Neighbors Who Answer the Call: Honoring Hill Country First Responders

Across the Hill Country, first responders are neighbors, coworkers, friends, and volunteers who step forward when our communities need them most. 

They are law enforcement officers responding to calls at all hours; EMS professionals providing lifesaving care on long rural roads; firefighters protecting homes, ranches, and businesses; and volunteers who give their time to make sure help is available close to home. 

September 11 is Texas First Responders Day, a statewide observance recognizing the courage and commitment of Texans who serve during crises and emergencies. In the Hill Country, it is also a chance to recognize the people who help keep our communities safe. 

Since its founding, Create Healthy has supported first responder organizations throughout our service area, including volunteer fire departments in Fredericksburg, Comfort, Doss, Harper, Johnson City, Llano, Mason, Round Mountain, Stonewall, Tierra Linda, and Willow City, as well as the Blanco County Emergency Services Auxiliary. 

That support has included direct contributions and sponsorships for fish fries, appreciation dinners, and other community events that help departments raise funds, maintain local services, and recognize the volunteers who make their service possible. 

We also invest in their health and well-being. 

This year, Create Healthy contributed $150,000 to Foundation Funds for the Fredericksburg Police, EMS, and Fire Departments to support first responders in purchasing a home. First responders can apply to their respective funds for grants to help with down payments and closing costs when purchasing a home in Gillespie County. 

Create Healthy also covers monthly Create Healthy Wellness Center membership fees for City of Fredericksburg law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel. 

“First response has always been rooted in neighbors taking care of neighbors,” said Jayne Pope, RN, MBA, FACHE, president and CEO of Create Healthy. “Our first responders see people on some of the hardest days of their lives, and they do it with courage, compassion, and an extraordinary sense of responsibility to this community. Supporting them is not separate from our mission to improve health and well-being. It is part of building communities where people can feel safe, connected, and cared for.” 

Supporting First Responders as They Grow Their Careers 

For first responders looking to advance their skills, earn additional certifications, or return to school, Create Healthy’s Adult Learner Scholarship Program can also help make continuing education more attainable. 

The scholarship supports adults in the Hill Country who are pursuing education or training that can strengthen their careers and expand their ability to serve their communities. That can include first responders working toward additional credentials, certifications, degrees, or other educational opportunities related to their profession. 

By helping reduce financial barriers to education, Create Healthy is investing not only in individual first responders, but also in the long-term capacity and resilience of the communities they serve. 

Building Stronger Support Beyond the Emergency 

First responders are often called into situations where the immediate emergency is only one part of a larger challenge. 

A person may also be experiencing a mental health crisis, housing instability, food insecurity, or other needs that cannot be solved in a single interaction. That is why Create Healthy supported the development of HillCountryResources.org, a free online directory where residents, first responders, and social services professionals can find local resources for mental health, food, housing, family services, and other needs. 

For first responders, having a stronger network of local resources means having more places to turn when someone needs support after the immediate crisis has passed. 

“We use the Hill Country Resources Directory almost daily to help us connect members of our community with essential supports. It has proven a valuable addition to our toolbox to quickly and easily identify available local resources and providers that are ready and able to help,” said James Kruse, Mental Health Deputy at the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office. 

Thank You to Those Who Serve 

Texas First Responders Day is a chance to recognize the people behind the uniforms, fire stations, ambulances, patrol vehicles, and volunteer departments throughout the Hill Country. 

To the first responders who answer the call: thank you for giving your time, your skills, and your service to the communities we all call home. 

The Hill Country is stronger because you are here.