Joy Savage helping Habitat and others

COVID-19 has slowed a lot of things down in Wimberley when it comes to nonprofits, a town that is generous in helping others. The Wimberley Chamber of Commerce lists 68, with a lot of others located in the area.

But during this shutdown, when events and organizations are severely limited in what can take place or not take place, volunteers still find a way to use their talents in helping others in the community. Joy Savage is one of those volunteers.

Born in Hutchinson, Kansas, her family moved to the Western Slope of Colorado until she was 13 years old, then Hot Springs, Arkansas. She attended a small college in Oklahoma City, Bethany Nazarene, majoring in Sociology.

She made her way to Houston, Texas in 1976, and a career as a mortgage broker.

“I absolutely loved my mortgage career. There were opportunities and friends. It was a great opportunity to have that career… There was lots of travel, I’m really grateful.”

Hurricane Ike pushed her and husband Bob out of Houston-Galveston and in 2008 they found themselves in Wimberley.

“We escaped (hurricanes) several times, then Ike hit us good,” Joy said. “We were well aware of the area. Bob’s grandparents lived here. He used to come here as a kid.” After being here a few years, she wanted to be more involved in the community.

Joy volunteers her time and expertise to Wimberley’s Village Store, Habitat for Humanity and the Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce. Her start in volunteering began with a chamber mixer.

“I went to a Chamber mixer in the spring of 2016. I wanted to get more involved,” she continued. “Habitat (appealed to me). Being in the mortgage business, I started as a committee member, then in six months on the board, on the primary selection committee.”

The committee selects the new owners of the Habitat for Humanity home from a list of the needs of submitted potential families. Of course background checks are part of the process. “The criteria includes … lending money to them and they’re ability to repay, they’re ability to put in sweat equity in some way, such as cleaning up around the job site.”

After hours of sweat equity on their own home, it is common to find those who have benefited from the program helping at the annual ‘Big Build’ event to raise the frame of the next house. HFH has built 21 houses in the Wimberley Valley and the ground is cleared for House #22. With a background in the mortgage business, Joy’s expertise is essential.

At the Wimberley Chamber volunteer, she was on duty answering the phone for a few hours each week. “It’s fun, and I know what’s going on in the city.” She also works at the Village Store, where her hours of volunteering are given back to Habitat in funds.

Her daughter and stepson’s families live close by. “I live close to my family, that’s cool. Before I was hours away, now I’m close to my family and grandkids.” Keeping Wimberley Wimberley is what makes the valley so unique. One can catch Joy at the Dobie House Boutique of the Village Store, Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Of course, she’ll be masked.

Do you know someone who deserves recognition for their volunteer efforts in the community? Send suggestions to [email protected].