LIVE HERE, GIVE HERE

LIVE HERE, GIVE HERE A guide to seasonal giving

’Tis the season for giving, and for many, that means charitable contributions.

Representatives of local nonprofits serving needs from food insecurity to caring for animals big and small are asking residents to donate.

Each year, Giving Tuesday — the Tuesday after Thanksgiving — is the perfect time to pitch in and help these organizations raise funds, officials said.

HUTTO RESOURCE CENTER

In 2018, the Hutto Community Food Pantry and Hutto Has Heart joined forces to become the Hutto Resource Center.

Its members say the organization is the primary nonprofit in Hutto serving residents in need with “compassion, collaboration and respect.”

According to Executive Director Sandy Brockwell, the resource center accepts donations of nonperishable foods, diapers and hygiene items such as shampoo, period products, toothpaste and razors.

Extra hands also are appreciated, Brockwell said.

“Volunteers are always needed to help at the food pantry, pick up donations, organize food drives, table at community events and assist with food distribution,” the director added.

The center hosts a Saturday Drive-Thru Food Pantry from 9 a.m. to noon on the first, third and fifth Saturday at 204 E. Live Oak St. in Hutto.

Prior registration is required and available at https://huttoresourcecenter. org/food-pantry/ or by calling 512-6880162.

“Over the last five years, the Hutto Resource Center has served more than 1,850 households, representing approximately 7,300 individuals,” Brockwell said. “The center regularly serves around 180 households each Saturday, sometimes reaching 200. In the past year alone, over 500 new households have enrolled in the program, representing approximately 2,180 individuals.”

Monetary donations are always welcome and aid for all programs, organizers said. To learn more or donate, visit huttoresourcecenter.org/donate/

SHEPHERD’S HEART FOOD PANTRY&COMMUNITY MINISTRIES

A staple since 1993, the Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry & Community Ministries based in Taylor has been a vital resource for those experiencing food insecurity. From its charitable larder to its thrift shop and helping with utilities, the nonprofit connects residents with day-today necessities, staffers said.

From January to September, Shepherd’s Heart has served over 18,000 households, totaling about 48,000 inhabitants. Williams said the agency fills more than 500 bags a week, each containing canned goods, meat, produce, bread, dry goods such as peanut butter, dairy and desserts — depending on availability.

“With the government shutdown, (the U.S. Department of Agriculture) is not distributing the usual food supplies. That especially affects the canned items we can get, so those are critical through the holidays,” said JoLynnne Williams, a Shepherd’s Heart board member.

Requested Items for the upcoming holiday season include: • Canned vegetables and canned fruit

• Canned meat

• Rice or beans in 1-pound bags

• Dinner in a box, such as pasta or rice

• Stuffing mix

• Instant potatoes

• Cranberry sauce

• Cake mixes, frosting or boxed dessert mixes

Staffers said it’s best for donors to provide 14.5- to 15-ounce cans. The food pantry is also accepting monetary donations for turkeys through the holidays, Williams said.

Since 2010, Shepherd’s Heart has operated the Coat of Many Colors Thrift Shop with clothing and housewares. Located at 121 E. Second St., it is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The food pantry, which is at the same address, receives visitors 12:30-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturdays.

To volunteer or make a donation, visit www.shepherdshearttaylor.org.

Food donations are accepted during open hours.

GOOD LIFE TAYLOR, TEXAS

Since 2012, Good Life Taylor, Texas has hosted its October 5K and Kids 1K to raise funds for area causes. The races are a community favorite appealing to serious runners and casual walkers alike.

Julie Rydell, founder of Good Life, said the event is “the only street race in Taylor.”

Recipients include the Murphy Park Percussion Park, Taylor Animal Shelter, Taylor Public Library, Bull Branch Disc Golf Course, Murphy Park and Taylor Regional Park playgrounds.

Good Life Taylor is a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit. To help its ongoing community work, contributions can be made via its website, www.goodlifetaylor.com.

TAYLOR ARTS ALLIANCE

The Taylor Arts Alliance is dedicated to supporting and empowering artists of all kinds while cultivating a vibrant, inclusive arts community in Taylor, officials said.

This year, the alliance’s annual studio tour hosted 42 working creatives from fine artists to clay artists and illustrators.

The alliance has also announced plans for the Third Annual Taylor Studio Tour March 28 and March 29.

“The weekend event will once again showcase Taylor’s creative community by opening local artists’ studios to the public for art, conversation and exploration,” said Cindy Chapter, founder and president.

The nonprofit alliance accepts donations. For more or to donate, visit www.taylorartsalliance.org.

TEXAS CRITTER CRUSADERS

Texas Critter Crusaders is the nonprofit partner answering the unmet needs of the Taylor Animal Shelter, a no-kill facility. The Crusaders fund emergency surgeries, urgent medical care, heartworm treatment, and spay and neuter services.

It also fosters kittens found in the community that are too sick or too young to enter the city’s shelter. From bottle-fed kittens and mothers with kittens to those felines with common conditions such as eye infections, those volunteering to foster the small cats nurse them back to to health so they might find a “forever home.”

According to Melanie Rathke, president and co-founder, the fosters need kitten food, kitten-milk replacement and pellet litter.

“Kitten season is still very much happening and becoming overwhelming,” Rathke said.

Donations are accepted through the Crusaders’ Amazon Wish List: https:// tinyurl.com/TCCKittenWishList.

The nonprofit also needs animal foster homes. An application is available at tinyurl.com/TCCFosterCareApplication.

To make a monetary donation, visit texascrittercrusaders.com/.

The city animal shelter, 701 E. Fourth St., also takes donations via an Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/ hz/wishlist/ls/1MCXA8MR3YLX6/ ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1.

GREATER TAYLOR FOUNDATION

The Greater Taylor Foundation was founded in 2022 on behalf of the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce.

Organizers said it was created for the community by the community to raise and distribute funds to local nonprofits.

“The Greater Taylor Foundation is critical to the well-being of the community, connecting resources and building capacity so Taylor can address its most pressing issues both now and in the future,” said Diane Phillips, foundation president.

In 2023, the Foundation conducted a community-needs assessment to identify the most pressing concerns of the town. According to its 2024 Impact Report, quality child care and early education, connection to essential resources, economic stability, food security, affordable housing and access to health services are all barriers faced by Taylor inhabitants.

The Foundation is geared to creating different types of charitablefunding avenues: donor-advised fund, designated fund, field-of-interest fund, scholarship fund, agency funds and endowments.

To make a donation or learn more, visit www.greatertaylorfoundation.org.