Karen Huber County Commissioner: Precinct Three Report

Opportunities for the Holiday Season

Believe it or not, the holiday season is already upon us! For many of us who eagerly await this time of year, the holidays invoke fond memories of plenty – folks look forward to an abundance of food, gifts and fellowship with our friends and families. We also look forward to the holidays as a time to indulge in giving to others. Families share their Thanksgiving bounty with, well, anyone who is without a place setting; we spend days preparing our Thanksgiving feast only for it to be demolished in half an hour flat; and we dig a little deeper in our wallets to drop a few extra coins in Santa’s brass pot.

Every year Travis County provides funding to many local non-profits and community groups. We do this to help fill in the gaps for many of our citizens who are having difficulties in any number of issue areas. The Commissioner’s Court recently awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to a long list of organizations who are crucial to the health and stability of Travis County’s residents. We also work with groups who provide assistance and supplementation for behavioral health and education, basic needs assistance (such as food and housing), legal aid, workforce development, and much more.

Though I am grateful that Travis County is able to contribute to these invaluable organizations, it is not always enough. For many organizations, there is no substitute for manpower. For example, some of our community centers may already have the resources to provide a nice Thanksgiving meal for their constituency but may lack crucial volunteer power when it comes to setting up, serving, cleaning up, and perhaps most importantly, visiting with and getting to know those they serve.

The holidays tend to bring out the best in us by highlighting the generosity of the human spirit. In Central Texas, our generosity isn’t limited to those we know, nor is it limited to tangible items such as food or money. In 2007, Austin’s volunteer rate ranked 5th out of the 50 largest cities in a nationwide survey published by Volunteer in America. More than one-third of Austin-area residents volunteered their time through an organization such as the Capital Area Food Bank, CASA, or other organized entity. In fact, the percentage of Austinites who volunteered more than 100 hours in 2006 and 2008 outranked both Houston and Dallas (albeit slightly)! (To learn more about this topic, visit www.volunteeringinamerica.gov).

Despite this outstanding ranking, our numbers have slipped over the past few years. Though an impressive 373,000 Austin-area residents volunteered their time in 2008, it is a significant drop from the more than 560,000 volunteers in 2005. (It should be noted that volunteer rates are especially high in areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina, which hit our Gulf Coast neighbors in 2005). Because downturns in the economy can so significantly impact donations to many non-profit organizations, it is especially important this year for those who are able to focus more of our time and resources towards those locally who are in need.

Learn about the conditions of those in our community who are down on their luck by visiting the website of one of Travis County’s key partners, the Community Action Network (www.caction.org) or calling them at 512.414.0323. Please don’t underestimate your own ability to make a difference, whether it be for a local non-profit or an individual or family who is having a particularly tough time this year.

My staff and I will be out in the community this Thanksgiving serving however we can and giving thanks that we are in a position to help. I hope to see you out there!