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Lifespan vs. Healthspan: A free five-part series for healthier living

The McKenna Foundation, in partnership with New Braunfels Christian Ministries’ (NBCM) Volunteers in Medicine, invites the public to a free five-part education series: Lifespan vs. Healthspan.

Led by physicians Dr. Kelly Ratheal and Dr. Madhu Challapalli, this free series is designed to empower individuals with proactive and practical strategies for improving long-term health. Each session will explore topics such as blood sugar management, nutrition, cardiovascular health, sleep, and more.

While lifespan refers to the number of years we live, healthspan focuses on the quality of those years. This series will offer insights on how investing in your healthspan can enhance your overall lifespan.

“Heart disease is a leading cause of death in our society. Preventive measures, lifestyle changes, and interventions can empower individuals to take responsibility for and improve their overall health,” said NBCM Jim Wesson. “At NBCM Volunteers in Medicine, we remain committed to seeing a community where everyone has the opportunity to improve their health.”

Dr. Kelly Ratheal added, “It’s important not to delay having your risk assessed because you think you’re too young or believe your risk is low. The earlier your risk is evaluated, the sooner it can be addressed.”

The series kicks off on August 12, 2025, with a focus on metabolic health. Additional sessions will be held on September 9, October 7, November 11, and December 9. All classes will take place from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at NBCM Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, located at 1239 W. San Antonio St., in New Braunfels

RSVP by emailing your name and selected classes to rsvp@mckenna.org or by calling (830) 606-9500. 

The McKenna Foundation is also offering a chance to win a fitness watch of your choosing (Apple Watch, Garmin, or Fitbit). Each session you attend earns you one entry, and attending all five gets you five chances to win. The winner will be drawn following the final class in December.

You can learn more about the physicians at nbpreventiondocs.com or explore the NBCM Volunteers in Medicine program at nbcm.org.

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Ways to help: Hill Country Recovery Efforts

The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund 

The Community Foundation will direct funds to vetted organizations providing rescue, relief, and recovery efforts as well as flood assistance. The Fund will support the communities of Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort.

Southern Oaks Church

Southern Oaks Church is accepting donations at the church. For those who aren’t local, you can donate online.

Salvation Army Kerrville

The Salvation Army in Kerrville is accepting online donations.

Project MEND

Anyone impacted by the flooding who needs medical equipment like wheelchairs, scooters, hospital beds, walkers, or rollators, please call 210 429-4057 or email dexter.moon@projectmend.org

Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center

The Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center is accepting donations of supplies and online donations.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is accepting online donations.

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Project MEND to host Gear Up For Mobility event at NB City Hall

Project MEND is excited to host its first Gear Up For Mobility event of the year, calling on the community to help make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals with mobility challenges.

The Gear Up For Mobility event will take place on Saturday, June 28th, from 9 AM to 2 PM at New Braunfels City Hall, located at 550 Landa Street. 

For over 30 years, Project MEND—or Medical Equipment Network for those with Disabilities—has transformed lives by refurbishing and redistributing medical equipment to those in need. Based in San Antonio, the organization provides thousands of people of all ages with access to medical equipment & assistive technology that improves mobility and independence.

Through collection events like Gear Up For Mobility, Project MEND gathers used medical equipment, evaluates its condition, then refurbishes and sanitizes it to meet state safety standards before passing it on to those who need it.  

“Medical equipment you no longer use or need can make a profound difference in someone’s life,” said Project MEND Chief Development Officer Kristy Walston. “Donating equipment, regardless of its condition, can help restore mobility, independence, and dignity for individuals facing mobility challenges.”

With an increasing demand for assistive devices, Project MEND encourages the community to take part in this important initiative by donating unused medical equipment on June 28th.

Some of the most-needed items include rollator walkers, home hospital beds, wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, tub transfer benches, and raised toilet seating with handles.

If you are in need of medical equipment, you can request items online at projectmend.org or by phone at (210) 223-6363. Those requesting items must have a letter of medical necessity from their physician or a prescription.

Join Project MEND on June 28th and help Gear Up For Mobility—a single donation can change a life!

For more information, visit projectmend.org or follow @projectmendsa on social media.

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CCSCF and Choose Kindness Campaign seek community involvement and support

For over 40 years, the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation (CCSCF) has been dedicated to serving the seniors of New Braunfels and Comal County. However, in the face of rising food costs, reduced funding, and increasing demand, the CCSCF and the Choose Kindness Campaign are asking the community to step forward and take action.

At the heart of the CCSCF’s mission is their home-delivered meals program, a lifeline for seniors who rely on it for nourishment and connection. Over 76,000 meals are delivered annually to more than 570 local seniors. These meals not only provide nutrition, but they also serve as a promise that our neighbors are not forgotten. Yet, financial challenges threaten the continuation of this critical program.

Food insecurity is a growing crisis in Comal County, affecting nearly 14% of the population, including homebound seniors who depend on home-delivered meals. With a 57% decrease in federal funding, CCSCF must cover that shortfall. That is why, alongside the McKenna Foundation’s Choose Kindness Campaign, CCSCF is calling on the public to come together and ensure our seniors can continue to thrive.

One powerful way to make a difference is by joining CCSCF for its inaugural Sizzlin’ for Seniors BBQ Bash, an evening of good food, great music, and community support.

Sizzlin’ for Seniors BBQ Bash takes place on Friday, June 6, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the CCSCF (710 Landa Street). Tickets are available now at www.nbsenior.org.

At the event, guests will enjoy delicious BBQ from Smokey Moe’s, live music by Texas Tide Band, and exciting raffles and auctions featuring prizes from Ernesto’s, Granzin’s, Texas Tubes, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and more.

Supporting the CCSCF doesn’t stop there, the Choose Kindness Campaign will also be recognizing a special individual who goes above and beyond in their efforts to help our local seniors.

Between June 16 and June 30, the CCSCF and McKenna’s Choose Kindness Campaign will track volunteer hours and donations, selecting an individual to be spotlighted on the Brauntex Theatre marquee, awarded with a $50 Café 46 gift card, and further honored through social media.

Whether it’s volunteering at the 7Ten Activity Center, delivering meals through CCSCF, assisting with lunch service, or making a generous donation, every effort makes a difference.

Choose Kindness today and join CCSCF in making a meaningful difference in the lives of seniors in Comal County. Together, we can ensure no senior goes without a meal or the support they deserve.

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RecoveryWerks! staff co-author book for Peer Coaches

Leading the charge in helping those in our community struggling with substance use disorder, New Braunfels-based nonprofit RecoveryWerks! has taken its expertise beyond the counseling room and into print.

Healing Families: A Guide to Helping Families Deal with Substance Use Disorder serves as a vital resource for peer coaches and families navigating the difficult path of addiction and recovery.

Written by RecoveryWerks! staff members Eric G. Daxon and Joanne Daxon, and their colleagues Frank Janousek and Elizabeth Todd, the book delivers practical strategies and compassionate guidance for those impacted by substance use disorder.

With decades of experience—both personal and professional— they provide insight into turning frustration and despair into hope and healing. Though the book is designed primarily for peer coaches, it also serves as a valuable tool for clinicians, sponsors, and family members who seek a deeper understanding of recovery.

Addressing a gap in addiction support, Eric G. Daxon, Certified Recovery Support Specialist and founding Board President of RecoveryWerks! said that the need for this book became clear through years of working with families affected by addiction.

“There are so many self-help books and books for clinicians working in addiction, but there are very few for peer coaches working with families,” Daxon said. “We wanted to document the approach we use to help family members.”

Healing Families highlights an integral part of the RecoveryWerks! culture, offering insight into the recovery philosophy of the Palmer Drug Abuse Program while also conveying an intellectual and “heart-understanding” of recovery.

Exploring how substance use disorder impacts every member of the family and providing practical tools for healing, readers will discover effective strategies for rebuilding lives, supporting a loved one’s sobriety, and establishing peer groups to foster recovery.

“We recognize that substance use disorder affects parents, grandparents, and guardians in unique ways. This book serves as a guide to engage the whole family in the recovery process. This, in our experience, is the best way to support those we love with this disease and bring about healing,” said co-author and licensed chemical dependency counselor Joanne Daxon.

Healing Families: A Guide to Helping Families Deal with Substance Use Disorder is now available on Amazon and most major online book retailers.

In addition to the book, RecoveryWerks! will also launch a four-part training series focused on working with family members affected by substance use. Stay tuned for updates by following @recoverywerksnbtx on Instagram or @recoverywerks! on Facebook.

With a dedicated team of state-certified peer recovery support specialists, RecoveryWerks! provides counseling, peer coaching, support group meetings, sober social activities, role modeling, and accountability to help young individuals embrace a life free from the influence of mind-altering chemicals.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, visit www.recoverywerks.org or call (830) 310-2456 for support and resources.

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McKenna Foundation sees major milestones in 2024

2024 was a milestone year for the New Braunfels-based McKenna Foundation, breaking admission records for the Children’s Museum, surpassing $30 million in lifetime community grants, and awarding grants to local schools for the first time in the Foundation’s history.

The McKenna Children’s Museum, which has won the Herald-Zeitung’s Best Children’s Attraction award for several consecutive years, welcomed nearly 126,000 visitors in 2024—a record high. The museum also hosted 300 educational events, further enriching the experiences of its young visitors.

In addition to its successes with the Children’s Museum, the McKenna Foundation also had a remarkable year supporting nonprofits, building relationships, and advancing the well-being of the greater New Braunfels community.

Awarding nearly $1.7 million in 2024, the Foundation has officially surpassed $30 million in grants since its inception. Some of its largest grants in 2024 included $100,000 for NB Housing Partners First Footing Program and $100,000 for Hill Country MHDD Center’s Crisis Care in Comal County Program.

In total, the Foundation awarded grants to 38 local nonprofit organizations.

2024 also marked the first year the Foundation awarded grants to local schools, distributing $35,000 across six schools (three from New Braunfels ISD and three from Comal ISD). These schools were recognized for their creativity in producing videos that showcased how they choose to be kind.

In addition to its grantmaking, the McKenna Events Center hosted nearly 1,000 nonprofit events, ranging from training opportunities and coalition meetings to various fundraisers and galas. Through these events, nonprofits raised more than $1.9 million.

“It is an honor to be able to provide our nonprofit partners not only with funding, but also with a space to gather, raise funds, learn, and grow,” said McKenna CEO Alice Jewell. “2024 has been a record year, not only for the McKenna Foundation but also for our partners and community.”

Looking forward to 2025, the Mckenna Foundation has kicked off a year-long campaign surrounding the idea of Choosing Kindness. Officially launched on January 24, the campaign aims to highlight the positive actions happening in Comal County and bring the good deeds of our neighbors to the forefront. Find out more or get involved by visiting www.choosekindnessnb.org, or follow the campaign on Facebook and Instagram.

These initiatives, along with the Foundation’s 2025 grantmaking, will further set the course for a healthier, thriving community.

Learn more about the McKenna Foundation by clicking here, or on Instagram at @mckennafoundation.