LACare History

Lakes Area Care has been helping people living within the Burnet Consolidated
Independant School District since 1985. During the first month, April 1985, LACare
was "founded", organized and it's mission defined. During June of that year, "the
doors actually opened" when 12 families were helped. By July 17, they had helped an
additional 14. LACare was "off and running"!

Initially directed by Rev. Jim Wooldridge, pastor of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in
Burnet, where the "food pantry" was started/stored within the church. Working with
St. Pauls Episcopal Church were the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of
Burnet (Rev. Bob Howard), Burnet Presbyterian Church (C. D. Maxwell), Christ is the
Light Fellowship (Rev. Sally Williams and Cindy Muhle) and First United Methodist
Church of Burnet (Rev. Rick Waters). On April 30, 1985, the "Constitution and
Bylaws of LACare, Incorporated" were reviewed, amended, and subsequently
passed/accepted by those participating in the meeting of LACare officers. The
election of officers was postponed until Thursday, May 16, 1985 (the next meeting) at
the Masonic Lodge in Burnet.

Later that year (May 1985), LACare moved into the Old Masonic Lodge Hall at 313
South Main Street in Burnet.

The September 1985 issue of "The LACare Gazette" noted the addition of a sixth
church, Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church had voted to join LACare, though
the paperwork required had not been completed at that time. Nevertheless, several
members had been volunteers since the doors of LACare opened in June.

The meeting held on November 4, 1985 amended the LACare Constitution and
Bylaws to allow churches in counties adjacent to Burnet to join LACare. At that
same meeting, First Union Church of Buchanan Dam (Rev. Don Wayland) and Our
Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church (Fr. James Donnelly) applied and were accepted as
members.

The ministry of LACare continued to grow, branching into areas such as distribution
of Christmas presents to the children of needy families, gasoline vouchers to enable
transportation to/from jobs recently acquired by needy parents, school supply
vouchers, and prescription drug assistance.

LACare continued to grow, and during late January, 1986, moved to a new location -
312 South Main Street - shortly after the the "break-in" on January 17 - with over half
the food supplies being taken! .

LACare continues today, with 2,945 families helped during the year 2006! Other
statistics from 2006 include a total of 20 gasoline vouchers issued, 54 prescription
drug assistance vouchers, 42 families helped with clothing and 10 motel days! A total
of 14,850 lbs. of food was distributed in the 145 days of operation during 2006.