As temperatures and humidity continue to rise throughout the month, several local resources are available for individuals to cool down and avoid health risks associated with extreme heat events.

Extreme heat, such as temperatures above 90 degrees and high humidity that Comal County is expected to experience this week, can lead to heat-related illnesses. These may include heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rash. Thankfully, however, nonprofit organizations are providing cooling centers to help our neighbors cool off from the summer sun.

Local cooling centers

 

The Crisis Center of Comal County (CCCC) welcomes anyone in need of a cooling center. They provide ample space to cool down, along with food and water as necessary. The CCCC cooling center will be open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and is located at 655 Landa Street in New Braunfels.

Additionally, the Community Resource and Recreation Center (CRRC) of Canyon Lake offers a cooling center from 9 am to 4 pm, with snacks and water for visitors. The CRRC recreation center is located at 125 Marble Jones Drive, and its resource center is at 1941 FM 2673 in Canyon Lake.

Hill Country MHDD, while not an official cooling center, invites the public to use their air-conditioned lobby from 8 am to 5 pm, as needed. Hill Country MHDD can be found at 358 Landa Street in New Braunfels.

For further information and assistance in locating a nearby cooling center, contact 2-1-1 Texas. 

Heat-related illness identifiers

 

Note: Information collected from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, use only as a guide.

Early signs of heatstroke include a high body temperature, excessive sweating, and flushed skin. Symptoms of heat stroke may also encompass an altered mental state, nausea, or headaches, and could result in losing consciousness.

Heat exhaustion may present a feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness, weakness, profuse sweating, and a rapid heartbeat. Additional identifying symptoms can include cool or moist skin, headaches, and nausea or vomiting.

Heat Cramps are often characterized by muscle spasms or pain, typically occurring in the abdomen, arms, or legs. Heat Rash, on the other hand, can be identified by clusters of red bumps on the skin that cause itchiness.

Who is most at risk?

 

Extreme heat can pose a risk and lead to heat-related illnesses for everyone. Those particularly vulnerable, however, include our neighbors experiencing homelessness and those with pre-existing mental health conditions.

According to the 2024 HUD Point in Time report, approximately 161 of our neighbors are experiencing homelessness in Comal County. These individuals face significant risks due to continuous exposure to heat, whether living in vehicles, on the streets, or in an outdoor encampment. If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness, visit the nonprofit resource directory page for local resources.

 Our neighbors with mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety are also at high risk, as extreme heat may worsen symptoms. The American Psychiatric Association notes that certain medications for mental health, including some antipsychotics and antidepressants, can increase risk by affecting how the body regulates temperature. If you or somebody you know is experiencing a mental illness that may be heightened due to extreme heat, visit MAP Comal for local resources.

As temperatures climb, many organizations are in need of supplies such as cooling towels and bottled water. Please refer to the resource directory page for a list of nonprofit organizations that may need supplies.

Note: This is the first of three articles aimed at raising awareness around the impact, importance, and struggles of nonprofits in the lead-up to the Big Give 2024.

Nonprofit organizations are complex and influential entities. While commonly perceived as groups of people rallying around a cause for community benefit, they are much more than that. In reality, nonprofits can contribute substantially to the local economy, sometimes surpassing the economic influence of for-profit businesses.

Nonprofit vs. for-profit

 

One of the most common distinctions between nonprofit and for-profit organizations lies in financial operations. Nonprofits, created to serve the public good, reinvest their income to advance their cause, while for-profit businesses aim to maximize profits for their owners and shareholders. While both types of organizations aim to generate revenue, nonprofits prioritize social impact over financial gain.

Nonprofit organizations must be rooted in charity and are legal entities that benefit from tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). This status allows them to prioritize their mission and allocate all resources toward it. However, this also subjects them to complex laws and regulations at both state and federal levels, which for-profit organizations do not fall subject to.

These points highlight some of the distinctions and similarities between nonprofit and for-profit organizations. However, the most important misconception surrounding the two rests in their economic impact. Contrary to common belief, nonprofits not only contribute to community improvement through impacting individuals but they also have a significant, sometimes greater, economic impact compared to for-profit entities.

Economic impact

 

Nonprofit organizations not only impact society with their mission-driven initiatives and services but they also significantly influence the economy. Employment, for example, is one such area of impact.

Nationally, nonprofits employ around 12.3 million individuals, according to the National Council of Nonprofits. In our local community, the sector provides jobs for over 700 residents, compared to just over 100 in the transportation and travel industry. Additionally, the hospitality industry, often touted as a driving force in our community, directly employs slightly over 1,000 locals in lodging, only a few hundred more than the nonprofit sector. This highlights the role nonprofits play in creating community employment opportunities.

Worker earnings also reflect this economic importance. A 2022 report showed that the local nonprofit sector’s total annual payroll was $41 million, surpassing the transportation and travel industry’s $2.5 million and nearing the entertainment industry’s $45.2 million direct earnings, per a recent city economic report.

Moreover, nonprofits stimulate economic activity. For instance, a visit to the Brauntex Theatre in New Braunfels might lead to dining out, purchasing a new outfit, or paying for parking. This underscores the nonprofit theatre’s broad economic impact which fosters jobs, increases tax revenue, and supports local businesses.

A 2022 McKenna survey also revealed that the local nonprofit sector generated approximately $82 million in revenue from various sources, such as state and federal agencies, along with several other entities outside the community. Of this revenue, $68 million was reinvested into the economy by supporting local goods and services, including new construction, purchasing hospital beds, or buying everyday items like office supplies.

The larger picture

 

Often misconceived as entirely separate from for-profit businesses, nonprofits share more similarities with them than some may recognize. This common misunderstanding leads to the underappreciation of just how much nonprofits contribute to the local economy.

Functioning far beyond generating profit, nonprofit entities are a powerful force. They signify a dedication to a better society and embody the potential of an organization driven by mission, which, in turn, enhances our community both socially and economically.

Read the full story here.