When Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas Coast in August, the Blanconia Volunteer Fire Department’s station was significantly damaged. Hurricane force winds peeled tin from their building and bent the steal support structure, destroying a community staple that stood firm on the land since 1999.
Although the building is in shambles, the community of people that make up the fire department are resilient and intent on rebuilding. Replacing the building, which was uninsured, will be a costly endeavor, so San Patricio Electric Cooperative made a donation to help ease some of the burden.
SPEC, in partnership with CoBank, presented the non-profit organization with $10,000 on October 20.
“We know volunteer fire departments are critical to safety in our rural communities,” said Ron Hughes, San Patricio Electric Cooperative general manager. “We are proud to support the Blanconia Volunteer Fire Department as they rebuild and continue serving the community.”
SPEC’s Board of Directors approved a $5,000 donation to the Blanconia VFD in September. In hopes of doubling the amount, SPEC applied to CoBank’s Sharing Success program, which matches co-op donations. CoBank approved the application, and brought the total donation up to $10,000 for the organization.
CoBank’s Sharing Success program began in 2012 as a way to give back to co-ops and the non-profits they support. Since the program’s inception, CoBank and its customers have together provided nearly $20 million in support to charitable organizations across the nation.
SPEC and CoBank have partnered on similar donations in the past through the Sharing Success program. Together, we donated $5,000 to the South Texas Woman’s Shelter and $5,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Beeville in 2016. In years past, donations of $10,000 were made to the Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas, South Texas Council Boy Scouts and South Texas Children’s Home.
If you are also interested donating to the Blanconia Volunteer Fire Department, checks can be sent to P.O. Box 922, Refugio, TX 78377.