Summer in Boerne brought plenty of opportunities to celebrate, but some of the season’s biggest moments were about giving back.
The Boerne Fire Department led two of those efforts, supporting programs to equip local students for school and raise funds for area first responders. Through it all, the Boerne community showed what can happen when people come together for a common purpose.
Stuff the Truck
The Boerne Fire Department teamed up with LOVE Kendall County Kids for another successful year of Stuff the Truck, a back-to-school supply drive to help students in need across Boerne ISD.
Firefighters and volunteers with LKCK spent two weekends in July collecting donations at the Boerne H-E-B. Even with rain and eventually significant flooding impacting the community, residents continued to show up and give what they could.
That support resulted in an 8.7 percent increase in donations from the previous year, with 24,175 core school supplies collected in 2026.
Every backpack, pencil, crayon, and notebook collected represents more than a school supply – they help ensure students can walk into the classroom prepared for a new year and give families additional support as they navigate the cost of getting ready for school.
The Boerne Fire Department also took the time to personally shop for additional supplies, turning the effort into an opportunity for firefighters to see firsthand the impact of the community’s generosity.
Flag Run Carries Tradition Forward
The summer also brought back one of Boerne’s favorite Fourth of July traditions – the 7th-Annual Flag Run 5K Presented by Crestmont Private Wealth.
What began in 2019 as an idea from then 15-year-old Camden Vicknair has grown into a community tradition that brings runners, families, and neighbors together to support local causes.
And this year, the Flag Run reached a new milestone.
In 2025, the event welcomed 476 participants. In 2026, that number grew to 597 participants, making this year’s event the largest Flag Run yet and representing a 25.4 percent increase in participation.
The sight of nearly 600 participants gathering on the Fourth of July, many carrying American flags as they made their way through Boerne, reflected how far the event has come since its beginning.
The Flag Run has raised more than $36,500 since its founding to support the Boerne Fire Department, local veterans, and future first responders. This year’s proceeds will support special programs within the Boerne Fire Department and provide scholarships for aspiring firefighters pursuing careers in the fire service.
For Lt. Toby Vicknair, whose son Camden started the event, its growth has always been about more than the race itself.
“It is bigger than just a race now; it has become a celebration of community,” Lt. Vicknair said.
That community spirit was on full display this year as participants gathered for the 5K and 1-mile walk, continuing a tradition that combines patriotism, fitness, and giving back.
From filling boxes with school supplies to filling the streets with runners carrying American flags, this summer offered plenty of examples of what makes Boerne special.
The success of Stuff the Truck and the Flag Run shows that community impact does not always come from one big moment. Sometimes it comes one pencil, one backpack, one mile, and one donation at a time.
