In 2015, the Memorial Day and All Saints weekend floods changed the lives of hundreds of families in Blanco, Caldwell, Guadalupe, and Hays Counties. While the flood waters receded almost two years ago, many individuals who reside in the affected counties are still trying to pick up the pieces. With this ongoing need in mind, Querencia at Barton Creek, an retirement community, has joined forces with the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team to provide flood survivors with basic resources to refill their homes and start over. This ongoing partnership will provide home appliances and any other necessities to area families. When residents move to other levels of living in the community, or if they decide to clean out their closets or change appliances, they donate items to this organization. The Blanco River Regional Recovery Team was designed to assist with the long-term recovery of survivors from the Memorial Day and All Saints weekend floods.
“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done,” said Cynthia Jones, volunteer for the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team. “It’s absolutely a long-term recovery for these communities. This flood changed people’s lives in ways that far exceeded the damage, and we are dedicated to making sure everyone is able to get back on their feet. Having help from a community like Querencia makes recovery possible, and we’re so thankful for their willingness to help others.”
According to Nelda Rivas, director of housekeeping at Querencia, the senior living community has always been dedicated to assisting those in need by donating after various disasters over the years, and this particular incident hit close to home. That’s why providing appliances and other items felt like a natural fit. The community has donated refrigerators, dishwashers, clothing, food and other essentials.
“The community has rallied to help our neighbors,” said Rivas. “It’s incredibly rewarding to know that we can make a difference and give people a head start on their new beginning. We’re very proud of all our residents and team members who have contributed. Since we started, we’ve donated over a dozen appliances, and we’re excited to see how many more we can give to those in need.”
“At Querencia at Barton Creek, we are proud to work with other local organizations to positively impact the lives of people who live in the greater community,” said Nate Weyand, executive director of Querencia. “We hope that by sharing the ongoing story of those affected by the floods that it will inspire others to get involved and rebuild these local communities.”
