by Bob Bowker

What HCCM is . . .

Hill Country Community Ministries is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 by a coalition of local churches, including Cedar Park First UMC, with a vision to help meet basic human needs in the community. Pooling their resources, the organization set out to provide food, clothing and other assistance for people in crisis and those living in poverty, and to serve them with dignity and compassion in an atmosphere of neighbor helping neighbor.

Today HCCM is supported by 50 area churches and numerous businesses, civic organizations, schools and caring individuals. The organization serves ten ZIP Code areas  in southwest Williamson and northwest Travis counties. HCCM is operated by a small paid staff and depends on the service of more than 250 dedicated volunteers to fulfill its mission.

Who HCCM helps . . .

HCCM’s clients are families and individuals facing hardship and crisis due to unemployment, family disruption, disability, chronic illness, aging or other emergency situations. While many suffer temporary or short-term financial difficulty, others are unemployable, and many are under employed, the working poor whose capabilities, despite hard work, cannot produce a living wage. HCCM provides assistance to eligible individuals living in our service area without regard to race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin or age.

 What HCCM does . . .

HCCM operates a Food Pantry, Voucher Service, Referral Service and now a new Thrift Store in Leander. Cedar Park First UMC is focused on both of these missions. The Food Pantry stocks non-perishable food and essential personal items donated by churches, businesses, organizations, schools and individuals. The former HCCM Clothes Closet, as everyone knew it, has now been replaced by the new Thrift Store. The Clothes Closet provided specific quantities of clothing, at no charge, to HCCM registered and verified as needing assistance persons. The new Thrift Store will continue that policy for those that are previously identified and registered. In addition, the Thrift Store will sell items to the general public, at very favorable pricing, as a means to generate revenue to offset operating costs. The Food Pantry is supplemented by food purchased from Central Texas Food Bank, the Dollar Store and H-E-B.  Last year HCCM filled 4,200 family food orders, distributing more than 235 tons of food.  That’s 391,000 meals!  In addition, HCCM provides Hams for Hope at Easter and holiday turkey meals.