Coryell Health Raises Twenty Two Thousand for Gatesville Care Center

Coryell Health announced that staff, volunteers and community partners raised $22,615 during a Food for Families campaign held on November 21, 2025 as part of National Rural Health Day activities. The funds will be directed to the Gatesville Care Center to support food insecurity relief and associated community services, hospital officials said in their announcement.

The contribution came from a combination of employee giving, supporter donations and local partnerships, reflecting the hospital system's identity as a community owned health organization. In describing the effort, the health system thanked staff, volunteers and community partners for their donations and participation, and encouraged residents to consider volunteering or donating to local food efforts. The announcement also linked the campaign to Coryell Health's broader community programs that address social needs influencing health.

For residents, the donation translates into immediate capacity to expand food assistance and service access at a time when demand typically rises. Food insecurity is closely linked to poorer chronic disease outcomes, higher emergency care use and increased stress on households that already face economic hardship. Local providers and community organizers have emphasized that ensuring reliable access to nutritious food is a preventive health strategy that reduces pressure on emergency services and supports long term wellbeing.

The Gatesville Care Center is positioned to use the funds for direct food distribution, program staffing and coordination with other community resources. That combination matters for households that must manage diabetes, heart disease and other conditions where diet is a central component of care. By channeling philanthropic and staff driven support into coordinated services, the community can reduce short term suffering and support better health outcomes over time.

The campaign also shines a light on broader policy and equity questions. Reliance on charitable drives to meet basic food needs highlights gaps in the social safety net and the uneven distribution of resources among rural communities. Coryell County shares many of the structural challenges common to rural areas, including limited public transportation, lower median incomes and fewer local social services per capita. Health systems that are community owned can play a bridging role, but sustainable progress will require policy solutions that increase access to living wage employment, affordable housing and consistent nutrition assistance.

As the holiday season approaches, Coryell Health urged residents to explore volunteer opportunities and donations to local food efforts. The funds raised on National Rural Health Day are an important short term boost, and community leaders say continued engagement and policy advocacy will be necessary to tackle underlying causes of food insecurity in Coryell County.