CANYON LAKE, Texas — Yum Yum Gyros & More, a small Mediterranean and Greek restaurant in the Texas Hill Country, is bringing back its Giving Tree for the 2026 holiday season, owner Kimmie Proper announced. The program, now in its second year, aims to provide gifts for local families in need, building on last year's effort that helped 17 families, many with multiple children.
Last year, the giving tree operated through Mountain Valley Middle School. When a few children's tags remained close to Christmas, Proper used her own limited means to buy additional gifts so that every child would receive a present. "It takes a community, which is kind of the entire idea of Saint Nicholas," Proper said. She also ended up with extra gifts, which went to the school to distribute to students who might otherwise have been overlooked.
This year, Proper expects the list of families in need to grow. She noted that business has been slower and that winter is historically harder on Canyon Lake-area businesses. "It takes a community, and that's what we are here in Canyon Lake," Proper said. "That's why I live here. People are just tighter here; we help each other out when in need. And I need business, especially if it means I can buy more presents and keep the lights on! That would be Christmas for me. I don't need much."
The Giving Tree sits alongside a menu rooted in homemade Mediterranean and Greek comfort food. Customer favorites include traditional gyros with seasoned meat, fresh vegetables, and in-house tzatziki in warm pita. Proper's house-made hummus comes in roasted red pepper, feisty feta, dill, and pesto versions, or whatever she decides to concoct that day. The kitchen also serves salads, specialty pizzas, falafel, and baklava. Soups, served with garlic-butter pita, are a surprising hit. "Yes, I know it's an oddity, but I sell out of my hot soups in the dead of summer!" Proper said. "Some days I just wake up and I'm in a soup mood, so I just make whatever comes to mind."
Community partners and customers are invited to participate in the Giving Tree by selecting a name and contributing gifts. Proper's philanthropic heart is one of many in Canyon Lake that strengthen community ties. For those interested in supporting the effort, more information is available at yumyumgyros.com. The Building Texas Show, which covers stories about the people building Texas, encourages readers to support rural small businesses like Proper's, noting that they are anchors of their communities and can anchor holiday giving, too. More stories are available at buildingtexasshow.com.
The Giving Tree matters beyond Canyon Lake because it illustrates how small businesses can serve as safety nets in rural areas, where resources are often limited. As economic pressures mount, such grassroots efforts may become increasingly vital for communities, offering a model for others to follow.
