NOVEMBER FOCUS
Giving Thanks and Giving Back
GAVIN'S GIFT OF GRACE
Cart Castle • November 15
OPERATION LIBERTY HILL
The Giving Tree & Silver Bells
Behind Every Good Deed
THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP
LIBERTY HILL GIVING
THE GIVING ISSUE
Communities thrive when neighbors step up to care for one another, and local nonprofits are at the heart of that effort. From providing basic needs assistance to local families, to offering rides and companionship for seniors, to connecting veterans through service and advocacy—the organizations featured this month meet critical needs while fostering connection and hope in and around Liberty Hill.
This month's Q&A series highlights the missions, programs, and stories behind several Central Texas nonprofits, showing how volunteers, staff, and donors work together to make a meaningful difference in the lives of their neighbors.
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GAVIN’S GIFT OF GRACE SUPPORTS GRIEVING FAMILIES
In 2018, Amy and Adam Gouldie lost their five-month-old son, Gavin Grant, to sudden infant death syndrome. It was an earth-shattering loss they couldn’t have overcome, Amy says, if not for the family and friends who carried them through those early weeks. The Leander couple asked themselves, “What if we didn’t have all this support? We would be completely lost.
We decided that day to do what we could to help other families have the kind of support we had.
The following year, Amy and Adam founded Gavin’s Gift of Grace (GGG) to support families who have lost a child from birth to 18 years old. The organization assists with financial needs like funeral arrangements, therapy, rent, groceries, car payments, car packages, and peer-to-peer support. “Death is expensive, and grief is expensive too,” Amy says. “Most families aren’t prepared for something like this. Many parents can’t return to work right away, and bills start piling up. We just try to figure out what the family needs most and help meet that need.”
Gavin’s Gift of Grace receives requests for support both from families themselves as well as many organizations including Dell Children’s Hospice, the Austin Police Department, the Williamson County Sheriff ’s Office, and area funeral homes. “You don’t realize how often it happens until it touches your life,” Amy says. “In the Austin area alone, it’s far more common than most people know.”
Legacy of ♥ Love
HONORING GAVIN’S LEGACY
To honor Gavin’s legacy, GGG hosts several community fundraisers each year, including Amplify Austin in March, a spring golf tournament, and the annual Gearing for Gavin Car Show—a family friendly event featuring classic cars, food, snow cones, raffles, and activities for kids.
NOVEMBER 15, 10AM TO 1PM
CART CASTLE • 111 CR 214
TURNING GRIEF INTO PURPOSE
For Amy, some of the most healing moments come from speaking directly with families. “Sometimes they just need to talk to someone who’s been there,” she says. “It’s healing for both sides.”
Over the years, she’s watched many grieving parents channel their pain into purpose—just as she and Adam did. One mother whose daughter drowned at a camp started a nonprofit that distributes life vests and offers CPR training across Texas. Another, a local art teacher, began a scholarship fund in her son’s name after a tragic car accident. “Those are my favorite stories,” Amy says. “It’s about keeping their memory alive. One of the biggest fears is that people will forget them—but they’re not forgotten. More people know Gavin now than if he were still here.”
“We’re 100 percent volunteer-run, so every dollar donated goes directly to families,” Amy says.
For Amy and Adam, Gavin’s memory is what keeps them moving forward.
“He was the happiest, smilingest baby,” she says. “I know he’s watching over us. I like to think he’s pretty proud of us.”
To learn more, donate, or register for upcoming events, email info@gavinsgiftofgrace.org, scan the code to visit GavinsGiftOfGrace.org or follow Gavin’s Gift of Grace on Facebook and Instagram.
Hope House
FOffering loving, permanent “family-style” homes for children and adults with profound disabilities, providing 24/7 care, therapies and enrichment.
A Legacy of Compassionate Disability Care
or more than 50 years, Hope House has been known as a refuge for profoundly disabled children—a place where compassion meets care. But behind the walls of this quiet sanctuary are everyday miracles that rarely make the headlines.
One of those miracles belongs to a little boy named Richard1 When he arrived at Hope House, his file was heartbreaking. He was nonverbal, medically fragile, and had spent his short life moving between institutions and shelters. The paperwork said he was “unlikely to communicate.”
But the caregivers at Hope House saw more. Day after day, they read to him, sang softly, and rocked him gently, even when he gave no response. Over time, they learned his form of communication—simple signs for “eat” or “bathroom.” And then one afternoon, during a quiet song before therapy, Richard signed something new—a small, deliberate gesture in the shape of a house. He was telling them he was home. For the first time in his life, he knew where he belonged—and he found the word for it.
1 Not his real name
At Hope House, the children are not just cared for—they are loved. They live in a true family environment where caregivers provide 24-hour support, helping with supervision, dressing, bathing, and daily routines. Each child is given not only medical attention, but a forever home—a sense of belonging they may never have known before.
The heart of Hope House beats through the people who serve there. When the children’s home flooded on July 5th, hundreds of volunteers showed up to help clean and rebuild. Yet the true heroes, the staff, worked nonstop for two weeks—without time
off—to bring the children back home. They don’t work for the paycheck; they work for love. Their patience, skill, and dedication give these children what they’ve been missing all their lives: consistent care and unconditional affection.
But with that love comes a challenge. Children with the level of disabilities that Hope House accepts often face wait times of up to ten years to find permanent placement. The organization receives six to twelve new applications each month, but space is limited. Even after opening a fifth home this year—welcoming eight more children—many still wait.
Funding remains one of the biggest hurdles. State support covers only about 80 percent of the cost of care, leaving Hope House to rely on private foundations and the generosity of individuals to fill the gap.
Still, the mission continues—one child, one home, one miracle at a time. Because at Hope House, love isn’t a program. It’s a promise.
by Ann Marie Kennon
Seeds of Strength Where Collective Giving Blooms
Sixteen years ago, 13 friends decided to turn generosity into action. They pooled their resources, gathered 55 women willing to give $1,000 each, and awarded $55,000 in grants to five nonprofits. That simple act of shared purpose blossomed into Seeds of Strength (SoS)—a philanthropic giving circle that has since grown to as many as 300 members in some seasons, and invested nearly $2.4 million in the lives of more than 65,000 Williamson County neighbors.
Unlike traditional fundraising organizations, Seeds of Strength has no corporate sponsors and holds no fundraisers. Every dollar comes directly from members—women who want to see their contributions make a tangible difference close to home.
Each spring, the group awards annual grants to local nonprofits. The 2024 awards totaled $161,500, supporting organizations such as Austin Sunshine Camps, BiG, CASA, Capital IDEA, Faith in Action, The Georgetown Project, YMCA, and A Gift of Time. Together, these programs served more than 1,200 local clients—a testament to how a single contribution can multiply into widespread impact.
HOW IT WORKS
Nonprofits serving Williamson County may apply for funding through a detailed grant application, available under the Grants tab on the Seeds of Strength website. The board has worked diligently to make the process less intensive and the Grants Committee reviews every submission, ensuring applicants have the capacity and accountability to carry out their proposed projects. Finalists are invited to submit videos outlining their proposals, which are distributed to all members who then vote online. Winners are announced at the May event. Following the award, each nonprofit is assigned a program manager who monitors progress throughout the year.
“This is the right organization for anyone who’s ever wondered where their money actually goes.”
Kiersty Lombar Seeds of Strength Communications Chair
2025 Kicko�f Luncheon — Standing from le�t: President Pam Carlson, Events Chair Cindy Harrington
Seated from le�t: Rose Marie West, Nancy Sieja, Barbie Sproull, Dot Ammons, Marsi Liddell, Janet Hall Hewlett.
“Any time you get a determined group of women together, we’re absolutely going to change the world.”
Cat Phelps, Executive Director Georgetown Family YMCA
MEMBERSHIP & ANNUAL EVENTS
Membership in Seeds of Strength is open to any woman who wishes to give—no invitation required. Contributions begin at $300, and members may join at any time throughout the year. Funds collected by March 1 go toward the next grant cycle, with new grants awarded each spring.
The organization’s fiscal year begins July 1, celebrated with the Fall Luncheon, where members and guests renew, reconnect, and rekindle their passion for giving. Other signature events include:
December Holiday Party. A fabulous event for members and potential members and grant recipients. The 2025 event is December 3 from 5–7pm at Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick. The Founder's Grant winner will be announced. This is a new award created to honor the time, energy and exceptional work that each grant applicant provides.
Each December SOS Founders Grant committee chooses from among applicants not awarded a grant in May for the Founders Grant award. Last year’s $5,000 first recipient was Simple Sparrow Care Farm.
Wine, Women, Chocolate & Giving (February) – a fun mid-year membership mixer.
Annual Awards Luncheon (May) Recipients share stories of lives touched by SoS grants.
ROOTED IN SERVICE
From funding youth programs and senior services to supporting education and family well-being, Seeds of Strength lives up to its motto: A Circle of Women Empowering Change.
2025 KICKOFF
This year’s Fall Luncheon marked the official kickoff of the 2025–26 giving season, welcoming more than 100 members and guests to celebrate another year of generosity and impact. It was an afternoon of inspiration, storytelling, and friendship—an invitation for every attendee to join the next wave of women who will help shape Williamson County’s future.
“When I saw the difference SoS made for local nonprofits, I knew I wanted to be part of it.”
Janet Hall Hewlett, Board Member
“A friend invited me, and I was moved by what I saw. The work we do is so compelling—you can see the impact in people’s lives.”
Barbie Sproull, Board of Directors
“It touched my soul to see how many organizations are quietly doing extraordinary things for our community.”
Marsi Liddell, Past President
HOW TO JOIN
WHO: Any woman passionate about giving
MINIMUM GIFT: $300 annually
WHEN: Join any time; donations before March 1 apply to the current giving cycle
FOLLOW: @seedsofstrength on Facebook and seedsofstrength_gtx on Instagram
WHERE: SeedsOfStrength.org
Conni Reed, Founder and Owner of Consuela Bags in Austin highlights how her company partners with and supports small businesses in Mexico
Seeds of Strength President Pam Carlson and Kiersty Lombar, Communications Chair (encouraging members and guests to follow Seeds of Strength on Facebook.
LIBERTY HILL PROGRAMS BRING
HOLIDAY CHEER TO KIDS AND SENIORS
During the holiday season, Operation Liberty Hill’s Giving Tree and Silver Bells programs rally the community to make sure every child and senior in Liberty Hill feels remembered and celebrated.
The purpose of Giving Tree is to ensure the low- and no-income children of our community have a bright and merry Christmas— that no one falls through the cracks. Silver Bells brings connection and support to our golden residents,” program director Regina O’Brien says.
CHRISTMAS FOR EVERY CHILD
The Giving Tree, formerly known as the Angel Tree, provides holiday gifts for children from birth through 12th grade who live within the Liberty Hill ISD boundaries. Each child’s wishes are printed on an ornament and displayed anonymously on a Christmas tree at the Liberty Hill Public Library. Community members can “adopt” an ornament, purchasing a $75 gift card for clothing and $50 worth of wish-list items. Don’t forget to include a roll of Christmas wrapping paper and tape!
Unwrapped gifts should be placed in a laundry basket and dropped off at a designated location on Friday, December 12. The Giving Tree committee reviews all donations to ensure each child receives a complete basket. If a gift card is missing or a child’s basket doesn’t meet the minimum suggested value, a committee member will go shopping that night to make sure all the children have a wonderful Christmas.
Local businesses, churches, and individuals can also donate $25 H-E-B gift cards to add extra cheer. Volunteers are welcome to help wrap gifts, deliver baskets, or contribute financially—every effort helps brighten a child’s holiday.
For more information about the Giving Tree and Silver Bells, visit operationlh.org or call 512-778-4176.
SILVER BELLS FOR SENIORS
Silver Bells matches seniors—age 60 and older within LHISD boundaries—with sponsors who provide gifts and holiday cheer. Registration closes November 21 and can be completed online (either for yourself or on behalf of a senior) at , or with paper forms at Operation Liberty Hill, 1402 N. Hwy. 183, Leander. Sponsors can hand-deliver gifts from seniors’ wishlists—like a gingerbread house one senior requested in a previous year—and visits often lead to natural, ongoing connections that continue well beyond the holidays.
Sponsors can sign up for Silver Bells by emailing lhsilverbells@gmail.com or calling 303408-4124.
contributed by Stephanie Acker, president and co-founder of Dwelling Place
Dwelling Place
At the heart of one Liberty Hill nonprofit’s mission lies a simple but powerful goal—to keep foster families going strong. Nearly half of all first-time foster families stop fostering within their first year, often due to exhaustion, lack of resources, or isolation. This organization is changing that story through proactive, wraparound services that offer families the encouragement, training, and community support they need to continue caring for children from hard places.
What the team didn’t expect was how their work would ripple outward. As they walked alongside foster and adoptive parents, they began meeting people who were simply curious about the process—people who, through seeing this love in action, found themselves saying yes to fostering or adoption for the first time. That unexpected wave of compassion has become one of the organization’s most humbling and beautiful results.
Serving foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers through intentional community, prayer, respite, educational opportunities, and tangible needs in holy obedience.
deeply shapes their present behavior. “When teachers, neighbors, police officers, and pastors all learn to recognize trauma and respond with empathy, it changes everything,” says the team. “Awareness isn’t just education—it’s the foundation for changing lives.”
As Liberty Hill continues to grow, Dwelling Place sees both challenge and opportunity ahead. Doubling in size would mean more families in need of support—and more potential helpers ready to step up. Every new home represents another chance for someone to make a difference.
One of their most heartfelt offerings happens during Parents’ Night Out events. These evenings give caregivers a few hours of rest and recharge—but the most meaningful moment often comes in the form of a handwritten note. Each caregiver receives a personal message of encouragement, recog-
nizing the unseen challenges of their journey. “These parents do extraordinary work every day,” says Stephanie Acker, president and co-founder of Dwelling Place. “It’s our way of saying, ‘We see you, we’re with you, and we’re cheering you on.’” Those notes often become small lifelines, tucked into mirrors or journals as daily reminders that they are not alone.
While the nonprofit has made powerful strides in supporting foster, adoptive, and kinship families, one of its biggest challenges remains community awareness about trauma-informed care—the understanding that a child’s past pain
Because at the end of the day, their message is simple and strong:
Not everyone can foster or adopt, but everyone can do something — because every child and caregiver deserves a village behind them.
Lace Up For a Great Cause!
The Liberty Hill community is gearing up for one of its most anticipated holiday traditions—the 2nd Annual Jingle Bell 5K & 1K Fun Run, proudly presented by the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce and benefitting the Liberty Hill ISD Education Foundation. This festive event will take place on Saturday, December 13th, at Santa Rita Middle School, bringing together families, friends, and local businesses to celebrate the season while supporting education in a fun, healthy, and meaningful way.
“The Jingle Bell Run isn’t just about crossing the finish line, it’s about making a difference,” says Mike Bowles, president of the Liberty Hill ISD Education Foundation. “Each registration directly supports the LHISD Education Foundation, which provides grants, resources, and opportunities for teachers and students across the district.
In addition, $5 from every entry will be donated to the LHISD school of your choice, making this event an exciting opportunity to show school spirit while giving back to classrooms right here in our community. ~Mike Bowles
Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome to participate. The 1K Kids Fun Run kicks off at 8am, followed by the 5K Run at 8:30am. Whether you’re a competitive runner, a casual jogger, or simply looking for a joyful way to spend your Saturday morning, the Jingle Bell Run offers something for everyone. Dress in your most festive holiday gear—bells, antlers, Santa hats, and all—and join your neighbors for a morning filled with cheer, community spirit, and exercise.
Last year’s inaugural event drew more than 400 participants, creating an atmosphere of laughter, unity, and holiday excitement. This year, organizers are expecting an even bigger turnout as word spreads about the fun and impact of the run. Proceeds from the event will continue to support innovative programs and resources that help Liberty Hill students thrive academically and personally.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Bring your family, friends, and holiday spirit to the 2nd Annual Liberty Hill Jingle Bell 5K & 1K Kids Fun Run. Together, we can celebrate the joy of the season while helping our schools shine brighter than ever. For registration and additional details, scan the QR code or contact the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce at execdirector@libertyhillchamber.org. “Let’s make this December 13th a morning to remember— filled with jingling bells, festive smiles, and a whole lot of community pride!”, Steven Schiff, Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce President says.
SECURITY THEATER: Sequels No One Asked For
Belle is excited about seeing family this year because nothing says “holiday spirit” like undressing in public for the TSA.
Since a lot of us will be going somewhere over the next couple of months—whether to see family, avoid them, or gather around a table and argue about politics—I thought I’d kick off the season with something uplifting: a recent trip through airport security that did not make me question my life choices.
No shoe removal. No forced Tetris with quart-sized bags. No barked commands to “take off your headband” while juggling my dignity and a backpack full of not-airline-food snacks. I arrived a mere 75 minutes before takeoff and breezed through like it was 1999.
Honestly, it was so smooth, it made me suspicious. Because let’s face it—we all suspect the party won’t last. All it takes is one crazy moron tying his pants with det cord and suddenly we’re back to Patriot Act II: Now With More Body Scanners So now I'm worried I'll get just comfortable enough that we’ve reached a turning point, and then BAM—here comes security theater, dragging us all back into the spotlight of an encore production of "Paranoia: The Musical."
Meanwhile, back home, thanks to criminals migrating from airports to airpods I have to recite my birthdate, full name, address, phone number, and possibly my high school GPA just to confirm a dental appointment. It’s not a missile launch, Madam Secretary. I’m just trying to see if it’s still Tuesday at 2:30 and whether I’m getting the cinnamon fluoride.
It’s the same brand of bureaucratic brilliance that shows up when you try to help your elderly mother pay her electric bill, and the customer service rep says, “Sorry, ma’am, we can’t take your payment unless your name is on the account.”
Oh, I see. You don't want MY money? You’d prefer to turn off mom's lights because she can’t remember which phone PIN she created for you in 2014 and there's no way in the world she's going to figure out where Venmo is.
And let’s just take a moment to fully appreciate the logic breakdown here. I’m not trying to access her bank account. I’m not trying to change her address. I’m not even asking to cancel anything.
I’m literally just trying to give them money. For a service they already provided. That is past due. But apparently, unless I can prove I am, in fact, 87 years old and holding the original utility agreement in one hand and my birth certificate in the other, my money is suspicious.
Let me assure you, electricity paladins, I am not a criminal mastermind running an elaborate scam in order to pay my mom’s electric bill. There’s no underground black market for bringing other people’s utilities up to date. Absolutely no one is out here bragging, “Hey man, I just paid for someone’s water and trash pickup — I'm a total OG.”
So now what? I’m supposed to let her account go delinquent because the system is more afraid of a helpful daughter than a missed payment? I guess that's what passes for enterprise security these days.
It’s the same pattern everywhere — more rules, more procedures, and less actual sense.
We’ve built systems that are so desperate to avoid liability, they’ve forgotten how to function logically. Which brings me to one rule that does feel a bit like a holiday gift: the de-evolution in Texas public schools now that connected devices are banned during instruction hours.
Frankly? Hallelujah. It’s the first time in a long while we have hit the brakes on the madness in a way that might actually help. I hear from teachers and see, as an occasional substitute myself, that kids are rediscovering biology is actually interesting and the Monroe Doctrine still matters—even if you can't lip-sync it with an otter filter.
And let’s not forget the ancient pre-smartphone art of passing handwritten notes. Remember those? Folded like origami, passed like state secrets. The security risk back then was the teacher reading it aloud, exposing your crush or your spelling errors—both of which were instant social death. Because honestly, “U r a dumhead” doesn’t land the same when written in glitter gel pen without autocorrect.
So yes, while you’re packing your bags this season, I invite you to give thanks for the little things—a faster TSA line, the joy of wearing socks in public, and the blessed silence of disconnected teenagers who might actually look up and notice how perfectly browned your turkey is.
It may not sparkle like a holiday ad, but this kind of normalcy? That’s the gift that keeps on giving. Happy Thanksgiving, Liberty Hill!
