BEC Foundation Exemplifies the Spirit of Giving

FROM LEFT: Lauren Salazar, Toba Wright And David Ross, BEC Foundation Board Members; Robin Konz, Bandera Volunteer Fire Department Event Volunteer; Max Konz, Bandera VFD Fire Chief; Debra Slate, Bandera VFD Treasurer; And Scott Slate, Bandera VFD Board President.

Photo by Samantha Gleason

BEC Foundation Exemplifies the Spirit of Giving THE BEC FOUNDATION AWARDED MORE THAN $17,000 IN grants to a variety of nonprofits in BEC’s service territory in September.

Bandera Fire and Rescue Received a $3,752 grant for their Fire Prevention Week project. For volunteer firefighters, every week is Fire Prevention Week. The department provides annual school presentations to more than 500 students in Bandera County, offering children the opportunity to learn how a firetruck and life-saving equipment work, the importance of preventing fires and other important safety tips.

With the grant, Bandera Fire and Rescue will purchase a Sparky the Fire Dog costume and volunteer uniforms for use during school visits and public events as well as educational packets and materials for youth and families.

HILL COUNTRY DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES RECEIVED a $5,000 grant to provide more than 450 Thanksgiving meal boxes to families across more than eight counties during their Giving Thanks Project in November.

With the help of more than 500 volunteers, the community comes together to pack the boxes, which include turkey, fresh produce, ingredients for sides and other items to distribute to families in need. The project provides the families the opportunity to prepare a full Thanksgiving meal in their home with dignity.

THE KENDALL COUNTY 4-H ROBOTICS STEM CLUB IS A NEWLY formed charter club of 4-H that aims to involve the community and give kids a hands-on experience in a wide range of activities. The club works to introduce kids to computer science, robotics, engineering, problem solving, teamwork and community involvement.

Students in Kendall County who are 10—18 years old will have the opportunity to gain leadership skills with a focus on STEM education. The chapter received a $2,500 grant to purchase Lego robotics kits and laptops to remove the barrier of cost and make access to technologies readily available to youth.

THE CASTLE LAKE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED a $6,000 grant to outfit a new water tender truck to bolster firefighting capabilities in Bandera County. The new truck will have a 2,100-gallon capacity for water and will be dispatched in the event of fires and other emergencies. The truck will more than double the volume of water available on scene and reduce the need for additional trips for resources across rural areas.

The foundation grant will be used to purchase hoses, winches, automated external defibrillators, safety equipment including traffic cones, flares, fire extinguishers and more.

Applications for the next round of BEC Foundation grants will be accepted November 1-31. For grant information, eligibility and requirements, please visit our website at www.BanderaElectric.com/Foundation.