Kendall County Women’s Shelter representatives described the nonprofit’s services and funding Tuesday as commissioners heard a presentation on the agency’s operations and needs.

Brooke House, chief program officer, and Holly Aldridge, chief executive officer, told the court the shelter operates a 32‑bed emergency facility and provides services for survivors of domestic abuse, their families and pets. “We operate a 32 bed emergency shelter for survivors of domestic abuse, their families, and their pets,” House said during the presentation.

House said clients may stay as long as six months when needed, though the program is not intended to be permanent transitional housing. Services include case management, individual and group counseling, transportation help (more than half of clients lack a vehicle), and a rare on‑site pet kennel the agency said removes a major barrier to leaving unsafe situations.

The agency described an outreach and prevention program, Young Hearts, that provides teen dating‑violence awareness curriculum in local high schools and trains student peer educators to present to their classmates. The presenters also outlined a thrift‑store revenue model: the thrift operation, called Fabulous Finds, provides a retail channel for donated goods and brings in roughly $450,000–$475,000 a year, they said; combined state and federal grants account for about $450,000 of the annual budget. The speakers estimated the agency’s 2025 budget at about $1.8 million.

Commissioners asked for details about donations and logistics; House and Aldridge said donors can use an Amazon wish list on the shelter website, drop off items at the administrative office, or use the thrift‑store locations in Boerne and Comfort. The agency also announced a satellite case‑management office opening June 1 on Fair Oaks Parkway in partnership with a pregnancy center to expand private services for clients who prefer not to come to the undisclosed shelter address.

The presenters said roughly 15 percent of the shelter’s clients are from Kendall County and that the county contributes $15,000 annually. When asked about ongoing needs, House said day‑to‑day operating costs are the primary constraint: toiletries, cleaning supplies, food, transportation and staff for the 24/7 crisis hotline and shelter operations.

County officials discussed ways to publicize donation drives; Judge Shane Slaughter offered to coordinate a courthouse drop box and staff said they will consider working with facilities to accept donated goods. Commissioners and staff praised the shelter’s work and asked the agency to provide a written list of material needs and drop‑off locations for a county web posting.

The presentation did not include a formal county funding vote; county staff noted the $15,000 figure as the current county contribution and confirmed the shelter receives other foundation, state and federal support.

What’s next: shelter leaders will provide donation lists and operational details to county staff for posting; commissioners discussed placing a link to the agency’s donation and program information on the county website.