Photo by JP EichmillerEmployees, volunteers and community members gathered Oct. 16 for a dedication and ribbon cutting at the Round Rock Area Serving Center. The Serving Center was able to pay off all of the debt owed on its facility in July through the assistance of grants and donations.
In its more than 26 years of operation, the Round Rock Area Serving Center has evolved from operating out of the back of the car of founders Joe and Vera Bloomer to a successful nonprofit reaching out to more than 1,200 households every month with food, clothing and living assistance.
On Oct. 16, staff, volunteers and community members gathered at the nonprofit's headquarters near downtown Round Rock for a dedication of the building as well as a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate paying off the debt owed on its property. The nonprofit moved into the $1.5 million, 13,000-square-foot facility in 2006.
"Our focus has been to pay off our building as fast as we can," RRASC Executive Director Lori Scott said. "Now even more of our focus can be on helping families."
In December 2012 the RRASC received a $245,000 matching grant from the St. David's Foundation to use for capital funding. With the addition of local donations, the nonprofit was able to pay off its debt balance in July, Scott said. In addition, St. David's awarded the center with $150,000 in program funding for 2013 and 2014—revenue that has allowed the organization to increase its full-time staff to five employees, Scott said.
