Learn more about volunteer opportunities in Round Rock, Pflugerville, Hutto and the surrounding areas.

Jack Jack’s Pack Street Dog Rescue

The organization rehabilitates lost, abandoned and abused dogs in Central Texas, and either reunites or finds new homes for them.

• Sample activities: taking dogs to the vet, walking dogs, fostering dogs, helping at adoption events

• Donations accepted: H-E-B Heritage Ranch dog food, dog beds, enrichment toys, bully sticks, martingale collars, monetary gifts

Round Rock Area Serving Center

The center provides financial assistance for necessities, operates a food pantry and a thrift store, and offers social work case management.

• Sample activities: picking up and sorting donations, restocking the pantry, unloading trucks, working as a cashier at the thrift store

• Donations accepted: food, clothing, furniture, appliances, electronics, monetary gifts

The Sandbox at Madeline’s Place

The organization works to provide a space to empower teenagers through education, offering recreational activities, mentorship, relationship building opportunities and skills training.

• Sample activities: assisting with fundraising opportunities, facilitating recreational activities, tutoring students

• Donations accepted: monetary gifts

The city of Round Rock celebrated the unveiling of Fire Station No. 10 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 5.

The details: The new station is the second of three stations that the city funded under the $274 million 2023 bond and is located at 4380 E. Old Settlers Blvd., according to previous reporting by Community Impact.

The approximately $9.1 million project is aimed at improving emergency response times in northeast Round Rock, according to a city news release.

The new fire station has four apparatus bays and uses the city's standardized fire station design, according to the release.

Democrats saw decisive wins up and down the ballot in Texas and across the nation in the Nov. 3 election, flipping the Lone Star State to Democratic control for the first time in a generation.

The big picture: Texas has had a Republican governor, state Senate and state House since 2003. Next year, the state will be led by a Democratic governor, with a Democratic lieutenant governor presiding over the Senate and House lawmakers likely electing a Democrat to lead the chamber—however, the senators themselves will remain majority-Republican.

More details: How much power Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin will have over the Texas Senate is largely up to senators, who will approve the chamber's new rules when the legislature convenes in January.

Sam Hooper, a legislative attorney and consultant, said he was "hopeful" that the election results would lead to "a more collegial Senate" and cooperation among lawmakers of both political parties.

The majority-Republican Senate and majority-Democrat House will have to find a balance, as bills cannot become law without approval from both chambers.