Coryell Health Staff Raise $22,615 for Gatesville Care Center

Coryell Health announced that its staff raised $22,615 for the Gatesville Care Center through this year’s Food for Families fundraising efforts. The campaign, organized and executed exclusively by hospital employees, wrapped up on November 21, which coincided with National Rural Health Day and underscored the vital role rural health organizations play in supporting basic needs for their communities.

Staff engaged in team competitions, special events, and numerous raffles throughout the week, selling an exceptional number of raffle tickets to boost donations. Coryell Health CEO David Byrom praised the effort, stating, "It is truly impressive to see our staff achieve $22,615 in fundraising efforts alone. A lot of raffle tickets were sold this week to help us reach this goal. We’re proud to celebrate National Rural Health Day with our team raising money to help feed Central Texans, continue our mission, and honor the unwavering commitment of our rural healthcare providers and staff who work every day to improve the lives of others."

The Gatesville Care Center will receive all funds raised, which will support its ongoing provision of food assistance to families throughout Coryell County. For many recipients, this support directly affects health outcomes. Food insecurity is linked to poorer chronic disease management, higher rates of emergency care use, and increased stress among caregivers, particularly for older adults who often rely on both medical care and community programs for basic needs.

Beyond the immediate benefit of food assistance, the campaign highlights how local health institutions can act as community anchors. Employee driven fundraising emphasizes the social mission of health care in rural areas, where gaps in access and resources are common. For residents, the contribution translates into meals on tables for neighbors, reduced strain on family caregivers, and enhanced community resilience as the holiday season begins.

The effort also points to broader policy questions about the sustainability of such support. Temporary drives meet urgent needs, but long term solutions require stable funding streams and stronger coordination between health systems, social services, and county leaders. In the meantime, Coryell Health employees have delivered tangible relief to their neighbors, reinforcing a local safety net when it is needed most.