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.

EdenHill Communities and Project MEND organized a successful donation event for gently used medical equipment and collected various items such as walkers, wheelchairs, and crutches. The equipment will be refurbished and distributed to individuals in need. 

 

Medical equipment for Comal County residents can be requested here or call 210- 223-6363.

 

Read the full article here.  

The new sauna at the 7Ten Activity Center is a relaxing feature that is available to seniors, veterans and disabled adults who are members of the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation.

The sauna, located in the locker rooms for men and women, can help individuals enjoy the benefits of heat therapy, such as better blood circulation, less stress and more detoxification.

The Center’s executive director, Ken Lowery, said clients have given him a lot of positive feedback on the new amenity.

“Our clients are saying there won’t be long before there’s a waiting list to use the steam room,” Lowery said. We’ve completely renovated the steam rooms. We tore out the old and brought in new tile, flooring, drains and steaming equipment. It’s all in concrete now, so it will not deteriorate.”

The sauna is one of the many attractions at the 7Ten Activity Center, which used to be the YMCA building. The Foundation bought and renovated the 20,000-square-foot building a year ago and moved from its old location across the street. The Center’s executive director, Ken Lowery, says the aim is to make the building a modern and versatile facility for senior residents.

The Center offers a variety of activities for seniors, veterans, and disabled adults who want to stay active and engaged. The building contains administrative offices, a central area with three to four separate rooms, outdoor pools, locker rooms, and exercise spaces.

The central area has tile flooring and movable walls, allowing different configurations and uses. Groups can use the rooms for meetings, family gatherings and special events, generating income for the Center, which supports vital programs such as Meals on Wheels and wellness initiatives.

The Center offers a variety of programs, services, and activities for its members. A large room for arts and crafts is at the back of the building. Daily activities include card games, bingo, bean bag tournaments, dominoes, and craft classes. The Center also organizes bus trips and tours to different places, allowing seniors to explore and have fun.

The Center has an exercise area that overlooks the outdoor pool. It includes traditional equipment like treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical machines. It also has Echelon Reflect home gym mirrors, which provide virtual personalized training sessions for senior clients.

The Center is committed to the Meals on Wheels program, which serves about 14,000 meals each month to senior residents in Comal, Guadalupe, Wilson, and Karnes counties. The meals are free for the clients. The Center also offers a pet program covering home-bound clients’ veterinary care and food.

The Center was established in 1985 and supports seniors and disabled individuals aged 18 and older. The Center has expanded its services over the years and now offers a range of programs for its members.

The Center is proud to partner with the McKenna Foundation, which recently granted the Center $50,000 to support its senior nutrition program in Comal County. The program addresses food insecurity, hunger, and social isolation among senior residents. It includes initiatives such as Meals on Wheels and congregate meal programs offered at the Center.

For more information about the Center and its memberships, call 830-629-4547.

December 21, 2023: Community members, partners and friends gathered earlier this month to join the McKenna Foundation in celebrating a milestone – 15 years of grantmaking to nonprofit organizations in Comal County.

The Foundation began making grants to community nonprofits in 2009 and has since awarded more than 500 grants to 85 nonprofit organizations serving residents. Over 15 years, more than $28 million in grant funding has resulted in strengthened and new programs and nonprofit assets that bolster the strained social infrastructure of this growing community.

Broken down, the Foundation has gifted $726,630 for community development programs, $1.14 million for capacity building programs, $2.75 million for education programs, $2.97 million for family relationship programs, $3.58 million for physical health programs, $4.6 million for mental health programs, $5.89 million for capital funding programs and $6.96 million for basic needs programs.

“We are in the people business, the best kind of business there is,” said McKenna Foundation CEO Alice Jewell, addressing celebration attendees. “We have the ability to impact the entire community — from those in the most vulnerable situations to the people with the resources to care for them.”
In 2023, the Foundation gifted more than $2.1 million in grants to 42 nonprofit organizations in Comal County, serving 72,133 people.

Some have asked what this celebration tonight is all about – the answer is easy, Jewell said
“This celebration is about people,” Jewell said. “The people who built McKenna Memorial Hospital over its 54-year history as patients, staff and leadership. The people with the vision to negotiate the sale of a premiere hospital system and create an entity whose sole mission is to improve the lives of people. The people who took that Hospital and expanded and enriched its offerings for a more holistic opportunity for health care right here in New Braunfels. The people who, this very day, are committed to carrying on a legacy that is passionate and intentional. Those people are you. Physicians, clinicians, social workers, board members, volunteers, leaders, friends.”

The Foundation also oversees the McKenna Events Center and the Children’s Museum, which opened on April 1, 2006. Since then, those offerings remained a community need through which McKenna has served thousands of residents as a community partner.

“The grantmaking, Children’s Museum and Events Center are executed every day by an incredible staff team here at McKenna, who make this operation possible and impactful,” Jewell said. “Our culture here is one of caring for people first, and I am so grateful for their dedication to each other and our mission.”

The Children’s Museum has seen nearly 1.2 million visitors and the Events Center has hosted about 9,000 events.

Jewell also recognized Bill Morton, who was the Chair of the McKenna System Board of Directors, as well as prior Foundation chiefs Tim Brierty and Jerry Major.

The beginning of what would become the McKenna Foundation goes back about 70 years to when population growth prompted the need for a full-service hospital to serve the New Braunfels area.

Although two attempts in the late 1940s to establish a county-funded hospital in New Braunfels failed, a group of business and civic leaders led by Howard McKenna kept pursuing that vision.

The group set out to privately secure the funds to build a new hospital. Along with a host of peers, Mr. McKenna persuaded the city in 1951 to support health care for its residents by providing a site for the proposed Hospital. The city leaders and other individuals organized a fundraising effort in 1952, often going door to door to ask residents for their support.

Mr. McKenna’s vision became a reality when New Braunfels residents donated more than $500,000 for the project, equivalent to nearly $5.9 million in today’s dollars, augmented by a $280,000 Hill-Burton grant.

Construction began in October 1952, and a grand opening celebration for the new 40-bed New Braunfels Hospital occurred about a year later. The original structure, which still stands as the central core of the Hospital, opened its doors to patients in November 1953.

In 1973, New Braunfels Hospital changed its name to McKenna Memorial Hospital in honor of Howard McKenna, who served as president of the Hospital’s board of trustees for over 20 years.

Tremendous growth came to the Hospital during the following decades, including several multimillion-dollar facilities and equipment expansions. What began as a small community hospital became a nationally recognized regional healthcare provider. The McKenna Health System found its place as a vital part of New Braunfels and Comal County, providing effective programs, services, and resources that benefit the health and well-being of the community.

The Hospital operated as an independent facility until 2008 when the board opted to sell McKenna Memorial Hospital to a system with resources that could expand the service line to the growing area. The sale to Christus Santa Rosa Health Care occurred on Jan. 31.

Genifer Rucker began her 30-year healthcare career as a transporter for the radiology department at McKenna Hospital, now Christus Santa Rosa Hospital. She currently serves as the Hospital’s president.

“McKenna is my family’s hospital,” Rucker said. “I feel so proud now that I’ve been asked to come back and lead and preserve the legacy that McKenna and all of you have participated in. I feel very obligated and very proud to preserve the culture, compassion and quality of care we provide for this community.”

The hospital sale brought two significant benefits to the New Braunfels community: the assurance of quality health care by Christus and the funding to create the McKenna Foundation, whose mission is to advance the well-being of the greater New Braunfels community.

“The McKenna family is one that is expanding every day, with one of my favorite branches of the tree being our nonprofit partners,” Jewell said. “Over 15 years, we have met some real characters. We fell in love with you and the work that you do serving people in this community. You all know that we are here for you — to support you from the front or the back or walk alongside.”

November 27, 2023: The McKenna Foundation plans to culminate a great year by gifting two nonprofit partners with unrestricted $10,000 Impact Grants. And the Foundation needs your help.

This year, the McKenna Foundation invites the public to participate by nominating a deserving nonprofit organization serving Comal County to receive a grant. Is there an organization that has gone above and beyond? Has an organization been a stellar partner with the community? Who deserves some extra appreciation?

Click here until Dec. 6 to nominate a nonprofit. Please include a couple of sentences supporting the organization you want the Foundation to recognize this year.

“For many years, we have recognized a nonprofit that has made an extra special impact,” said Kristen Fain, McKenna’s program officer. “In the past, we’ve asked our nonprofit partners to nominate one of their peers. However, this year, we’d like the community to share with us which nonprofit agencies they would like to receive the grants.”

The Foundation will announce the recipient during its annual Christmas Breakfast on Dec. 12 at the McKenna Center and on its website.

McKenna began making grants to community nonprofits in 2009 and has since awarded nearly $30 million in grant funding to nonprofit organizations serving New Braunfels and Comal County residents.

This year, the Foundation gifted nearly $2.1 million in grants to 42 nonprofit organizations in Comal County.