Courtesy Photo/Kim Harmon
Tammie Cobb (front) and her daughter, Hayle (center), receive Christmas gifts from Payne Springs Police Chief April Meadows (from left), Payne Springs Police Sergeant Rick Harmon, Eustace Mayor Dustin Shelton, Eustace Police Chief Dan Huckabee and Eustace ISD Police Officer Amy Hillhouse-Thomas (not pictured).

PAYNE SPRINGS–Christmas can be a trying time, yet the Payne Springs Police Department joined forces with Eustace officials, local businesses and staff from support organizations to make sure those in greatest need saw a brighter day.
In one instance, Payne Springs Police Sergeant Rick Harmon says Payne Springs Police Chief April Meadows received a phone call that ended up being a welfare check on a man who lives down the street from the police department. He’d been living in his car for about a year and a half, according to Harmon, with no water or electricity.
“When we found out about that, we just thought that was unacceptable,” Harmon relates. “We started trying to see what we could do and making phone calls to make stuff happen for him. Fortunately, we had a lot of help.”
Says Chief Meadows, “I just couldn’t get him off my mind and went home and thought about it.”
Cedar Creek Silver Angles came in and repaired the home and added a refrigerator and stove, Harmon says, with the Henderson County HELP Center also lending a hand. In addition, No Tree Too Big, a tree-removal business, cleared the property and “picked it up and made it nice,” Harmon states. JC’s Tire Services pitched in, too, taking away debris.
Harmon also had the idea of spreading Christmas cheer at four nursing homes on both ends of the lake, in Kemp, Mabank and Malakoff. In the past, the Payne Springs police department helped with Toys for Tots and no-kill animal shelters. This year, Harmon wanted to do something a little different: along with his wife, Kim, giving gifts to nursing home residents who he says often have no family.
“We made some little candy bags and Christmas cards” along with stuffed animals, Harmon shares. He also “wanted to do something special for the ladies,” giving out 150 red roses donated by Mabank Floral & Gifts. “It brought a lot of smiles to these people,” Harmon says.
But that’s not all the Christmastime help that Payne Springs police initiated. A Hidden Hills Harbor family that includes a disabled member who hadn’t left her home in three months “didn’t think they’d have a Christmas because of several different things,” according to Harmon. “Chief Meadows got things rolling and we went out and talked to some people,” Harmon continues. “End up, they said it was the best Christmas they had in four years.”
Eustace Mayor Dustin Shelton also brought over $500 worth of gift cards, Harmon says, with help also coming from the Eustace Independent School District (EISD), including EISD Police Officer Amy Hillhouse-Thomas, who went shopping for the family’s child.
The Henderson County HELP Center rounded up food and received a donation to build an accessibility ramp (but needs volunteers to build it), along with providing a washer and dryer. Custard Auto & Equipment Sales of Payne Springs also hooked up the washer and dryer, Harmon adds, with plans to do other home repairs. 
Herman Custard, who donated money for gifts, also bought a van for a local church, which will add a wheelchair lift. According to Harmon, going to church is important to Custard, who made the purchase “for anybody that’s in a wheelchair and wants to go to church.”
Other gifts included a new television, toaster, coffeemaker and a heated blanket for when the disabled family member sits in her wheelchair. The Harmons also topped it off with a new Christmas tree.
Kim Harmon gives a “thank you” to Herman Custard and his crew for their extra help. She also notes the work of Henderson County HELP Center Chief Operations Officer Sheila Davis and HELP Center Crime Victims Lead Case Manager Casie Darter.