Member Spotlight: The Dietert Center
Resilience in Action
Three months after the catastrophic storms and floods in Central Texas, communities continue to recover and rebuild. We spoke with Brenda Thompson, Executive Director of the Dietert Center of Kerrville and Chair of the Meals on Wheels Texas Membership Committee. In her story of resilience, Brenda shared the power of coming together, and the strength found in her team, local volunteers, and fellow MOWTX members.
The Dietert Center serves as the sole meal provider in Kerrville and the only organization that specializes in senior support. With the Guadalupe River less than a mile from their building, the floods hit close to home. When Brenda returned to the office, she found minnows in the carpet, critical paperwork relocated to storage units, and the entire first floor in need of replacement.
Yet the team never wavered. The Dietert Center missed only one day of meal service. Immediately following the flooding, staff and volunteers called every client to ensure they were fed and cared for. When they couldn’t help directly, they connected clients to others who could. These weren’t just wellness checks; they were acts of community, compassion, and connection during crisis.
Within a month, congregate dining resumed with a “pick-up” meal format. Brenda and her team worked long nights and weekends — often 12-hour days — to restore a sense of normalcy. And they weren’t alone. Brenda described an “overflowing of support” from the Meals on Wheels Texas network: fellow member organizations sent words of encouragement, offered supplies and equipment, and amplified Brenda’s efforts in their own communities. The MOWTX Flood Relief Fund provided a grant to help with recovery efforts, turning compassion into tangible aid. Together, these acts reminded the Dietert Center team that they are part of something bigger—a statewide network that shows up when it matters most.
Even after such loss, the Dietert Center has shown remarkable strength—continuing to serve and support their seniors while rebuilding piece by piece. Brenda shared that everything is slowly returning to order, and when it does, there will be a well-earned celebration. She describes this period in one word:
“Resilience—you have devastation; you have heartbreak and your initial deep inside things, then you see a glimmer of hope… resilience has to be a choice. You have to give yourself some time to wallow, but then you’ve got to dust yourself off and pick yourself up.” – Brenda Thompson, Executive Director, Dietert Center of Kerrville
The Dietert Center’s story is a testament to what makes our network strong: connection, collaboration, and commitment — especially in times of hardship.