Live Updates?
To get live updates from local and county authorities on emergent issues, follow our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/wimberleycommunityemergencyresponse
Community Resource Guide
Every other year the Barnabas Connection publishes a free print resource directory listing numerous local resources to assist families, individuals and the elderly.
The directories are available through the Barnabas Connection and can also be picked up at the Wimberley Village Library.
Online Job Connection
The Barnabas Connection hosts a FREE online job posting site for employers and people looking for work through a Facebook group –https://www.facebook.com/groups/wimberleyemployment/ . (Must be a Facebook user to access.) If you are on Facebook, please post your employment opportunity directly in the group. Or you can email director@barnabasconnects.org with your job posting and contact information and we will post it for you.
Help us spread the word to local merchants!
Online Local Housing Location Assistance
The Barnabas Connection hosts a FREE online group to help landlords and those looking for housing in the Wimberley Valley connect through a Facebook group –https://www.facebook.com/groups/wimberleyrentals/ . (Must be a Facebook user to access.) If you are on Facebook, please post directly in the group. Or you can email director@barnabasconnects.org with your rental and contact information and we will post it for you.
Help us spread the word to local landlords!
Covid19 and 2021 Winter Storm
In 2020, Barnabas created an emergency relief program that that was first used to respond to the impact of COVID-19 in our community. Through this fund, we were able to support the community with over $100,000 in relief. Many of these were families with children in WISD who had either had Covid ( some with multiple family members) or those who had lost hours at work or lost their jobs completely . As part of the COVID Response, Barnabas worked with local sewing groups to provide over 1,000 reusable masks ( enough for every student and teacher in WISD). In addition, Barnabas was able to make sure that special clear mouth masks were available for teachers in early childhood-2nd grade and special education. In addition to masks, Barnabas was able to donate extra tissues, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, and masks for every campus.
One of the major needs that was brought to light during the pandemic, was the level of food insecurity in Wimberley, especially during times of Crisis. Barnabas worked with local churches and nonprofits to create a food program for families that needed food during the extended breaks. This was done at the end of the 2019-2020 school year for summer, during the 2020 winter break, during the 2021 winter storm, and again during the 2020- 2021 summer. Plans are already in the works to continue this program each winter and summer.
During the winter storm, we worked to support the community by manning our HELPline as community called in for assistance. We partnered with the WISD, churches, businesses ,and Nonprofits, to provide food, water, blankets, and more to community members in need in the first days of the storm. The needs continued to be so high in the following days that a partnership was established at Cypress Creek Church and many other nonprofits and churches for a drive through water and food distribution and a Community meal through the First Baptist Church.
Barnabas has recently purchased a physical location and is working with local community leaders, nonprofits, churches, and business to plan for how we can continue helping Community members and their children. Our goal is to be able to provide the families in the WISD with the tools they need to be thriving and self sufficient and when needed to be able to provide an emergency shelter in times of community Crisis.
Flood Relief
After the Memorial Day 2015 flood disaster, the Barnabas Connection began providing emergency assistance and ongoing case management and flood recovery and rebuilding assistance. Clients must have lived in the boundaries of Wimberley ISD and had a primary residence impacted by flooding during Memorial Day or the All Saints floods in 2015. To learn more, please contact 512-842-9674.
