2009 – February
January – February - March – April – May – June – July – August – September - October – November – December-General & On-going
February 1-20 – Matching funds window of opportunity for Friends for Life. A foundation has offered to match dollar for dollar all monies that come in to Friends for Life within this time period up to $50,000. In other words, if you give $20, you are actually giving $40! For more information contact Friends for Life at 254-772-7600 or e-mail friends@friendsforlife.org.
Now until Tax time – Free income tax preparation services. NeighborWorks® Waco, in partnership with AARP Tax-Aide and A.J. Moore Academy, announces that free income tax preparation services will be offered to the public beginning January 22. Eight sites will be open in Waco; Marlin and Mexia will also have a local site available. The most current information about site locations, as well as days and hours of operation, can be accessed by dialing 2-1-1 in the Waco area. Customers should bring a photo ID, all income statements for 2008, and social security cards for each person claimed on the return. For more information, contact Chad Klawetter with NeighborWorks® Waco at 254-752-1647 x202.
February 1 – SOUPer Bowl Sunday - SOUPer Bowl Sunday is a fundraiser for hunger organizations held each year on the same Sunday as the Super Bowl. Any church can participate. Here’s how it works: Children or youth stand at the doors on the appointed Sunday with soup pots, and church members are asked to donate $1 each as they exit the church. It’s as easy as that! The money is then donated to a local hunger organization. Meals on Wheels has been handling the publicity for this event locally for 10 years and they ask that you consider them as the agency to receive your donations. For a press release with more information click here: SOUPer Bowl. For more information call Julie Oates (254-752-0316) or email Julie@seniorministry.org .
February 2 – Dinner and Movie: Cry the Beloved Country - 5:00 – 8:30, Central Waco-McLennan County Library, 1717 Austin Avenue. In commemoration of Black History Month, Join the Community Race Relations Coalition (CRRC) to watch this powerful movie starring James Earl Jones and Richard Harris, with discussion following. To reserve a space or ask questions, call April at 750-5774 or email aprilh@ci.waco.tx.us.
February 3 – Mission Waco’s Annual “UrBanquet” - 6:00 p.m., Chisholm Hall of the Waco Convention Center. Individual tickets: $35. With an entirely new format this year, Mission Waco’s annual gathering will be much more interactive and casual, but clearlpy point to “hands-on compassion!” You will experience a night to remember and a challenge to join Mission Waco in confronting the overwhelming poverty in our own community. For more information, or if you are interested in helping to sponsor the event by sponsoring a table or becoming a partner or underwriter, call Mission Waco (254-753-4900) or email jbrammer@missionwaco.org.
February 4, 5 and 6 – Volunteer Training for Carenet Pregnancy Center - 1-5. 4700 W. Waco Dr. We are currently seeking volunteers who have a heart to minister to those in our community that are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Please RSVP to Stella at 772-6175 or e-mail her at stella@carenetofcentraltexas.org, if you would like to become a part of our team!
February 6 – How Out of School Factors Affect School Achievement. 8:30 – 10:00 am Region 12 Education Service Center (2101 W. Loop 340), Community Auditorium. Free and open to the public. Dr. David Berliner, Regent’s professor of Education, Arizona State University will speak. Presentation and discussion will continue the community conversation from the Waco Education Summit on preparing children to learn at school. For more information contact Baylor School of Education 254-710-3111. For a flyer, click here: Berliner lecture.
February 9-11 – “Next Big Idea” conference at Baylor. Featuring Kay Warren, Lynne Hybels and more than 20 Baylor and national leaders presenting workshops about the next big ideas for family and community ministries. Some topics: Mobilizing small groups for community impact; Actively faithful youth and family ministry; Effective youth mentoring in the new millennium; Working with high-capacity volunteers; and much more. Jointly sponsored by George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor School of Social Work and The Leadership Network. Cost is $149 (individual) and $99 (3 or more from same group before Jan. 1; $189 and $149 after Jan. 1. Or $15 if you are a member of a church in McLennan County. Register online at www.baylor.edu/bigidea or call 254-710-3854.
February 10& 11 – S.O.A.R. Stepping Stones to Recovery: Workshop for Case Managers Assisting Adults who are Homeless with Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income Applications. 8:30-5:00 on Feb. 10, 8:30 – 3:00 on Feb. 11. Location: Waco Transit, 300 S. 8th St. Waco. Free to non-profit homeless service providers involved in continuum of care. Those not participating in continuum of Care may be asked to pay a small fee. For more information Contact Jennifer at (512) 687-5103 or jennifer@thn.org. For a flyer and registration form, click here: Stepping Stones Flyer.
February 18 – VA Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) quarterly conference call. 12 Noon (CST). The VA Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) is inviting you to participate in the VA CFBCI quarterly conference call. The purpose of this call is to share new and helpful information to all interested individuals and FBCOs about activities they can participate in at the VA. Topics will include a discussion of the Future of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships with Mr. Stephen B. Dillard, Acting Director, VA CFBCI. To Register: Send an email to VAFBCI@va.gov with your name, organization name, address,
phone number and email address.
February 18 – Topics in Geriatric Health Literacy: Improving Communication between Health professionals and Older Patients, Is Spirituality a part of Geriatric Health Literacy? Panel discussion with Friends of ACE Unit Volunteers. Noon to 3:00 pm. Baylor University Science Building Room A 202. This session is one in a series of active learning opportunities targeting health professionals sponsored by the Brazos Area Health Education Center (BAHEC). To register contact Amanda Thomas at athomas@bahec.org or 254-753-4392 x 12
February 19 – Waco Habitat Volunteer Orientation - 7 p.m., 220 N. 11th Street (@Columbus Ave). The public is welcome to come and learn what to expect when volunteering for Waco Habitat for Humanity. For more information call 254.756.7575 or email info@WacoHabitat.org .
February 21 and 28 – World Hunger Relief/TSTC Gardening Workshops – The World Hunger Farm and TSTC are teaming up to teach you how to garden more successfully. Cost for the series is $96 per participant, limited to 15. Find out more a today. For a flyer, click here: Gardening Workshops. For more information Contact Melissa Curtis at 867.3113 or visit www.waco.tstc.edu/coned/ .
February 22 - Interfaith Prayer Vigil on Immigration. 6 pm. Hoffman Hall (formerly known as the Hoffman Banana Building) 400 South 4th Street, (corner of South 4th and Webster) Waco. Prayer vigil calling on new administration to demonstrate moral courage on immigration reform. Hosted by: The CRRC Immigration Committee and The Ruth Project: Waco Immigrant Services Center. For a flyer, click here: Prayer Vigil. For more information call (254) 297-7800.
February 24 – Waco Foundation Nonprofit Capacity Building Program. 10-11, McLennan Community College Conference Center, 4601 North 19th Street. The Waco Foundation is committed to enriching the lives of McLennan County residents through support of the nonprofit sector. This is accomplished, in part, through the Capacity Building Program- an expansion of the Community Grant Writer Program. In addition to assisting local nonprofit organizations seeking advice about grants and project development, the Capacity Building Program will provide local resources for developing diverse revenue streams, leadership, management, collaborations and much more. The Waco Foundation, in partnership with Association of Fundraising Professionals, RSVP, Nonprofit Network, and McLennan Community College, provides a variety of opportunities for development and training. Come learn more about the support available locally for your nonprofit! For more information, contact Tihara Vargas, Director of Special Projects, at tvargas@wacofoundation.org or by calling 254.754.3404
February 26 – Carrie Newcomer in Concert benefitting Meals on Wheels. 7- 9 pm, Lake Shore Baptist Church, 5801 Bishop Drive. Tickets $15 available at Meals on Wheels office, 501 West Waco Drive, or call 752-0316. For singer/songwriter Carrie Newcomer, beauty is discovered in the midst of the ordinary. Life is experienced in the spaces between darkness and light. Truth is found in the bond between music and word. Come hear her unmistakable leonine alto voice and guitar interpret the gospel of the ordinary. For a press release, click here: Singing for some Lunches. To hear Carrie on myspace, click here: http://www.myspace.com/carrienewcomer.