked Webb how Fayette County’s contribution compares to other counties her organization serves.
“Fayette County is one of our top contributors,” Webb said. “You guys do a good job of taking care of us.”
Webb said Fayette County provides more funding than Bastrop County, even though Fayette County has about a quarter of the population.
Animal Shelter
Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter requested $62,900, the same amount as last year. Executive Director Theresa Stanley-Brown said the Shelter is trying to gain additional funding from the municipalities in Fayette County. So far this year, the Shelter has cared for 857 animals with a live release rate of 96 percent. In addition, she said the Shelter is applying for grants to pay for vaccines and heartworm medication for community members and possibly a lowcost spay and neuter clinic.
“I hope the cities get on board and do their part,” said Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann. “They really need to.”
“Me too, I need you guys to support us on that,” said Stanley-Brown.
Youth and Family Services
Kameka Edwards, Interim Executive Director of Youth and Family Services, requested $20,000 for her organization. That’s a $10,000 increase from last year. Youth and Family Services provides a variety of support services for families with young children, such as parenting training, support groups for grandparents who raise grandchildren, fire safety and prevention awareness, water safety classes, vaping education, and child abuse and prevention events. They also provide the state-mandated Family and Youth Success program in Fayette, Austin and Colorado Counties.
“We’re asking for additional funding because we see there’s a need for community awareness events in Fayette County,” Edwards said. “We want to hire a part-time staff person for these events.”
Turtle Wing Foundation Destiny Siptak, Executive Director of Turtle Wing Foundation, requested $5,000, the same as last year. Siptak said that funding provided more than 100 therapy for the children Turtle Wing served last year. Turtle Wing partners with therapists and other resource providers that treat local children with learning challenges.
“We partner with them to serve the kids who would not otherwise be able to afford those services,” Siptak said.
The organization began in Schulenburg. Due to its work, Turtle Wing has attracted providers such as speech therapists, counselors, physical therapists and others to Fayette County, especially in Schulenburg. These services are often not available in other rural areas.
“In the last five years, we’ve funded over a million dollars in those direct services,” Siptak said. “That’s not my salary. That’s not printer ink. That’s going back into the community to help our kiddos receive those services.”
Senior Connections
Executive Director Amanda Kridel of Senior Connections requested $24,000 in funding this year. Last year, the County funded the organization with $10,000. Senior Connections provides social activities and meals for senior citizens in the area. The organization began in Schulenburg. It has now expanded to Weimar and Flatonia “I realize our request this year is quite bigger than what y’all have funded in the past,” Kridel said. “The reason for that is what we’re doing is different and our needs have changed.”
Kridel said her organization needs a commercial kitchen to prepare meals for their expanding membership. She said they have found a commercial restaurant space available for rent in Schulenburg. The additional funds would be used to pay rent and utilities for this space.
Habitat for Humanity
Fayette County Habitat for Humanity requested $7,500 this year. Last year they requested $5,000. Habitat for Humanity partners with working families to build affordable housing. Families provide “sweat equity” by working with volunteers on their future home during construction. They then pay a 30-year no-interest mortgage. Executive Director Kenny Couch said the County’s contribution pays for overhead costs such as insurance.
“Nobody likes donating for overhead costs,” Couch said. “It’s not an attractive thing. So with you helping us to underwrite things like that, when we go and do our fundraisers, we’re able to tell those people that when they give a dollar, it’s going to the hardware store.”
CASA
Kristi Bauer, Executive Director for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Bastrop, Fayette and Lee Counties, requested $12,000. That is the same amount CASA requested last year. CASA trains and provides advocates who represent children in court cases involving child abuse or neglect. Bauer said the number of children they represent has gone down recently.
“About two years ago, the State Legislature changed the rules about how they remove children,” Bauer said. “They have increased the threshold of how they define what imminent danger is. So what we’re seeing is children who are staying in abusive situations longer.”
Judge Mueller asked how Fayette County’s contribution compares to Bastrop County.
“You give us more,” Bauer said. “It’s $1,000 more. They typically give us $11,000. I’ve asked for $12,000 this year. I’m sure we’ll get that. The numbers of kids are a lot greater in that community. Their county is bigger. I’m not making excuses for them, but they have a lot more nonprofits than the ones that are here. I guess they try to make sure they can serve all of those non-profits as well.”
Commissioners did not take any action on the requests at their meeting last Thursday.
The bulk of the funds the County grants to non-profits each year come from unclaimed capital credits issued by utility cooperatives across the state.
“We apply for it and then they decide a percentage of who all gets it across the state,” said County Auditor Cindy Havelka. “It’s money that has to go to groups like the Children’s Advocacy Center, CASA, and any of them that help children. Last year we got close to $93,000. The year before it was close to $100,000.”