Hill Country Community Ministries
Help for people in crisis, hope for the future.

E-News October 2013

"Celebrating 30 Years of Helping Families in Need"

Let the Celebration Begin!

HCCM Celebrates 30th Anniversary

On October 17, 1983, Hill Country Community Ministries was chartered as a nonprofit corporation for the purpose of helping needy families in our community. Rather than one big event to celebrate this milestone, we will celebrate with various events and activities throughout our 30th year. We want to take time to celebrate our shared accomplishments and express our thanks to our many partners, donors and volunteers.

Leander Mayor Chris Fielder and City Council members present a proclamation to HCCM Executive Director Sherry McDonnell, with HCCM board members in attendance.

State Representative Tony Dale presented a Texas Resolution and Texas state flag to honor HCCM for its 30 years of service. Gathered on the front steps of the State Capitol are, front row, from left: Robert McElwaine, Marcus Wamble, Tony Dale and Sherry McDonnell. Back row: Joe Galvan, Ron Langan, Tom Gress.

On Thursday, October 17, 2013, Leander City Council honored HCCM for its 30 years of service to the community and declared "a year of celebration and community awareness for Hill Country Community Ministries." After the proclamation was read by City Council Member Michell Cantwell, Executive Director Sherry McDonnell addressed the council: "As we begin our year of celebration to mark three decades of service to the community, I am thinking of the thousands of families who have come through our doors and received assistance in their time of crisis. This organization was started by a handful of volunteers who saw their neighbors in need and decided to do something about it. We owe a debt of gratitude to them and all those who have followed. We especially appreciate the City's partnership with us throughout these many years and we are grateful for your ongoing support."

HCCM board members attending the event with McDonnell included President Marcus Wamble, Vice President Robert McElwaine, Treasurer Joe Galvan, Ron Langan and Tom Gress.

Thanks to You!

In September

HCCM Served

454 families

a total of

1,436 individuals

451 families

received food

186 individuals

received clothing

_______

Volunteer Hours

786

"Why I Volunteer!"

Michell Cantwell

"I believe in efforts to help people in need. Knowing that HCCM helps people right here in my own community and makes a difference in their lives is what keeps me motivated to serve."

Michell has been volunteering at HCCM for more than a year and helps pick up and deliver baked goods donated to HCCM by area grocery stores. We appreciate Michell's energy and dedication!

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2013

Board of Directors

Marcus Wamble

President

Jerrell Roque

Vice-President

Joe Galvan

Treasurer

Tom Gress

Ron Langan

Robert McElwaine

Executive Director

Sherry McDonnell

Community

Partners

A Message from the President

"I have been a volunteer at HCCM since April 2009 because I believe that God blesses us and calls us to be a blessing to others. During the years I have been a volunteer, I have seen great need in our community. I have witnessed the passion and commitment demonstrated by our member and associated churches, the board of directors, the executive director and staff, hundreds of volunteers, and our many donors and community partners. Working together in harmony is the source of the energy and the resources needed to continue on our mission and expand our vision to serve a growing community. I am reminded of I Corinthians 3:6 . . . "we plant the seed and God makes it grow." As we continue on this journey together, I look forward to a future of continued growth and service to families in need. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has made a positive contribution to Hill Country Community Ministries during our 30-year history." Marcus Wamble, President, HCCM Board of Directors

More Turkeys Needed!

Turkey Resized Holiday Turkeys for Needy Families

We anticipate that we will distribute approximately 600 turkeys to needy families

this year during the Thanksgiving and

Christmas holiday season. You, your church, business or civic organization can help by donating funds to purchase turkeys for families in need. The cost of each turkey is approximately $15. Funds raised over and above the cost of the turkeys will be used to provide all the "fixin's" for the turkey dinner and purchase additional food during the holiday season. Please see the flier for more information and be sure to share it with your friends and neighbors. We need lots of turkeys -- please help!

Follow the Star

December 5, 6 & 7

Benefiting Hill Country Community Ministries

Preparation for Follow the Star is under way at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The outdoor drive-through and walk-through event features 10 pivotal scenes of the life of Jesus Christ. Professional sound, lighting, and approximately 250 cast and crew members make this a spectacular event.

Admission is free. Visitors are asked to bring nonperishable food items, which will be donated to HCCM. We are grateful to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for this generous Christmas gift to our community and for selecting HCCM as the beneficiary of the donations collected during Follow the Star.

For more information or for volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, check out the website and view last year's video at www.followthestartexas.com. Mark your calendar now and plan to bring your family, friends and neighbors. You won't want to miss it!

H-E-B Million Dollar Charity Shoot Out!

December 9 - Twin Creeks Country Club

Golf Tournament Benefits HCCM

The Third Annual H-E-B Million Dollar Charity Shoot Out benefiting Hill Country Community Ministries is scheduled for Monday, December 9 at Twin Creeks Country Club.

Brad Schaible (left), golf tournament director and owner of Schaible Realty: and Gary Anderson, manager, H-E-B Plus! Leander, met at Twin Creeks Country Club in preparation for the Third Annual H-E-B Million Dollar Charity Shoot Out.

Last year's tournament was a huge success and raised $24,000 for Hill Country Community Ministries. The tournament is the brainchild of real estate broker Brad Schaible, owner of Schaible Realty, who coordinates the event along with help from his family, staff members, a planning committee and many business and community sponsors.

Million Dollar Hole-in-One Contest

The highlight of the tournament is the million dollar hole-in-one shoot out contest. The names of 10 lucky players are drawn for a chance to sink a hole-in-one and win a cool $1,000,000!

Re-Play Card for Multiple Courses

All players receive a "re-play" card good for one round of golf (greens fees) at each of six Dominion Golf Group courses: Twin Creeks, River Place, Onion Creek, Lantana, Bridlewood and The Dominion.

H-E-B Returns as Title Sponsor

We are grateful to H-E-B for returning as title sponsor for the tournament and we especially want to thank Gary Anderson, store manager for H-E-B Plus! Leander, for his great support. Thanks,

H-E-B, for your commitment to our community.

For more information, please visit the tournament website at www.BSRealtyCharity.com or contact tournament director Brad Schaible at 512-259-5580. Please share the flier to sign up teams and help promote the event.

Check out the photos from last year's tournament!

Give the Gift of Hope

This Christmas season, give the gift of hope to area families in crisis. Honor your friends, family and business associates with a donation to HCCM and a card to commemorate your gift. For a donation of $10 you will receive a card acknowledging your donation to HCCM to honor your card recipient. Order your cards today!

Original artwork donated by Kathleen McElwaine. Printing donated by Jack Grafius at Minuteman Press Cedar Park. Thank you Kathleen and Jack!

Business Sponsors
"Meet the Challenge!" So far 17 business sponsors have stepped up to help us meet the challenge to help keep our Food Pantry full. Sponsors receive a plaque to display in their place of business and funds help us purchase much needed food for the Food Pantry. Use this link for more information and to become a business partner.

Volunteers are Needed!

Did you know that it takes a regular core group of approximately 95 volunteers for HCCM to operate? These volunteers, along with additional volunteers for special projects, donate more than 8,000 hours of volunteer service each year. It goes without saying that we couldn't meet our mission to serve needy families without these faithful and dedicated individuals.

Volunteer jobs include the Food Pantry, Clothes Closet, casework, food pick up and delivery, administrative assistance and building and grounds maintenance. Check out volunteer opportunities and how to become part of our 30-year tradition. We need your help to make a difference in the lives of families in need.

Special Projects at HCCM

Volunteer Groups Lend a Hand

In addition to day-to-day activities at HCCM, we have group projects from time to time to help us keep things running smoothly. To keep our property under control, Good News United Methodist Church brought a team of "weed tamers" recently to mow and trim our property. This formidable team included Pastor Steve Moss, Britt and Traci Farr, David and Bobbi Noethlich, Wade Funk, Lewis Elmer, Robert Crossman, Brett Riley and Chuck Tysor. They brought all the equipment needed and had our property looking good in a matter of a few hours.

Each year, the good folks at First Baptist Church Georgetown send a food donation along with a group of volunteers to HCCM for a day of service on their "First Serves" day. We are so grateful to Rod and Cindy Keefe and John and Janie Cearley for helping to sort a mountain of food for our Food Pantry.

And what would we do without the world's greatest painting team! For the past few years, faithful volunteer Pete Testone has led a group of his friends from the Trevino Bible study group at The Church at Canyon Creek on a painting mission at HCCM. Once or twice a year, these great folks don their paint clothes, grab their paint brushes and rollers and come out to paint a couple of offices and rooms at our facility. This latest effort has completed a fresh coat of paint for all our office space. Thanks so much to Pete Testone, Eddy and Dalee Trevino, Mike and Jean Hill, Bruce Walker and Steven Hieronymus.

A Spooktacular Event!

Northwest Family YMCA Holds Food Drive

As part of its "Spooktacular" Halloween event, the Northwest Family YMCA invited families to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the HCCM Food Pantry. The event included a haunted candy trail, face painting, music, bounce house, cupcake walk, arts and crafts and games and prizes. Families donated more than 700 pounds of food to our Food Pantry. Volunteers Patti Watkins, Bob and Sandra Nabours, and their granddaughter attended the event to gather the food donations and deliver them to HCCM. Thanks to everyone for helping us keep the Food Pantry filled!

Hill Country Community Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, a coalition of churches assisted by area businesses, civic organizations, schools and caring individuals that provides food, clothing and other assistance for people in crisis and those living in proverty in southwest Williamson and northwest Travis counties.