BOERNE, Texas —  The City of Boerne is feeling the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic as local leaders encourage people to stay home in hopes of decreasing the spread of the respiratory illness.

  • Some businesses are offering alternate services
  • Local nonprofits are seeing increase in new clients

Businesses along Main Street are either shut down or offering alternate services to remain open and keep staff employed.

RELATED | Coronavirus in Texas: Ways to Get or Give Help During the Crisis

"I think we are all trying to do our best with the circumstance," said Brandon Fuller, a managing partner at the Dog & Pony Grill.

The Dog & Pony Grill shut down its dining room to patrons in March, but Fuller says they've remained open to continue serving customers and keep business operational.

"As of right now, we are a pantry, delivery and a to-go restaurant," Fuller said.

Furloughing some staff and reshaping their business model is helping the grill to stay open. Fuller says he hasn't made a long-term plan for the restaurant in hopes that the strict bans tied to the pandemic don't last much longer. For now, his goal is clear.

"Providing a service for the community, it becomes your number one priority at this point," he said."Providing a service for the community, it becomes your number one priority at this point," he said.

While restaurants may be seeing a decrease in customers, area nonprofits are experiencing an increase in new clients as many are being laid off or furloughed from their jobs.

"We are having calls on an hourly basis from individuals to people filling out applications and leaving them in our mail slot," said Staci Almager, CEO of Hill County Family Services.

The nonprofit is a case management organization, but offers many other services including a self-select food pantry. Almager says as their list of clients grows, the demand for food is increasing.


Photo of a food pantry (Sarah Duran/Spectrum News)

"We are still giving everyone a choice [to pick out their own food] still to this day, which is a comfort," she said.

To keep shelves stocked, Almager says they are working closely with the San Antonio Food Bank, Kerr County Produce and community donations to avoid a strain on food supply.