The Community Resource & Recreation Center (CRRC) of Canyon Lake is pushing forward with a major expansion of its Resource Center to meet the growing and increasingly complex needs of seniors in Canyon Lake and across Comal County.

Guided by data and direct community feedback, the expansion comes at a pivotal moment as Canyon Lake is experiencing a rise in residents aged 55 and older. At the same time, CRRC is seeing more seniors seeking support, not just for basic needs, but for help navigating health challenges, financial strain, and social isolation.

A recent community survey underscores the need, with 80 percent of respondents aged 55 and older. Respondents identified consistent barriers to maintaining independence, including limited transportation, difficulty accessing services, caregiver strain, and a lack of opportunities for social connection. These findings confirm that the need for coordinated senior services in rural Comal County is growing.

In response, CRRC is completing the final phase of an $815,000 expansion that will significantly strengthen its capacity to serve seniors through a centralized and accessible resource center.

To help bring this phase to completion and officially launch its new services, the McKenna Foundation’s Board of Directors has approved a challenge grant of up to $150,000. Every donation made to the CRRC’s senior services initiative will be matched dollar-for-dollar.  

Following the CRRC’s Day at the Derby event on May 2, more than $50,000 has already been raised for the project. With McKenna’s matching commitment, the total now stands at nearly $101,000.

“We believe in the CRRC and know that this project will bring vital support to seniors in rural Comal County,” said McKenna Foundation CEO Alice Jewell.

Once completed, the expanded space will serve as a dedicated hub for senior services, offering benefits navigation, caregiver support programs, mental health and memory care resources, and expanded opportunities to combat social isolation. The goal is not only to provide services, but to create a coordinated system of support that helps older adults maintain independence, improve quality of life, and remain connected to their neighbors.

“This expansion is about responding to what our seniors are telling us,” said CRRC of Canyon Lake Executive Director Tiffany Quiring. “We have the opportunity to build a support system that helps older adults navigate the challenges of aging with dignity, in a way that is accessible and community-driven.”

The CRRC is uniquely positioned to lead this effort through an established network of partnerships that includes healthcare providers, public health organizations, and other local agencies. These collaborations allow the CRRC to serve as a central point, helping seniors and caregivers access the resources they need without navigating a fragmented system.

With construction nearing completion, the CRRC and McKenna Foundation invite partners, funders, and community members to be a part of this critical next phase. With a one-to-one match of up to $150,000, every dollar donated goes further, helping launch a program that will support our neighbors for years to come.

For more information or to support the CRRC of Canyon Lake, please visit www.crrcofcanyonlake.org or call (830) 964-2324.

Last year, the McKenna Foundation invited the community to Choose Kindness, and the community responded with open hearts. Neighbors lifted one another up, celebrated the good around them, and shined a light on the everyday acts of kindness that make our community so special.

This year, the Foundation is asking the community to take the next step. Kindness begins with a choice, but it grows through action.

On April 1, 2026, the Foundation officially launched the You’re Invited campaign: a call to the community to listen more deeply, learn more openly, and love more boldly. By hearing one another, seeking understanding, and embracing our community, we create a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported.

“This is your invitation to take the next step from choosing kindness. This is your invitation to volunteer opportunities, community conversations, and events all year long that help build connection and belonging,” said McKenna CEO Alice Jewell.

Take the next step now by following the campaign on Facebook and Instagram at @youreinvitednb and visiting www.youreinvitednb.org.

Throughout the year, the You’re Invited campaign will offer a variety of ways to get involved, from hands-on opportunities to educational events. The community is invited to participate, engage with neighbors, and help build a more compassionate and connected community.

The Foundation is also inviting nonprofits, businesses, schools, and community groups to share their creativity, passion, and upcoming opportunities. Each week, the campaign will highlight partner events across its website, social channels, and newsletter. Partners are encouraged to stay connected and share their events and opportunities so the campaign can help amplify their work and provide support where needed.

“Everyone is invited. Everyone is invited to listen to your neighbors, to learn alongside them, and to love our community in meaningful ways,” Jewell said.

Click here to learn more about the campaign and discover ways to get involved.

The mural was funded by the McKenna Foundation as part of its Choose Kindness campaign, which launched in 2025.

Read the full story here.

The Rock Haus Foundation is inviting the community to share their voices, experiences, and insights to better understand the needs of individuals with special needs.

Rock Haus is seeking input from those who know these needs best: individuals with disabilities, their families, caregivers, and the service providers who support them. By completing a community survey, participants can help identify gaps in local services, highlight the most urgent areas of support, and guide future efforts in Comal County and surrounding areas.

The feedback gathered will play a vital role in shaping upcoming programs, strengthening partnerships, and initiatives that better serve our community.

The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RockHaus and will remain open through March 20. 

The Rock Haus Foundation encourages anyone committed to strengthening resources for individuals with special needs to participate and share the survey with others.

“We want to learn what is working and what still needs attention,” said Rock Haus Foundation Executive Director Bill Barry. “This survey is an opportunity for our community to help impact what comes next.”

The Rock Haus Foundation is dedicated to fostering a community where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are welcomed and encouraged to participate in meaningful activities. According to Barry, this survey is an important step toward that vision.

Rock Haus currently offers a variety of programs for individuals with special needs, including music, art, dance, and chair-based Zumba. They also host parent advocacy groups, a service provider coalition, and bi-monthly Rock-The-Haus dance parties.

To learn more about the Rock Haus Foundation, visit rockhausfoundation.org, or follow on Facebook and Instagram at @rockhausfoundation.

The McKenna Foundation, through a collaborative effort with Early Matters San Antonio, the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce and the Greater New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation, has launched this initiative with the ultimate goal of enhancing the brain development of the local community’s youngest humans through supporting families and the childcare workforce.

Read the full story here.

Early Matters-New Braunfels is an initiative that will benefit families and support child care providers to expand and improve their quality of service.

Read the full story here.

Canine Classmates began in 2006 as a program designed to support at‑risk children who struggle with reading. Since then, it has expanded to Canines in the Courthouse, an initiative where dogs provide comfort for traumatized victims while they prepare to testify, offering support both before and after testifying.

Read the full story here.