BEC, LCRA Award $23,000 Grant to Comfort VFW Post 8569

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From left: Steve Dyer, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Kenneth Rusch, Post 8569 commander; Jane Perilloux, grant writer; Lindsey Bertrand, BEC marketing team lead; Sam L’Huillier, Post 8569 trustee; Lori A. Berger and Michael L. "Mike" Allen, LCRA Board members; John Rolfe, Post 8569 trustee; and Leland Lingle, Post 8569 quartermaster.

COMFORT, Texas – The Veterans of Foreign Wars - Eichholz-Strube Post 8569 will update the flooring and roof in its post in downtown Comfort, thanks to a $23,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bandera Electric Cooperative.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $9,814 in matching contributions, will allow for much-needed repairs to the aging facility.

“Every time it rains, we have major leaks from the existing roof,” said Leland Lingle, quartermaster of the VFW-Eichholz-Strube Post 8569. “In addition, the flooring creates a trip-and-fall hazard for anyone using the building.”

The VFW building is used almost every day by community organizations and individuals for events such as meetings, educational programs, exercise and wellness programs, and baby and wedding showers. The space is offered at no charge to many community groups.

The building has a prime location in downtown Comfort, adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce, and these repairs will enhance its appeal to visitors and residents of the Comfort community.

The building has also been certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a temporary pass- through evacuation center in case of an emergency.

“It would have taken us years to raise the money needed for these repairs if we had not received this grant,” Lingle said. “We are very grateful to the LCRA and Bandera Electric for these much-needed funds.”

This grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which provides economic development and community assistance grants to cities, counties, volunteer fire departments, regional development councils and other nonprofit organizations in LCRA’s wholesale electric and water service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bandera Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and a part in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted from Jan. 1-31, 2020. More information is available at LCRA.org/CDPP.

Posted Thursday, November 14, 2019