General Announcements

Check out the Urban Gardening Coalition – The Urban Gardening Coalition has monthly meetings where folks can learn about planting schedules and strategies, network with other gardens, as well as learn about funding opportunities for gardens and service events. Also, people can contribute their work and ideas to the Coalition as a whole so we can continue to strengthen the local food movement. These meetings are held every 3rd Thursday of each month at 715 Elm Street at 6:00pm. For the next few months this means March 22nd, April 19th, and May 17th. Our website is hotugc.org and our events page is http://hotugc.org/upcoming-events/. For more information contact Zacary Bryan (zacugc@gmail.com). (Posted 2-17-2012)

Farm Day adds 5K bike ride – As a new addition to Spring Farm Day (April 14th 2012) World Hunger Relief is inviting families or teams to join in a 5K fun bike ride to help raise support for our work in alleviating hunger.  All funds raised up to $10,000 will be matched by Christian Mission Concerns! <MORE> (posted 2-15-2012)

Christian Men’s Job Corps (CMJC) needs volunteers – Have you been looking for an opportunity to serve your community and minister to others? Christian Men’s Job Corps is a ministry that helps men who are chronically unemployed gain life and employment skills in a Christian context. We need volunteers or help us in this mission. Contact Milt Anglin at 254-744-5605. <MORE> (posted 2-15-2012)

Act Locally Waco Book Club — The Act Locally Waco Book Club is off to a great start. Please join us for our second book. We will discuss American Dream by Jason DeParle . We will meet at 6:00 on Monday, April 2 at the home of Meg Cooper, 527 N. 15th. Snacks available. Please RSVP to Ashley_Thornton@baylor.edu.  (posted 2-13-2012)

Lunches Needed for CWJC – Do you enjoy cooking and sharing your food with others? We’re in need of additional lunches for this semester. If you or any group you belong to would like to provide lunch for our Phase Two program (15 – 18 people), please call the center at 757-0416 or e-mail Becky Ellison at becky@cwjcwaco.org. Our lunch providers enjoy coming and visiting with our women as we all eat together. (Posted 2-13-2012)

Free Pet Neutering by Animal Birth Control Clinic – This free service is offered to pets of qualifying low-income families. If you know someone on Medicaid, Disability, or SNAP, their pet(s) may qualify for this free service! Call (254) 776-7303 or go to www.animalbirthcontrol.org  for more information. Also, if you pick up a stray cat in the 76710 zip code, the ABC Clinic will neuter that cat for free. The ABC Clinic is located at 3238 Clay Avenue near Katie’s Custard. <MORE>  (Posted 2-13-2012)

Free Foreclosure Prevention Clinic by NeighborWorks Waco – This clinic is free and occurs on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 3:00PM or 6:00PM at 922 Franklin Ave. Pre-registration is required. Call (254) 752-1647 for more information and to reserve a spot!<MORE> (POSTED 2-13-2012)

New Food Planning Task Force Website – The Food Planning Task Force of McLennan County (FPTF) is a pilot program consisting of a diverse group of organizations, businesses, and individuals coming together to help create a strategic plan to end hunger in McLennan County.  Check out their new website: http://foodplanningtaskforce.org (Posted 2-13-2012)

Website for parents and child-care providers under development — The ChildOne website (www.childonetexas.com)is a website for parents and child care providers. Through Workforce Solutions child care services program we help low-income families pay for child care and are involved in numerous quality child care improvement projects. Our “Headlight” mapping resource can be found under “Resource” tab and provides resources for parents. Please check it out. We will be putting some finishing touches on it over the next 45 days.  (Posted 2-13-2012)

New on-line housing resource – www.WacoHousingSearch.org - This service is a big part of providing access to available rental properties to all members of our community. The site includes many features and tools, including a “What Can You Afford to Pay for Rent?” calculator and maps and pictures of available properties-take a look for yourself at www.wacohousingsearch.org! or see the new link on www.actlocallywaco.org. <MORE>  (Posted 2-13-2012)

New Licensed Professional Counselor – Medicaid Accepted – Jennifer Phillips has just opened a new counseling practice geared toward clients who may have difficulty paying for services. “I accept Medicaid, but also have a very affordable sliding scale. I also know that transportation can be of concern for some people and am offering my services to clients in their homes as well.” For more information call Jennifer L. Phillips, MEd, LPC-S, at 254-307-0340or visit newday.waco@gmail.com. <MORE>

L.I.F.T. Workshop Advocates Needed – L.I.F.T. Workshop for Low Income Families in Transition on April 14 from 9AM-2PM at the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church of Waco at 5th and Clay (Waco Transit, Route 9). Free child care will be provided. Over 30 nonprofits and government agencies plus TSTC, MCC, career counselors, and family budgeting friends will be present to help families. Each attendee will be paired with an advocate to evaluate the attendee’s needs, to walk alongside the attendee, and to develop a plan to help the attendee achieve economic viability and self sufficiency goals. If you’d like to be an advocate at the April 14 workshop, a short training is required. There are two optional training dates: (1) Tues., April 10, 6PM-7:30PM, at the Baylor School of Social Work (Room 211) at 800 Washington; or (2) Thurs., April 12, 6PM-7:30PM, in the Large Parlor at First Baptist Church of Waco at 5th and Clay. E-mail Julie Covington at julie_covington@baylor.edu  if you’d like to be an advocate! We encourage anyone who has relationship with a family in crisis to invite and walk alongside that family at the workshop as an advocate. Thank you for your commitment to families. (Posted 2-13-2012)

Youth Basketball league forming at First Baptist Church, Waco - Basketball League for children grades 1 – 6 at $10 per child. I hour practice per week and 1 hour game each Saturday (off spring break and Easter) March 3 – April 21. Contact Delores Melendez at 754-3503—office or 716-5011 cell. We also need coaches and assistant coaches for the teams. <Flyer for League> <Flyer for Coaches>. (Posted January 31, 2012)

Veterans Coalition – The Veterans Coalition for the Heart of Texas is an all-volunteer grassroots community group formed to improve the lives of veterans.  Join us for quarterly meetings or we’ll send occasional updates (no spam!). For more information, email vetzconnect@gmail.com  or call Maggie McCarthy at 744-4162.  (Posted January 31, 2012)

Mission Waco E-news for February — <MORE> (Posted January 31, 2012)

Pack of Hope News – The McLennan County Hunger Coalition recently donated $10,000 to a local backpack program called Pack of Hope. The Hunger Coalition received this money from a Valero Grant earlier this year. This press release was filmed by Waco ISD and has been uploaded with permission from Waco ISD.Help end child hunger in Central Texas by donating to Pack of Hope. The MCHC will donate $1.00 to Pack of Hope for every $2 donated to them by the community. To donate or learn more about Pack of Hope visit www.packofhope.org. <MORE>  (Posted January 31, 2012)

See what Goodwill has to offer! -  Here is the link to the Goodwill Waco Learning Center Resource site: http://sites.google.com/site/hotgoodwilljob/. On it, there are links to online job boards, specific companies’ career pages, and websites for working on computer skills. (Posted January 20, 2012)

Salsa, Sabor y Salud – Beginning in January, both the Doris Miller YMCA and the Waco Family YMCA will offer Salsa, Sabor y Salud (Food, Fun and Fitness). This is a national healthy lifestyles program developed by the National Latino Children’s Institute in partnership with Kraft Foods. <MORE> (Posted January 20, 2012)

New weekly blog on poverty - Greg Kaufmann, a writer for The Nation magazine, has started The Week in Poverty, which will run every Friday.  Here’s a link: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/greg-kaufmann. (Posted January 20, 2012)

Get involved with helping to plan the 2012 Crop Walk -  The walk itself will be on October 14. The steering committee meetings will be on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 in the Seeds of Hope office. Join us in planning this annual event to end hunger!  For more information and directions to the Seeds of Hope Office contact Katie Cook  by phone at 254-755-7745 or email at seedseditor@clearwire.net.  (Posted January 20, 2012)  

Interested in learning more about how to use the 2010 Census data? — Several of us in Waco use census data regularly for grant applications and other information needs.  A group of us are trying to organize a workshop with a representative from the Census Bureau in Dallas.  More information coming soon!  If you already know you are interested, send an email to events@actlocallywaco.org or just reply to this email. (Posted January 20, 2012)

Opportunity to mentor a child at the new J.H. Hines Elementary School – Through Waco’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program you can be come a “Big” for a child at J.H. Hines, spending time with your “Little” for one hour once a week on campus.  The Education Alliance has transformed the mentoring program at J.H.Hines into a mentoring program with the partnership of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and we are looking for mentors like you! <MORE>  (Posted January 20, 2012)

Act Locally Waco Book Club: Join us for our first Book! — Please join us for the first meeting of the Act Locally Waco Book Club.  We will be reading Bridges to Sustainable Communities: A System-wide Cradle to Grave Approach to Ending Poverty in America by Phil DeVol.   Here’s a description: “Most anti-poverty programs lack a system-wide scope of effort. But when ALL stakeholders people in poverty, communities, businesses, organizations–come to the table with a coherent plan of action, amazing things happen. This book includes clear examples and proven best-practices of what s possible when we re all on the same page. It is a collection of articles published by Philip DeVol, co-author of Bridges Out Of Poverty and a leading voice in helping people come together to end poverty. These papers give you new models, ideas, applications, and tools that present guidelines and action steps.” Our first meeting will be at 6:00 on Thursday, February 2 at the home of Ashley Thornton, 626 N. 30th.  We’ll have snacks available.   You can order the book from Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com or from the Aha! Process website at http://www.ahaprocess.com/store/Family_Bridges.html. Please RSVP to Ashley_Thornton@baylor.edu.  (Posted January 20, 2012. )

Lake Shore Baptist Church Food Pantry changes hours – 8:30 am, Snack/Breakfast.  9:00 am – 11:00 am, food distribution. <MORE> (Posted January 3, 2012)

Waco Transit offering route-planning and travel training – Job seekers and disabled residents are among the bus riders taking advantage of a free travel training program Waco Transit offers to help new passengers learn the city’s bus system. The service gives residents a basic overview of the public transportation system, such as route times, fare costs and bus stop locations, as well as skills in reading route maps and planning bus trips. Waco Transit staffers also can accompany riders on a bus ride demonstration and answer questions. The services are scheduled upon request. (posted 12/9/2011) <MORE>

Community Booth Available at Farmer’s Market – The Community Booth at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market is open to local Waco community organizations. We want to feature you and all the good work you are doing, alongside all the good food and farms in our community. The WDFM will provide a 10×10 tent for your organization.  (posted 12/9/2011) <MORE>

Collect Change for Talitha Koum – Everyone loves to give during the holiday season. Bring that joy to your family, friends, coworkers, civic group, or Sunday School class by taking a Change for Children jar that supports the work of Talitha Koum’s Nurture Center. We’ll bring the jar to you and pick it up when it’s full! Simply email: Marge@TalithaKoum.org or call her at 753-1144. (posted 12/9/2011) <MORE>

Waco Housing Website – We wanted to let you know about a new service we’ve brought to Waco, WacoHousingSearch.org, since it could be a great (and free) resource for non-profits, social service agencies, and individuals in the area. Through this service’s website or toll-free call center (1-877-428-8844), potential tenants can search for rental homes or apartments, using all sorts of different criteria including price, location, accessibility features, and more. Our goal for this site is that by providing a centralized, comprehensive place to connect people with the housing they need, more people in Waco will be able to find suitable affordable housing, thus decreasing their risk of facing a housing crisis and/or homelessness. (Posted 12/9/2011) <More>

Big Brothers Big Sisters Matching Grant Opportunity (posted 12/9/2011) — <MORE> 

Christmas Toy Store Opens for Lower-Income Families – Parents invited to buy for their own children with 80% discount. Thousands of toys donated by local churches, businesses and individuals fill Mission Waco’s children center, awaiting the arrival of parents who will shop the aisles for their own children. Vouchers are required for program participants through the main office. Volunteers help assist the parents and also provide gift wrapping. Mission Waco’s “empowerment” model of ministry brings dignity to struggling by allowing them to buy these extremely reduced toys for their own children and enjoy the pride in that. Mission Waco uses their 20% donation to buy more gifts. For more information call (254)753-4900. (Posted 12/9/2011)

Interested in an Act Locally Waco book club? There are many informative books available about how to reduce poverty, and it’s more fun to read if you have like minded friends to discuss the high points and low points with you. Several of us are interested in forming an Act Locally Waco book club. The first book under consideration is Bridges to Sustainable Communities by Philip E. DeVol. If you are interested send an email to Ashley_Thornton@baylor.edu. We will probably have our first meeting in January 2012.

World Hunger Farm Turkeys – Buy a pastured turkey this year for Thanksgiving from World Hunger Relief Inc. Cost is $3.50 per pound with a $10 deposit required. Purchases helps supply turkeys to families in need around Waco. Contact 799-5611 or turkeys@worldhungerrelief.org  for reservations. (Posted 11/1/2011)

Wing & Prayer outreach – Would your church like to participate in the West Robinson Baptist Church “Wing & Prayer” Thanksgiving outreach, delivering chicken dinners to those in need? <MORE>

Meals & Wheels holiday meals – Help us deliver! – Meals & Wheels is seeking volunteers to deliver meals during the holiday season beginning at Thanksgiving. If you are interested, please call 752-0316, and ask for Holiday Meals/Presents Deliveries. We must not forget our seniors during the holidays. (Posted 11/1/2011)

Help Salvation Army re-stock shelves – Here’s a note from CareNet CEO Deborah McGregor regarding Salvation Army: “… our local Salvation Army is in dire need of assistance restocking their shelves. As the holiday season approaches, their inventory has seen a signifcant reduction as they attempt to provide for those in need. They are currently asking for non-perishable food items which can be delivered at their Waco Drive location. We ask that you consider making a donation as Salvation Army has done a tremendous job of providing many of our clients continued assistance with material goods.” (Posted 11/1/2011)

Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry has moved — The Shepherd’s Heart mobile pantry will be moving Saturday, October 15,  to a new location. It be located at the Industrial Tecnologies Center at TSTC. The building is on Crest Dr. between Campus dr. and Airline Dr. The mobile pantry will be located in the parking lot in clear sight of the traffic on Crest Dr.We are trying to reach more people in the “high needs areas”. We are hopeful that this location will serve the community well by meeting the needs of the food insecure and hungry in the farther north regions of the Waco area. <MORE> (Posted 10/16/2011)

Welcome Big Brothers Big Sisters! — Welcome to our newest www.actlocallywaco.org partner: Big Brothers Big Sisters. For more information see the Partners and Links page.  (posted 10/16/2011).

New Service to help renters find housing — The City of Waco’s Housing & Community Development is pleased to introduce www.WacoHousingSearch.org, a NEW and FREE service for McLennan County. Providers of rental housing can use this FREE service to advertise properties in great detail. Listings include pictures, map links and even information about nearby amenities like parks, schools, and hospitals. The service can be accessed online or via toll-free phone and fax and is supported by a toll-free, bilingual call center that assists individuals who lack access or don’t feel comfortable using the Internet. Thank you for your participation in this exciting service! (posted 10/16/2011)

New additions to the www.actlocallywaco resources page — You know Act Locally is a great source for information about events, but did you know there is all kinds of other information available as well.  Check out www.actlocallywaco.org/resources/.  Newest additions include information about Housing and Tenants’ rights and a list of Waco employers who are sometimes willing to hire ex-offenders. (posted October 8, 2011)

AVID tutors needed – Do you know a college student who would like to work as an AVID tutor for Waco ISD? If so, please have them email: dmckethan@wacoisd.org. AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. (posted October 8, 2011)

HOT Goodwill Computer classes offered every week. For a list of classes and times, click here: Computer Classes. (posted September 17, 2011)

Support Talitha Koum; invite them to speak to your group – Do you know of a group in need of a guest speaker? Talitha Koum Institute would like to share the exciting things that are happening. For more information, just contact Nan Holmes, 753-1144. (Posted August 20, 2011)

Hunger Action Month – September is Hunger Action Month! Go to our website ( www.mclennanhunger.org ) for a list of daily ideas of how you can fight hunger in our community, or pledge your support at http://hungeractionmonth.org/ (Posted August 20,2011)

Registration begins for Mission Waco “Caring Cup Scramble” Golf Tournament <MORE> (Posted August 6,2011)

Support Mission Waco by ordering Pizza Hut Pizza Rollers <MORE> (Posted August 6,2011)

Mission Waco School Supply Store Opens for Low-Income Families – <MORE>

Kitchen help needed at the Gospel Cafe - TheGospel Cafe re-opens for business after summer sabbatical on August 10. They will need some fill-in kitchen volunteers for August, September and October. They are open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Interested people can email Sherry Castello at Sherry@castello.com , or call 254-405-0832. (Posted July 27, 2011)

Christian Women’s Job Corps moving to new building – Because Methodist Children’s Home is expanding, they are in need of the building we currently lease on their campus resulting in changes for us. Help us recondition our new facility for the journey of changing future generations. No contribution is too small or too large. Financial Goal: $35,000.00. Financial Goal Date: July 18th. <MORE> (Posted July 16, 2011)

Meals & Wheels Senior Star Search registration open.  – Last day to register August 15. <MORE> (Posted July 16, 2011)

Meals & Wheels Apple Tree Bazaar  — Applications for ventors now being taken <MORE> (Posted July 16, 2011)

Registration now open for “No Need Among You” Conference  — The conference itself will be September 15-17. <MORE> (Posted June 28, 2011)

Get help signing up for benefits - St. Luke AME’s Rev. Pamela Rivera and church members are prepared to assist individuals with applications for major benefits. These inlcude Medicaid, CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), SNAP (food stamps), and TANF (welfare). The church volunteers were trained by Gloria Martinez of Catholic Charities and Esther Morales of Helpings SNAP Outreach.  Click here for a flyer: Benefits assistance flyer. Call 254-752-0502 or email to set up an appointment. (Posted June 28, 2011)

Gospel Cafe Closed for Summer Sabbatical – The Gospel Cafe will be closed from June 29 until August 10 for the Crossties Ecumenical Church’s annual sabbatical. (Posted June 28,2011)

Summer Meals Program – Please let your friends/clients/staff/children you work with know about the opportunity available to kids 1-18 to eat breakfast & lunch for free this summer. You can go to www.mclennanhunger.org/summersites for a list of sites or you can go to www.summerfood.org and click on “Eat Right, Find a Site” to put in your address and find the nearest sites to you. Adults can eat for a reduced rate. (Posted June 15, 2011)

Referral Manual – In an effort to provide more knowledge of and better social services in Waco, McLennan County NonProfit Services has created a community referral manual that can be found online at http://mclennannonprofits.com/referral.htm. The referral manual was created by various organizations. Please take full advantage of this manual to better provide resources to our Waco community. (Posted May 15, 2011)

Restoration Haven needs positive male mentors to hang out with kids. Read their newsletter here for more information. <Restoration Haven Newsletter> (Posted May 3, 2011)

Please Participate in Baylor Community Partners Survey – The goal of this survey is to gain feedback from community partners so Baylor volunteers can use this feedback to better prepare and serve our Waco community. Click here to take Survey: Survey Link <MORE> (Posted May 3, 2011)

Arrow Ministries Announces Two new family strengthening  programs – Arrow Child and Family Ministries has been helping kids and families since 1992 with funding from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The two new programs are “Texas Families Together and Safe ” a 7-week parenting class and “Family Strengthening” a FREE 90 day program with weekly in home support. Arrow looks forward to working with community agencies to reach our goals of Strengthening Families Today and Building Stronger Families for Tomorrow. We would like the opportunity to set up a 5-10 minute presentation and/or meeting regarding what both our programs can offer. For more information visit the website: www.arrow.org or contact Madeline Barrett. She can be reached by phone at at 254.752.2100 by email at madeline.barrett@arrow.org . (Posted January 27,2011)

Wheels of Sharing Mobile Food Pantry comes to Mart – Where?Veternarian Doc Range’s parking lot on Texas Avenue. When? First Tuesday of the month from 10- noon. Free healthy food for your family! Get help applying for food stamps! For more information contact Sue Kalka at kalkas1@yahoo.com. (Posted January 27, 2011)

Civil Rights Tour for Baylor Students – The 2011 Civil Rights Tour is an experiential learning opportunity for Baylor Students during spring break, March 5-13, 2011. Students will travel to key sites in the Civil Rights Movement, visit museums, institutes, and monuments, and discuss issues related to race and justice in small groups. Please contact Tye at T_Barrett@baylor.edu or (254)710-3015 if you or a student you know is interested! For a flyer, click here: Baylor Civil Rights Tour. (Posted January 27, 2011)

CHURCH SWAP :A Grassroots Approach to Dismantling the Most Segregated Hour in America - The Community Race Relations Coalition (CRRC) and Baylor University’s Academy for Leader Development and Civic Engagement are teaming up on a project that will work toward racial reconciliation, using the vehicle of “swapping churches.”  Participants are asked to make an eight-month commitment to the project – January through August, 2011 and will participate in a variety of activities including a civil rights tour and three months of “church swapping.” There is no charge to participants. The “church swap” is the heart of the experience.  Participants who attend a church where they are the majority, will attend a church of the same denomination where they are the minority. See website www.crrcwaco.org for more specifics.  More participants are needed. If you are interested or have questions, call Jo Welter at 836-4599. (Posted January 14, 2011.

Planning for Hunger and Homelessn Awareness Week - Meetings to plan Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week will occur at noon on the first Friday of each month, beginning in March and lasting until November. Locations to be determined. Additional meetings may be scheduled as necessary. For more information contact h.c.user@hotmail.com. (Posted January 11, 2011)

Volunteers needed to work with Youth – Wesley United Methodist Church is looking for servant leaders who are interested in helping out with our youth. We desire people who are passionate about God and their calling. Someone with a heart for youth aware of and sensitive to the realities of people who live in poverty/low-income communities. If you are interested in being a volunteer please contact Kristina Garrison at (602) 672-3613. “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5.2-3 (Posted January 11, 2011)

Wheels of Sharing Mobile Food Pantry – Where? Paul Quinn Campus, 1020 Elm Street, Waco. When? Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. to noon. Free healthy food for your family! Get help applying for food stamps! For a flyer to post and share, click here: Wheels of sharing flyer. (Posted January 1, 2011)

Community Youth Development Grant – Communities In Schools (CIS – HOT) is the Fiscal Agent for the 76707 Community Youth Development (CYD) grant. They will soon be releasing an RFP for subcontractors to provide services to children and youth. The goal of the CYD program is to implement educational, employment, recreational, health, and supportive services that promote the social and economic well being of youth and their families. In order to minimize the prevalence of Juvenile Crime and the destruction of our youth and community, we will offer services which will impact our youth’s school attendance and performance, build their self-esteem, and enhance their decision-making skills. If you think your organization might be a good candidate for this opportunity, please contact Dale Barron by email at dbarron@cis-hot.org or by phone at 254-753-6002. (posted January 1, 2011)

Mission Waco Poverty Simulation Dates set through 2011 – For over twenty-five years, students and adults have been coming to North Waco to become poor for 42 hours. Last year, almost one thousand participants experienced what half the world lives out in reality everyday. The weekend experience goes from Friday night (8:00p) through Sunday afternoon (2:30p) and costs $50/each. Space is limited to the first 75 participants. Contracts, deposits and some details are all listed on the website www.missionwaco.org. Upcoming dates: Jan 14-16, Feb 4-6 and 25-27, Mar 25-27, Apr 8-10, May 6-8, June 3-5 and 24-26, July 8-10 and 29-31. For more information call 254-753-4900. (posted January 1, 2011)