Three nonprofit organizations serving Bastrop County have been selected to receive a combined $1.58 million from the St. David’s Foundation. The grant program, titled We All Benefit 2.0, is designed to reduce enrollment barriers and connect eligible residents with public benefits, food assistance, health coverage and other financial support.
Why the funding matters
According to a press release from St. David’s Foundation, many families in the county face complex systems that are difficult to navigate during times of financial hardship. “Too often, the systems designed to support people during times of financial hardship are the very systems that can be hardest to navigate,” said CEO and president Edward Burger. “These grants invest in trusted community organizations that are breaking down barriers, connecting people to critical resources and helping ensure our safety net works with greater dignity, accessibility and impact for all.”
Grant recipients and their plans
Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry will use the funding to hire trained benefits navigators at county food pantries. The navigators will assist eligible residents in enrolling in programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and Marketplace health coverage. The initiative emphasizes bilingual outreach and partnerships with local agencies to address transportation, language, digital access and geographic challenges.
Career Tracks will fund the Bridge to Benefits Rural Collaborative, a program aimed at rural residents throughout Bastrop County. The collaborative will focus on enrolling eligible households in SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and WIC, with special attention to low‑income families, older adults, people with disabilities and working families who encounter transportation or digital‑access obstacles.
Texas Legal Services Center will partner with Community Health Centers of South Central Texas to embed legal aid within rural health centers. This effort will help residents appeal denials, disenrollments and overpayment claims related to SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, CHIP, WIC and SNAP. By placing legal assistance directly in health‑care settings, the program aims to improve access to benefits for clients facing complex appeals.
Impact on the community
The We All Benefit 2.0 grants are part of a broader strategy to strengthen economic stability in Bastrop County. By reducing enrollment hurdles and providing personalized assistance, the foundation hopes to increase program participation rates, improve health outcomes, and alleviate poverty for thousands of families.
Local leaders have welcomed the funding, noting that the presence of dedicated navigators and on‑site legal support can dramatically shorten the time it takes for residents to receive needed assistance. “When families can quickly access SNAP or Medicaid, they are better able to put food on the table and keep their children healthy,” said a spokesperson for the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry.
Looking ahead
The three organizations will begin implementing their programs over the coming months, with regular reporting to the St. David’s Foundation on enrollment numbers, demographic reach and outcomes. Community members are encouraged to contact the participating nonprofits for help with benefits applications or to learn more about the services offered.
As Bastrop County continues to grow, the partnership between philanthropic foundations, nonprofit agencies and local health centers illustrates a collaborative model for addressing poverty and health insecurity while upholding the values of dignity, family stability and individual liberty.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
