GREATER SAN MARCOS YOUTH COUNCIL
The Greater San Marcos Youth Council made big impacts on the community helping local families last year.
Marissa Lopez, Greater San Marcos Youth Council Residential Program Director, said there are two parts to what the organization does. There is a children’s shelter that serves kids between the ages of 2 and 17 who were removed due to abuse or neglect. There is also a Family and Youth Success Program that offers services to children in school in Hays County, providing free family and youth sessions with Family Support Specialists.
The organization released its 2025 Impact Report, which highlighted all of the services provided to local families last year. The report showed that the organization assisted 136 children, had a 98% success rate, 100% Shelter Safety Rating and 1,280 individuals received Family and Youth Success Program services. GSMYC hosted 63 outreach events to provide resources to families across Hays County in 2025. Its annual Backto- School event helped over 1,000 children.
“Every number in this report represents a story of resilience, a child who found safety, a family who found strength and a community that chose compassion over indifference,” said Julia Ramsay New, Greater San Marcos Youth Council Executive Director.
In addition to the work done at the shelter and in support sessions, GSMYC participates in multiple community events. There is the Back-to-School event, as well as the annual “Pull For Hope” fundraiser with skeet shooting. GSMYC also participated in a Christmas tree decorating event at the outlets last year.
Lopez has been with GSMYC for five years and is amazed by her staff and what they have been able to achieve in such a short time period.
“We had a three-yearold who came into our care, and he was completely nonverbal. He had no type of structure. He would stay awake till midnight. He would sleep for two hours and then be up for the rest of the day,” Lopez said. “The child stayed with us for about six months, and by the [end of the] six months we had him talking; he was saying upwards of 20 words, and he was on a regulated schedule.”
Lopez said one can volunteer their time or donate food, clothing or money to the shelter as well. For more information, go to gsmyc.org/ support-us. For those interested in volunteering, there is a form to fill out on that site, which can be emailed to mlopez @gsmyc.org.
GSMYC has its own podcast, “Teen Life Soundtrack,” which can be listened to on Apple at bit.ly/4qDxGTZ and Spotify at bit.ly/4qzWnQT.
GSMYC hosted 63 outreach events last year to provide resources to families across Hays County. Photos courtesy of Greater San Marcos Youth Council
