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The McKenna Foundation’s Board of Trustees has approved $130,000 of grant funding for rural community support to four partner organizations.

In the first grantmaking session of the year, trustees voted to distribute a total of $575,000 in funding to 12 nonprofit organizations. A portion of this funding, amounting to $130,000, will be allocated specifically to assist rural partners.

The Community Resource and Recreation Center (CCRC) of Canyon Lake is set to receive $65,000. CCRC offers a range of life-enhancing opportunities, support, and social services to the broader Canyon Lake community. With a 48% increase in visitation and over $700,000 worth of food supplies distributed in 2023 alone, the funding is expected to provide rural community support and address the pressing challenges faced by local residents.

The Foundation also approved a $10,000 grant for Bulverde-area food pantry, Provisions Outreach. Provisions reports that since the start of the year, their pantry has served up to 80 clients a day. The client-choice pantry will utilize the funds to purchase essential food and supplies needed in their community and plan to distribute 32,000 pounds of food each month.

Helping Hands Food Pantry was approved for a $40,000 grant by the McKenna Board. Serving the greater Spring Branch area, Helping Hands assists over 4,000 family members in Northwest Comal County annually and anticipates providing an average of 10,000 pounds of food each month. Half of the grant is allocated for pantry operations, while the remaining $20,000 will finance a box truck crucial for weekly food collections.

Also serving the Spring Branch area, the Hope Center was approved for a $15,000 grant towards their Feed My Sheep initiative. The Hope Center has seen a 93% increase in service demand in the first three months of 2024 compared to the previous year. They provide for an underserved population in far Western Comal County seeing on average over 9,000 clients each year and plan to distribute over 100,000 pounds of food this year. The awarded $15,000 will be used to enhance the variety and nutritional value of food provided and will support spiritual nourishment in collaboration with local faith communities.

These McKenna Foundation partners are dedicated to providing beneficial services to our rural neighbors and continue to grow and collaborate as the needs of our community increase.

The approved grants fall under the McKenna Foundation’s Basic Needs Portfolio, which is designed to fund nonprofit organizations that provide accessible resources for food assistance, housing, financial assistance, workforce and employability, and transportation.

The application window for portfolios Health and Education is now open, with applications due by July 8. The Family Relationships application window will open on Aug. 12.

The Foundation accepts applications from verified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Comal County residents. New and returning applicants are welcome to apply. For more information please contact us at 830-606-9500, email grants@mckenna.org, or visit our apply for a grant page.