United Way of Greater Houston purchased a new building in Montgomery County that will allow the nonprofit to expand its services, according to a Nov. 17 news release. The 51,900-square-foot building located in Conroe is double the size of the organization’s current building in The Woodlands.

More details: United Way of Greater Houston plans to use part of the building as a program space for area nonprofits, and there will be meeting spaces for community use, according to the release. Additionally, the new building has a built-in generator on-site, so United Way of Greater Houston anticipates using it as a community center during natural disasters.

Some context: The nonprofit works to remove barriers to financial stability, with programs focused on financial stability, youth opportunity, healthy community and community resiliency, according to the release. United Way of Greater Houston also has service centers in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller counties.

Pie in the Sky Co. has completed its renovations, Executive Chef Kymber Hester confirmed.

What you need to know: The business came under new ownership in February and began a rebranding process with plans to franchise in the near future, Hester said. While the same pie recipes and popular menu items—such as the chicken pot pie, chicken salad and club sandwiches—will remain, the restaurant has added new dishes including smoked salmon quinoa bowls and the Heavenly Sky—a loaded toast topped with avocado, arugula, bacon, egg and green onions.

Hester added that the full-service restaurant and bakery has also expanded its offerings to include cheesecakes and other pastries.

• 3600 N Loop 336 W, Conroe

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, see what grocery stores in the Houston area will be open and closed Nov. 27. This list is not comprehensive.

Aldi

• Nov. 27: closed

• Nov. 27: 6 a.m.-noon (stores); 7 a.m.-11 a.m. (curbside); 7 a.m.-10 a.m. (home delivery); closed (pharmacy)

• Nov. 27: Closing at 4 p.m. (stores); closed (pharmacy)

• Nov. 27: closed

• Nov. 27: closed

Giving Machines are returning to Houston this holiday season, allowing residents to donate to area nonprofits by purchasing items through the specialty vending machines, according to a news release.

Quote of note: “This Christmas season, the Giving Machines help the entire Houston community to share the light of Christ by following His example and giving to those in need,” Elder Robert Ellis, Area Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said via news release. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is honored to partner with these life-changing charities across Houston, our country, and the world."

More details: Residents can purchase items such as meals, medical care and clothing for area nonprofits, which, according to the news release, will include:

• Target Hunger
• East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry
• BEAR, or Be A Resource
• TOMAGWA HealthCare Ministries
• Interfaith of The Woodlands
• Church World Service
• Splash International

This year, voters in communities across Texas were skeptical of local property tax hikes and supportive of larger tax breaks for homeowners and businesses, results from the Nov. 4 election show.

The overview: Voters in Community Impact’s coverage areas approved just over half of the local bond propositions and tax rate elections on the November ballot, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Statewide, 40% of tax rate elections and 45.9% of bond propositions passed, according to Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican and property tax policy writer.

Zooming in: Cities, counties, school districts and other local government entities use funding from tax hikes to build new schools and facilities; hire educators and first responders; and maintain local infrastructure. However, amid high inflation nationwide, more Texas residents are tightening their belts and asking local officials to do the same, fiscal policy experts told Community Impact.

Local governments whose tax hikes were shot down are now grappling with how to make cuts while maintaining essential services, Community Impact reporting shows.