The United Way of Williamson County hosted its annual Day of Caring event Sept. 11. The event drew 300 volunteers to work on various projects at 21 locations throughout Williamson County, including repairing homes, painting school lockers, cleaning and prepping outdoor classrooms, visiting with seniors, reading to students, spreading mulch and planting gardens, and sorting donations. The kickoff event at The Dell Diamond in Round Rock included a short program marking the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2011 terror attacks. www.unitedway-wc.org This holiday season, officials with Georgetown nonprofit The Caring Place hope to collect 250,000 pounds of food for families in need. The nonprofit is collecting donations of food, money and coats until Dec. 31. Along with providing food through its Hunger Free Holidays program, the organization will distribute coats through its Coats for Kids program as well as provide holiday meal assistance in November. The group will also host its annual Sweets Treats and Trees fundraiser Nov. 12 from 6-9 p.m. at the The Shops at The Caring Place, 2000 Railroad Ave. Attendees can try homemade treats and coffee while shopping for decorations, lights and faux Christmas trees. www.caringplacetx.org Chisholm Trail Communities Foundation will host the second round of its Fast Pitch funding competition, which awards grant funding to individuals and nonprofits working in Williamson County. The event Oct. 15 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the McKinney Ministry Center, 410 E. University Ave., is open to the public and free to attend. Thirteen finalists are given 90 seconds to pitch their nonprofits to a set of judges and community members. Judges and the audience are able to ask questions of each finalist and vote for their favorite. Four grants of varying amounts totaling $30,000 are awarded at the end of the event. www.chisholm-trail.org The Boys & Girls Club of Georgetown celebrated the opening of its new consolidated location in the former Carver Elementary School, 1200 W. 17th St., with an open house event Sept. 12. The club consolidated its former Stonehaven and Park Lane units into the new location Aug. 24. The new facility includes a library, game rooms, an arts and crafts room, a music room, a cafeteria and a gymnasium. The Boys & Girls Club provides after-school and summer programs for children ages 6-17. Club membership costs $10 a year, and the club offers transportation from Georgetown ISD schools, although space is limited, Branch Director Daniel Anstee said. www.bgcgeorgetown.org

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Featured NONPROFIT

NAMI Austin

NAMI Austin, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, offers free classes, support groups, community education and advocacy for the Central Texas community, Executive Director Karen Ranus said.

[caption id="attachment_97306" align="alignright" width="460"] NAMI Austin volunteer Emily Wolfe shares her story of living with a mental illness as part of the “Ending the Silence” program.[/caption]

“It’s difficult for people … because of the shame and stigma that exists in our culture about mental health,” Ranus said. “I continue to be emboldened by the fact that the mental health conversation is changing.”

As part of its educational programs, NAMI Austin began “Ending the Silence,” a mental health awareness presentation given to middle and high school-age youth in the classroom. A NAMI-trained team, including a young adult living in recovery with a mental health condition, leads the program, Ranus said.

“The program introduces kids to the early warning signs of mental health conditions or suicide that [he or she] may see in themselves or their friends,” she said.

Other programs include a free 12-week Family-to-Family class offered at the Bluebonnet Trails Community Services building, located at 1009 N. Georgetown St. in Round Rock.

The class for family and friends of adults living with mental illnesses is focused on helping people understand and support their loved ones with mental illness while maintaining their own well-being, Ranus said.

The Bluebonnet Trails Community Services building also hosts family and peer support groups.

“All of our programming is peer-led,” she said. “If you teach a class or lead a support group, it’s because you have experience with living with a mental illness.”

Ranus said NAMI Austin is looking to find ways to expand its family and peer support groups in Williamson County; however more volunteers are needed to make it possible.

“It’s about finding the people willing to commit [to serving],” she said. “We are very much aware of the needs and we want to continue to provide programming in their community, but we need their help.”

Want to get involved?

The organization is looking for volunteers to serve as support group leaders and Family-to-Family class leaders. NAMI Austin will host a Family-to-Family course training Oct. 30-Nov. 1 from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. at 4110 Guadalupe St. in Austin. Materials and meals are provided at no cost, and prospective teachers must be a family member of an individual with a mental illness, be willing to become a NAMI Austin member and commit to teaching two classes within a two-year period. Volunteers must also submit an application and go through an interview process.

NAMI Austin 4110 Guadalupe St., Bldg. 781, Austin 512-420-9810 www.namiaustin.org