Another Month of Caring - November 2024

Current Donation Hours - Mon-Sat, 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM

New hours will remain until further notice.

Dear Friends,

As we welcome November, a month synonymous with gratitude and reflection, I am reminded of the incredible community that makes The Caring Place a beacon of hope and support. This newsletter is dedicated to all of you - our volunteers, donors, community members, and those we serve. Your generosity and resilience inspire us daily.

This month, our theme is "Gratitude," a core value that underpins everything we do. This quote by John Milton, perfectly captures the spirit we aim to foster within our community "Gratitude bestows reverence...changing forever how we experience life and the world."

We shine a spotlight on our extraordinary volunteers whose unwavering dedication continues to drive our mission forward. Their selfless contributions remind us that true strength lies in unity and kindness.

We also celebrate our wonderful donors, whose support ensures that The Caring Place can provide basic needs to families in our community. Your generosity enables us to expand our reach and deepen our impact, making a tangible difference in countless lives.

To everyone The Caring Place helps, your courage and perseverance are the heart of our community. It is an honor to stand with you, offering support and compassion through your journey.

As a special activity, we invite you all to join us in our "Pass the Gratitude" challenge. It's a simple yet powerful way to spread joy and appreciation within our community. Write a thank you note, share a kind word, or lend a helping hand - let's create a ripple effect of gratitude together.

Thank you for being an integral part of The Caring Place family. Your support and dedication fuel our efforts and remind us every day of the goodness in the world. Together, we are creating a stronger, more compassionate community.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Ginna O'Connor

Executive Director

Our volunteers are the heart and soul of The Caring Place, infusing their dedication, passion, and energy into everything they do. This month, we're thrilled to highlight the inspiring efforts of these incredible individuals who make a real difference in our community. Their stories remind us of the power of giving and the impact one person can make.

Phyllip Olive

"I enjoy the variety of donations that I see daily while sorting and pricing in the area of household goods and "outdoors and more." I particularly enjoy the restoration of cast iron and other cookware that might be otherwise be discarded as unsellable. Much of this must be done as "homework" and it keeps me enjoyably productive."

What impact has volunteering had on you?

"I often say that TCP gives me more than I can give through volunteering here. It provides a sense of purpose in my retirement and a great satisfaction that my efforts help others. My regret is that I failed to start working here sooner."

Any advice for new volunteers?

"Find a place within the organization that fulfills you and fits your skill set.

Cheerfully interact with staff and other volunteers and help where and when you can."

Reg Brockwell

"I volunteered in Houston and when I moved to Georgetown, I began looking for a place to continue volunteering. Volunteering at The Caring Place has reminded me how blessed I am and in the big scheme of things, I have no problems."

Any advice for new volunteers?

"New volunteers need to keep in mind that we are all a disaster away from being in the position of those we serve."

What is a memorable moment from your time here? "Probably my most memorable moments have dealt with helping people escape abusive situations."

A fun fact: "I umpired the Senior Men's World Series Softball in the Astrodome just before it closed."

John Schwartz

"I enjoy sorting books on Mondays, then volunteer at Second Helping on Wednesday & Friday. At both sites, I am amazed by the volume and quality of unusual items that are donated.

I especially enjoy researching and learning about the silver and silverplate utensils and serving wear and have spent quite a few hours at home cleaning, polishing and restoring them to their best condition. I have discovered items as old as from the 1850’s.

When I’m working sorting books, I’m especially delighted when I discover books that I enjoyed as a child in the 50s & 60s or perhaps a cookbook that I remember that my Mother used. I enjoy the great group of volunteers that I work with and appreciate that I was able to fit in."

Any advice for new volunteers?

"I would encourage new volunteers to visit The Caring Place and Second Helping and walk around all of the departments and discover the spot that interests and intrigues you. As stated in the latest Costco Connection , "when you give your time and energy to others, you benefit your body and mind."

Our volunteers recently gathered for an appreciation luncheon hosted by The Caring Place staff. It was a wonderful opportunity to express our gratitude for their dedication and enjoy some quality time together.

Not a current volunteer but want to join our amazing team of smiling faces?

Learn more and fill out a volunteer application. Fill out a Volunteer Application Here!

We have opportunities for cashiers, pricers, merchandisers, food pantry shopping assistants, warehouse assistants, eligibility specialists, welcome/enrollment specialists, and donation intake assistants.

After completing the application, Dennis Hilgeman, our Volunteer Coordinator, will call you to invite you to a Volunteer Orientation. Feel free to give him a call at 512-943-0708 with all of your volunteering questions or email him at dhilgeman@caringplacetx.org We look forward to meeting you!

Join our list of sponsors by contacting Rita at 512-943-0702 or rturner@caringplacetx.org. You can also visit caringplacetx.org/sponsor to download a sponsorship packet today. Your sponsorship offers your organization great perks like newsletter and ad mentions, social media boosting and t-shirt space, but the thing you'll love most is how you will directly leverage giving in our community to help our neighbors.

Donate Your Stuff

Item donations provide affordable necessities for our community and support our mission to provide for the basic human needs of all people in our community. Through your fabulous donations, we also raise money to help neighbors with rent, utilities, transportation and more when they have financial hardships.

Ensure you are bringing items that we can sell in our stores by utilizing our Donations Flyer. We have a flyer that includes the things we do not take due to safety or disposal costs which can be found at caringplacetx.org/donatemystuff.

Would you like to donate large pieces of furniture? We have a designated pick-up service area to help you with those requests. Learn more about this designated area at caringplacetx.org/donatemystuff or call 512-943-0711 to request a pickup.

Donate a Monetary Gift

The gift you give today directly impacts families struggling in our community.

Whether it's food, rent, clothing or another type of assistance, The Caring Place can only do this work with the help of generous supporters like you. We can use your gifts where we need them most to help our neighbors, or you can designate your gift to the Food Pantry or Loads of Caring.

Give today at caringplacetx.org/donate.