Area food pantries in Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, Mason and Williamson counties received a boost to help provide food for local residents during the holidays with the help of a $6,000 donation from Lower Colorado River Authority employees.

Twelve food pantries each received a $500 donation in November from LCRA Employees' United Charities, a voluntary program. The donations came from employees who work for or live near the Thomas C. Ferguson Power Plant near Marble Falls and the Mansfield/Miller, Buchanan/Inks and Wirtz/Starcke Hydro Operations.

Organizations receiving the donations are the Blanco Good Samaritan Center; Johnson City Ministerial Alliance; Lakes Area Care, Inc. in Burnet; Spicewood Baptist Church Food Pantry; Helping Center of Marble Falls; Lometa Food Pantry; Mason Ministerial Alliance; Sharing the Harvest, Kingsland; New Horizons in Llano; Round Rock Area Service Center; and Georgetown Community Service Center, the Caring Place.

Participating employees donate up to two hours of pay monthly to support the program, and then employee committees decide how the funds will be distributed. United Charities contributes more than $475,000 annually to help support a variety of nonprofit organizations throughout LCRA's service area.