NEW RED CROSS PARTNERSHIP CREATES DISASTER FEEDING KITCHEN WITH PRICE CENTER

The Price Center & Garden has entered into a partnership agreement with the American Red Cross Community Adaption Program (CAP). The new partnership is providing funding to the Center to convert its current outdated kitchen into one that could function in the event of a disaster as a kitchen for emergency food prep and distribution as part of an ongoing recovery effort.

The Red Cross is making a substantial investment by providing all new and enhanced appliances to update the existing service kitchen while the Price Center is utilizing savings and reserve facility improvement funds from last year’s campaign to complete the remodeling project.

“The Price Center is such a well-known and accessible venue in San Marcos making it an ideal location for a disaster feeding kitchen,” states Alyssa Ramirez, Hays County CAP Coordinator. “We are so thankful for the organization’s willingness to serve the community in this way. These partnerships are ensuring San Marcos, and Hays County, are more ready, resilient, and equipped in times of emergencies.

This stock shot of disaster food prep is used merely for illustration.

The partnership came about through the efforts of relatively new Price Center board member Brent Salone, who presented the opportunity to the board earlier this spring. The new partnership enhances the Price Center’s contribution to the community by being a direct part of response and recovery efforts and connects the Center to the area-wide Hays Resilience Network of local Red Cross partners for other potential coordination and collaboration.

This initiative demonstrates the American Red Cross’ commitment to lessen the impact of extreme weather events and disaster caused displacement in high-risk areas. Main goals of the program include helping people safely remain in their homes, improving the conditions for those who are forced from their homes, and accelerating access to healthy and stable living environments before, during, and after disasters. Hays County is one of just nineteen counties throughout the nation that the Red Cross has invested in through the Community Adaptation Program. 

Ready for a glow up: the 50+-year-old former church kitchen is gone, and the blank slate is ready to be transformed into a better functioning space for venue-renting clients of the Center and in the event of a disaster.

“The partnership is the perfect example of the kind of win, win relationships we enjoy with a number of individuals and organizations that help keep the Price Center fully operating,” said Clay DeStefano, executive director. “We could not be more pleased for the opportunity or grateful for the funds to take on this much needed renovation and enhancement,” he added.

The enhanced kitchen at the Price Center is slated to be ready to respond to disaster recovery with food prep and/or pre-made food distributed through the facility by late-June. Volunteer recruitment and community education are additional commitments the Price Center has made to the Red Cross as part of the agreement.

Full kitchen demolition began after some flooring and plumbing repairs were completed by the city, which owns the property. Reconstruction began May 26 and is expected to last approximately 3 weeks. 

For more information about any of the activities at the Price Center, please call 512-392-2900, stop by the Center at 222 W. San Antonio St., visit price-center.org or Facebook @ Price Center and Garden or Instagram @smtxpricecenter.