H-E-B donates $5 Million to Texas flood recovery, $2 million to Kerrville

H-E-B announced a $5 million donation Tuesday to support Texas flood recovery efforts, with $2 million designated for Kerrville — the Hill Country city where the grocery chain was founded 120 years ago.

The donation from the Butt family, H-E-B and the H.E. Butt Foundation represents one of the largest corporate responses to the catastrophic flooding that killed 94 people in Kerr County and left 161 missing.

“For 120 years, the Butt family has proudly called Kerrville home,” said Howard Butt III, H-E-B CEO. “Our hearts ache for the children, families, and communities facing tremendous loss throughout Texas in the wake of these floods.”

The $2 million designated for Kerrville will go to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country’s Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, which supports rescue, relief and recovery efforts in Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point and Comfort.

Additional funds will support the American Red Cross, Texas Search and Rescue and the Salvation Army. H-E-B is also distributing gift cards throughout impacted communities and to nonprofits including the United Way of Concho Valley and school districts such as Ingram ISD.

Florence Butt’s Legacy

Stephen Butt, H-E-B president of shareholder relations, connected the company’s response to its founder’s legacy of community service.

“Since 1905 our family has built a deep connection to Kerrville and the communities of the Hill Country where our company began,” Butt said. “Our founder Florence Butt was known for sharing food with those in need on the banks of the Guadalupe River.”

Florence Butt started H-E-B in 1905 by selling groceries from her kitchen table on the Kerrville courthouse square to help pay for her husband’s tuberculosis treatment. Her “Spirit of Giving” became a cornerstone of the company that now operates more than 455 stores with $46 billion in annual sales.

On-Ground Support

Beyond monetary donations, H-E-B deployed its Mobile Kitchen to Ingram and distributed cleaning supplies and gift cards to areas including Center Point and Hunt. Employee volunteers are serving meals and providing supplies in flood-affected communities across Texas, including Burnet, Georgetown, Leander, Liberty Hill, Marble Falls and San Angelo.

The company launched a check-stand donation campaign allowing customers to contribute at checkout when shopping in-store and online. All funds will be distributed to nonprofits supporting flood victims. Favor Delivery, H-E-B’s delivery service, is also accepting donations through its platform.

Employee Support

H-E-B is providing counseling and financial assistance to employees affected by the flooding. The company employs more than 170,000 people across Texas and Mexico.

“H-E-B and our dedicated Partners are here to help,” Butt said, using the company’s term for employees.

The announcement comes as recovery efforts continue from Friday’s historic flooding, when unprecedented rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise more than 20 feet in less than two hours. The disaster has prompted responses from multiple levels of government, including President Donald Trump’s federal disaster declaration.

Long-term Commitment

H-E-B pledged ongoing support throughout the recovery process in the coming weeks and months.

“H-E-B holds compassion and strength for our fellow Texans,” the company said. “H-E-B will stay close to impacted communities and provide ongoing support throughout the recovery process.”

The donation adds to growing corporate support for flood recovery, including Bank of America’s $1 million commitment announced earlier this week.

H-E-B’s response to Kerrville represents a homecoming for the company, which moved its headquarters to San Antonio but maintains deep ties to the Hill Country community where it began.