The Caring Place, a faith-based nonprofit located in Georgetown, will open outreach offices in Florence, Granger and Jarrell on a six-month trial basis.

The nonprofit, which addresses the basic human needs of people within its service area, announced the initiative in a news release April 28. The offices are scheduled to open in June and aim to provide services to those in the more rural communities of Williamson County who are experiencing financial hardships and have limited access to resources, according to the news release.

"We know that transportation can be a critical barrier to peoples' ability to receive the help they need," Executive Director Ginna O'Connor said. "We feel that it's the right time to venture out from our location in Georgetown to assist people in crisis in the outlying areas that we serve."

The Caring Place aims to help families in crisis by providing food, clothing, basic household items, assistance with rent, mortgage and utility bills. All services the nonprofit offers will be available at the outreach locations, though people needing food, clothing or household goods will need to visit the location in Georgetown, according to the news release.

The nonprofit will work with partners in these rural communities, including the Granger Community Food Pantry, the Florence Chamber of Commerce and Jarrell United Methodist Church.

Judy Gotcher, the chairperson of the Granger Community Food Pantry, said in the news release the outreach program will be a blessing to the residents of Granger.

"Granger has a large population of elderly who barely make it month to month. When something major happens, whether medical, physical or material, the cost is overwhelming to them," she said. "They pray that help will come. Our poverty level in Granger is high. Just to know help is there will be a welcome relief."

At the end of the six-month pilot period in November, The Caring Place will evaluate the outreach initiative and determine what the next steps will be in each community.