You are here: Home >> Leander-Cedar Park >> Nonprofit >> Hill Country Community Ministries • Leander

Hill Country Community Ministries • Leander

Attention: open in a new window.

Written by Julia Kennedy Jayes Saturday, 07 October 2006

Organization relies on collaboration, adaptation to meet growth challenges

Hill Country Community Ministries has been around for 23 years. In the non-profit world, that fact qualifies the organization as one of great pedigree. The area it serves (Cedar Park, Leander, Liberty Hill, Lago Vista, Jonestown, and areas of northwest Austin) has changed drastically during this time, and future projections show even more growth in the decades to come. How does a non-profit stay flexible and resourceful enough to keep up? According to HCCM’s executive director, Sherry Sadler McDonnell, adaptation and collaboration are the answers. Director Sherry McDonnell (center) stands with volunteers packing grocery bags in food pantry.

HCCM brought McDonnell on board in April. With fresh eyes, and a resume of non-profit work that rivals the organization’s own history, she is tackling the growing demand for assistance at the grassroots level.

“Increasing the visibility of HCCM is one of our main goals. In some ways, we’re the area’s best-kept secret, which isn’t always a good thing,” McDonnell said. “We have a large service area with new people moving here every day. It’s important to spread the word to the whole community that we exist and we’re here to help.”

The structure of HCCM – which relies entirely on the collaboration of churches, civic groups and a few businesses – is not entirely unique, but it is rare. HCCM was the first local organization based on the collaboration of churches. The Caring Place in Georgetown and the Round Rock Serving Center were originally modeled from HCCM.

“We work together with both those organizations to help support one another and to make sure people aren’t falling through any geographical gaps,” McDonnell explains.

“The history of the organization and the strong support of the churches and civic groups – that collaborative effort – is so appealing to me. Sometimes it isn’t a matter of money, but leverage of resources.”

Leveraging resources is something HCCM knows how to do. The organization boasts 200 volunteers involved in their day-to-day operations, and more than 150 pitching in for special projects. The small staff and volunteers run a diverse series of programs, including a year-round food pantry (which feeds more than 250 families each month) and clothes closet, transitional housing and financial assistance for a myriad of crisis situations.

“What’s unique about our organization is the incredible broad-base of support that we enjoy, along with our phenomenal volunteers,” she said. “The volunteers know why they’re here, they know what they’re about, and they just come in day after day and get the job done – they are truly inspirational.”

“Monetary donations are just as important as food donations,” adds McDonnell, “because our association with the Capitol Area food bank allows us to purchase supplemental food items for as little as 13 cents on the dollar.”

Even yet, the need continues to grow.

“We’re always looking for new support,” McDonnell said. “The need in the community is increasing as the community grows, but the potential here in HCCM to grow to meet those needs is very exciting.”