By Gary Norman / Mineral Wells Area News Staff
September 29, 2025
Two local organizations have been awarded state funding to expand services for veterans and their families.
Meals on Wheels of Palo Pinto County will receive a $45,000 grant, while Pecan Valley Centers has been awarded $700,000 in total. The grants are part of $10.9 million in Fund for Veterans’ Assistance awards announced by Gov. Greg Abbott’s office through the Texas Veterans Commission, benefiting 37 organizations across North Texas.
Meals on Wheels will use the funding to provide food assistance for veterans who may not qualify under the nonprofit’s existing programs.
“This allows us to serve veterans that we weren’t able to serve before, veterans that need help and have food insecurity,” said Courtney Lane-Auld, executive director of Meals on Wheels of Palo Pinto County.
The nonprofit currently delivers one meal per weekday to about 240 seniors and has served an additional 170 individuals this year through its congregate meal program and partnership with the Mineral Wells Senior Center.
Pecan Valley Centers, which provides behavioral health care, substance use services and peer support across six counties, received two $350,000 grants — one for financial assistance and another for clinical counseling.
“This is more money for more services,” said Joshua Morrison, director of Veteran and SUD Services at Pecan Valley Centers. “We want to provide more hours than ever before.”
It marks the fifth consecutive year Pecan Valley Centers has received the veterans’ grant, with funding increased this year from $600,000 to $700,000. The money will be distributed on an as-needed basis across the organization’s service area, which includes offices in Mineral Wells, Weatherford, Granbury, Stephenville and Cleburne.
For more information on Meals on Wheels of Palo Pinto County, visit www.mealsonwheelsofppc.org or call 940-325-7519. Information about Pecan Valley Centers’ veteran programs is available at www.pecanvalley.org/veteran-services or by calling 817-579-4489.