Earlier this month, our team at REAP Financial spent the day in Kerrville and the surrounding Hill Country to assist with recovery efforts following the recent floods. What started as a simple supply drive quickly turned into something we knew we wanted to continue.
On Saturday, July 12, we delivered a full SUV of donated supplies to the Salvation Army in Kerrville.
From there, we checked in with the local volunteer network and were assigned to help a man named George in Ingram. His mobile home had been flipped on its side. He was in good spirits, though, sharing that his family was safe and this might be an opportunity to rebuild the way they’d always hoped to.
Later that day, we joined volunteers in BumbleBee Hills to help distribute donated meals and assist with cleanup and demolition at a damaged home. We also made it out to Hunt to get a better sense of the broader impact on the area.
We’ve since continued supporting other affected areas, including the Sandy Creek neighborhood in Leander. On Saturday, July 19, we dropped off another SUV full of donations, this time to Round Mountain Baptist Church. While there, we were able to distribute donated gift cards directly to people impacted by the floods—including neighbors from our own childhood community.
One of the people we met was Sue. Her newly renovated home had been completely destroyed, leaving only the foundation. Despite the loss, she was focused on helping others. She was coordinating volunteers and organizing diesel deliveries for nearby homes. Sue was also eager to make sure the volunteers received support, especially those who had come from across Texas. She described them as an army of angels and asked that some of the donated gift cards go directly to them.
We also met Tom, a volunteer from Belton, Texas. He initially tried to decline a gift card but eventually accepted it and mentioned it would help cover the cost of his hotel stay the night before.
These are just a few of the many moments we witnessed that showed the strength of this community. People were stepping up for each other without hesitation, even when they had lost so much themselves.
The need in Sandy Creek is still very real. The area has not received the level of county or state support seen elsewhere. Volunteers with access to equipment like excavators are especially needed right now. If you haven’t had a chance to contribute yet, there is still time. We are continuing to collect donations, and gift cards are particularly helpful. We’re happy to make more trips out and can also share contact information for anyone interested in volunteering directly.
We’re continuing our supply drive and have created an Amazon Wishlist with items requested by families in the Sandy Creek area and nearby neighborhoods.
👉 View the Wishlist and Donate
Thanks to everyone who’s contributed so far.
– The REAP Financial Team
Contact REAP Financial
Phone: (512) 249-7300
Email: retire@reapfinancial.com
Office Address: 9414 Anderson Mill Rd #100, Austin, TX 78729
Chris Heerlein, a Texas native, is the CEO of REAP Financial and founder of REAP Private Client Group (RPCG), specializing in wealth creation, preservation, and growth for affluent individuals, business owners, and executives. RPCG provides financial and investment advice, advanced tax strategies, business succession planning, and excellent client service. Chris is a trusted financial advisor, author of Divorce With Dignity (2019) and Money Won’t Buy Happiness But Time to Find It (2017), and a columnist for Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine.
He has been featured in Fortune, Money Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, and U.S. News & World Report. Chris also hosts Wealth Radio on NewsRadio KLBJ and is a sought-after speaker. Based in Austin, Texas, he lives with his wife, Hannah, and their three children and actively supports charitable causes.