CRRC Breaks Ground for New Facility

Darin Zumwalt, executive director of CRRC of Canyon Lake, says construction is now underway for a new building.

Many locals have noticed the construction fencing that went up on the empty lot next to the CRRC main office building in Sattler.

Eventually, inside that fencing, an 11,000-square-foot facility will erupt, eventually housing the organization’s resource program.

The resource program houses an emergency food pantry, financial assistance, Meals on Wheels distribution, and medical equipment loans. However, in the new facility, more services and opportunities will be available, including mental health counseling; medical screenings/clinics; WIC registration; diet-and-nutrition classes; and more.

CRRC began the planning process five years ago, citing a new facility for the resource program as the number-one priority.

The Canyon Lake community helped to raise $250,000 to match a $250,000 grant from the McKenna Foundation to purchase the property and begin engineering and architectural work.

The organization is continuing to fundraise for the construction because plans were enlarged from the original due to the additional needs and services.

Construction costs have also risen in the last five years due to the influx of new residents in Comal County.

This increase is also evident in the numbers of clients being served by the CRRC Food Pantry. In the past few months, 500 more people have utilized pantry food over the same period last year, a growth of around 17 percent.

A larger, and Client Choice, pantry is being planned for the new building. It will provide clients room to do their own “shopping” as well as provide more storage space for food-item stock.