Nonprofits meet needs no matter the temperature

Everybody’s story about the week will be a little different but mostly the same. Little or no electricity, no water or boiled water, lost plants that usually made it through the last few winters and cold, cold, cold.

During emergencies, the real Wimberley Valley comes out, the one that is caring, helpful and watchful of neighbors. The Barnabas Connection, at the forefront during disasters, kicked into gear. “Coordinating water efforts to get people water… it was an incredible effort. This is where everyone comes together,” Kate Sowell, Executive Director of Barnabas, said. After contacting the Wimberley Water Supply Corporation and others, “It doesn’t help when you don’t have electricity and can’t boil water… If you don’t have electricity, there are no (well) pumps.”

Sowell started to make calls locally to Brookshire Brothers, H-E-B. Water had to be shipped in, which was not possible due to the hazardous road conditions. Water needs were dire.

Sowell called Christy Degenhart of Ace Hardware. Although Ace was sold out of water an “SOS went out to the community, WISD, Dwain York,” Sowell said. “Christy said there was no water, but she would help us find some. She checked with the Wimberley Youth Sports Association to check the concession stands at the baseball fields… Pallets of water were collected…(and) Coach (Doug) Warren was incredible.”

“I got a text from Christy Degenhart that there was no water in town. There were families in desperate need,” WISD Athletic Director Doug Warren said. WISD’s numerous concession stands were searched. Coaches Robert Klick and Michael Whitten were instrumental in the water round up.

The Lions Club did the same at Market Days raiding the concession stands.

Blue Jug also helped with water, and others donated.

But after days of frozen roads, water wasn’t the only need. Food was also needed, and Amigos de Jesus’ food bank, which serves the “under-served in the community was depleted… Board member Esperanza Abaroa had a plan… to coordinate with local agencies to provide food from our Mercado to deliver to their homes… Our stock was depleted but we are quickly restocking the shelves to make our supplies available,” said Albert Sander, Amigos de Jesus Board President.

The churches were also contacted and Cypress Creek Church and the First Baptist Church help were invaluable.

“People were starting to call in, and we had to get deliveries out… Lions Club member Cade Wright, Christy Degenhart and Pastor Jose from Cypress Creek Church were making deliveries… (as well as) Will Conley and Susan Myers. It was an entire team effort,” Sowell said.

Scott Tidwell of the First Baptist Church was also in the middle of helping neighbors in the valley. With their expertise with providing an event space for COVID-19 vaccine shots, the FBC was contacted by Hays County Emergency Services. They were put on the list of emergency shelters for the Wimberley Valley starting Sunday night.

“Over the course of the week we had 90 total (people), and 24 in one night,” Assistant Pastor Tidwell said.

“Thursday night Kate Sowell called. There were kids at the Garza Loop. The well was out. ‘Would you cook a meal for them? Then do extra meals for people in town?’”

“…We were sending 125 meals to the Garza area and 40 to the My Joy Lane area. With CCC volunteers, we’d be doing almost 200 meals,” Tidwell said. The free meals were then expanded and opened up to the community. This was the first hot meal available for many, a free penne pasta meal from 4 to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the church.

Over 80 families registered for the meals with more responding. “We have a stack of food here in case something like this happens. We can respond,” Tidwell said.

Other nonprofits continued to respond over the weekend. The Wimberley VFW opened its gates. The well at the VFW was operational and clean. With most of the Wimberley Valley under some form of boil water notice, the well at the VFW provided a clean stream of water. Volunteers staffed the VFW during the day to allow anyone to fill up containers of water.

Middleton Brewing went through their stash of pipe fittings normally used to repair brewing equipment. When PVC fittings became rare items, as stores across Wimberley sold out, Middleton set their extras out on a table in front of the brewery and told people the extras were free to use. Over the next few days, people took what they needed and dropped off the extras that they had creating a rotating reservoir of hard-to-find couplings and elbows. Anyone who dropped off parts was offered a free beer.

Digging out of the mess left behind has left many financially hurt in the valley. Funds are needed to help neighbors deal with plumbing and other emergency bills.

For donations:

Amigos de Jesus,

P.O. Box 106

Wimberley, Texas 78676

Barnabas Connection barnabasconnects.org An anonymous donor has pledged to match funds to $30,000.