Dear Hill Country Neighbors,
If there is one thing that the past several weeks have taught us, it is the power and importance of resiliency. Whether we’re talking about our region’s ability to weather cycles of drought and intense rain, or our ability to adapt to an ever-changing economic and health situation, resiliency is the key to moving through adversity.
A great strength of our region exists in the ties that bind each of us and our communities together. While we stay home to stay safe, we must work harder than ever to maintain these connections. Some ways to help:
- If you can, it’s more important than ever to support local small businesses, nonprofits and restaurants. Think about buying gift certificates, sharing a positive review on Yelp, or reaching out to see how your favorite local organization is doing.
- Our Hill Country farmers and ranchers are working to make sure we have food to nourish us. Now is a great time to think about how we can better support our community of growers, by seeking out farmstands, farmers’ markets, and other opportunities to buy local.
- Food banks often stand as a lifeline for those going through an economic downturn. We have put together a guide to different Hill Country food bank resources – linked here – and will be updating this page in coming weeks. If you can, think about donating to support their important work.
HCA’s Executive Director Katherine has been quarantining with her husband Cody, their 1.5 year old daughter Callie, and their dog Baxter.
Moving forward, we will be sharing tips and information on ways to strengthen our regional resilience. This past week, our social media has spotlighted what our staff is doing to stay safe and healthy as we work from home – and as you might guess, it includes lots of time outside enjoying the Texas spring! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for daily doses of Hill Country beauty.
If you are as inspired by the beauty of the Hill Country as we are, join us for our 2020 Photo Contest, happening on our website now through May 31st. Submit your photos that capture the vibrant beauty of our native landscapes, wildlife, water resources and the people that protect and enjoy them. Send us your best shots of “The Wild and Wonderful Texas Hill Country” from this year, last year – or even further back than that, as long as they haven’t already been featured in one of our calendars!
We would love to hear how you are doing and what is helping you through this trying time. If there is anything we can do to help and support your community, your business, or your organization, please let us know. As always, we are here for you and for the open spaces, water, night skies, and unique character of the Texas Hill Country… this place we call home.
Wishing you health and peace,
Katherine Romans