The Caring Place

Submitted by Georgetown VFW Post 8587

During the 2023 Amplify Austin Fundraiser in early March 2023, Georgetown’s VFW Post 8587 made its largest contribution to-date to The Caring Place in the amount of $5, 000. Due to the success of the fundraiser for The Caring Place, the VFW contribution was matched dollar-for-dollar by generous event sponsors and the value increased to $10,000 This year, there were over 700 non-profit organizations from the Central Texas region participating in the fundraiser. Due to generous contributions such as the VFW Post 8587’s, The Caring Place raised the sixth most donation contributions among the other non-profit organizations totaling $128,865

The Mission of The Caring Place is to provide for the basic human needs all people in our community in a welcoming, respectful and caring way.

Donations to The Caring Place support neighbors in crisis through assistance with food, rent, utilities, transportation and more Ginna O’Connor, Executive Director of The Caring Place expressed her appreciation for such a generous donation by stating, “The Amplify campaign is The Caring Place’s largest campaign of the year which helps provide for the basic human needs of neighbors throughout northern Williamson County We know that when groups like the VFW contribute, they are not only making a huge impact on individuals going through a rough time, but also raising awareness of the mission We are grateful for their continued leadership in our community ”

The Caring Place served 6,490 neighbors with basic needs in 2022. Of this number, approximately 260 were active-duty military, Veterans, or spouses of Veterans VFW Post 8587 Webmaster, Frank Espinosa, Jr , stated, “that’s why our VFW continues to support the great work of The Caring Place, in addition to helping our neighbors in need, they also help our active-duty service members, Veterans and their families in need ”

More About The Caring Place

Since 1985, The Caring Place has provided for the basic human needs of all people in our Central Texas community in a welcoming, respectful and caring way The Caring Place is a community-based, community-supported, and community-serving organization located in Georgetown, Texas The Caring Place service area includes Georgetown, Andice, Bartlett, Florence, Granger, Jarrell, Jonah, Schwertner, Walburg, Weir, and the portion of Hutto that lies within GISD. Website – The Caring Place

Eagle Pass, TX – Day 1

Written by James Lucas

In December of 2022, a Boots on the Ground effort was organized to feed over 600 Texas National Guard Troops in Eagle Pass that are securing the Texas border for Operation Loan Star. On Day 1, groups began arriving at H-E-B to get all the meats and sides loaded up. Texas VFW State Commander, Lynn Toomer, and wife, Karen Toomer, were inside the store making sure all items were well accounted for as another team was working outside with H-E-B staff to load up the trailers Pallets of boxes were loaded with briskets, large chicken quarters, sausage, green beans, potato salad and other fixings.

There was little time to spare as late evening came and went. Teams were working hard through the cold, wind and rain to ensure the dinner for the Texas National Guard Troops was a success. The BBQ team from VFW Post 10429 Benbrook prepped and seasoned briskets first.

H-E-B has been a great supporter of veteran organizations and the VFW. They graciously donated all the food supplies for the troops.

With daylight fading fast and more members arriving in Eagle Pass, everyone was getting excited to get over to the Base to fire up their smokers. Located next door to the old Radar Base, TX (formerly Eagle Pass Army Airfield), arrival seemed seral upon entry going through the old stomping grounds of abandoned barracks and other buildings as everyone traverses trough the active Mobile Base site. With all 3 initial groups arriving and moving into place, the massive unloading effort began swiftly as a plan was deriving for food prep.

A lot of coordination of available cooking space and timing was a huge factor for getting all the meats cooked to perfection. Working through the night and no sleep in sight, this didn’t deter these veterans from pushing through to accomplish their mission

Continued on page 6.

Radar Base, TX Military History

Radar Base, TX was formerly the Eagle Pass Army Airfield active during World War II and operated as the United States Army Air Forces training base from 1943 until 1945. During the Cold War, the base name was changed to Eagle Pass Air Force Station (ADC ID: TM-188) and was utilized as a United States Air Force Radar facility. In 1962, the base was known as Laughlin Air Force Auxiliary Landing Field #1 and used as a pilot training school until closing in 1991.