By Sara Beth Stoltzfus
I was emailing folks a few weeks ago about MCH Family Outreach and the services we provide, sharing that while we are getting creative with our methods (using video chats, phone calls, dropping off items outside homes) we are still open for business during COVID-19. The response I got was, “I think someone should expand on this lovely list and make it into a blog post to share on Act Locally Waco. I think there are many in the community who would benefit from knowing more about what you do!”
I agree! So here goes.
Basically, MCH Family Outreach exists to support families; to help keep families strong, connected and together. We do this through in-home case management programs, parenting classes, and support groups for caregivers. We do this work with many different types of families: families with very little income, families with high income, families with infants as well as families with teenagers. We work with both English and Spanish speaking families. We work with grandparents, aunts/uncles and other relative caregivers as they search for resources, parenting ideas and support. Our services are free and our services are voluntary. And we can meet in a family’s home or another comfortable and safe place.
The goals we make with families through our case management programs are their own, not ours. We meet for one month to get to know a family before we officially set goals. That way, we do not throw a bunch of ideas at a family that they have already tried or cannot use. We try not to throw things in general. ; )
Here are examples of goals we can help with through case management:
- We could help your family feel more connected by working on communication and bonding between family members.
- We could help your family learn to handle difficult emotions by teaching self-regulation skills.
- We could help brainstorm disciplinary strategies that work for your family.
- We could help you become more confident in your parenting by providing information about your child’s developmental stage and provide parenting tips.
- If you are experiencing financial stress, we could help you connect to local resources, prepare a resume, complete a job search, create a budget and learn what benefits you might qualify for.
- We can provide advocacy and support to you as you navigate the legal system.
- We can help get you connected with appropriate therapists, counselors, doctors, food pantries, housing programs and other community resources.
- We can help you navigate the school system, attend ARD meetings with you, advocate for special education services, etc.
- We can help you explore self-care practices and supports that you need as a parent, including, but not limited to connecting you to local parenting groups or counseling.
I love the work that we are able to do at MCH Family Outreach because we are able to work creatively to help families reach their goals and find stability, connection, and even joy. Parenting is definitely not easy, even more so in the past month. Sometimes we all need a little extra support, someone to ask those tough questions, someone to vent to – then brainstorm solutions with, a non-judgmental person to check in with, for motivation and cheering on.
We are here to provide that support and would love to talk to you more about the programs we offer.
Call 254-750-1263 for our local Waco office or check out our website for more information about our case management programs, our parenting classes, workshops and support groups: https://www.mch.org/locations/waco/
Visit our webpage for the contact information of our 13 Outreach offices in Texas and New Mexico. https://www.mch.org/family-outreach-leadership/
This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Sara Beth Stoltzfus. Sara Beth is a Social Worker at MCH Family Outreach through the Methodist Children’s Home. Sara Beth is originally from Pennsylvania but has been living in Texas for more than 10 years, 8 of which have been spent in Waco.
By Bill Baily, President and CEO of Cenikor Foundation
As the country learns to fight the coronavirus, the opioid epidemic has slipped back to the shadows. Just a few months ago, that epidemic was taking almost 200 lives per day, 67,367 in 2018, and had become a household topic. Taskforces, committees, legislators, communities and treatment providers were standing together to help make resources available for those that found themselves suffering from addiction issues.
We are facing a time of unprecedented stress and unknowns. Unemployment is rapidly rising. Social distancing brings the psychological fallout of isolation. It is vitally important, now more than ever, to the health of our nation to ensure that treatment is available and accessible. Times of high stress bring with them an increase in alcohol and drug use and abuse which compounds the issues that our families and communities are already facing. According to a National Institute on Drug Abuse report following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, “stressful times are particularly difficult for those who are more vulnerable to substance abuse and stress. Stress is one of the most powerful triggers for relapse in addicted individuals, even after long periods of abstinence”.
As we all know, hospitals are dealing daily with the pandemic and we are so grateful for the doctors and nurses showing up every day. A lesser known fact is that as stay at home orders have been issued across Texas, substance use disorder services have been designated essential services. This further emphasizes the necessity for those struggling with addictions to be able to receive the services they so desperately need. At Cenikor Foundation, we have been serving a community in the crisis of addiction for over 53 years and continue to meet the challenge through this crisis. True to the trends we have seen in previous crises, we continue to see a steady stream of calls for help. Our staff have risen to the challenge to provide safe environments for those seeking services and continue to provide daily the care that is necessary to save the lives of those suffering from addiction. We are honored and privileged to continue being a place for change during, through, and after this national crisis. Whether you or someone you love is searching for detoxification, short term residential/inpatient or outpatient treatment services in the Waco area, and whether you are insured, uninsured or under-insured, we can help. For every unique situation, there is a door to successful recovery, there are resources available and it is the right time to ask for help.
Bill Bailey has served as President and CEO of Cenikor Foundation since 2004. Through Bill Bailey’s 16 years of leadership, Cenikor has provided strategic guidance, igniting a successful cycle of growth in geographic scope and treatment services within Cenikor’s full continuum of care. Bill’s commitment to Cenikor and the overall behavioral health community is one of long-term success, focused on Cenikor raising public awareness in the areas of treatment, prevention and education, and continuing a progressive movement on a national level.
By Rolando Rodriguez
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our daily routines and challenged the way schools and colleges across the country operate. These unprecedented times are especially troubling for our most vulnerable population, including the elderly, those with serious underlying medical conditions, young children, low-income families and first-generation college students.
Despite these challenges, Waco Foundation’s MAC College Money Program remains committed to supporting low-income students in McLennan County. Even though our physical office may be closed, MAC Program staff are still available to assist students with the college financial aid process through phone, text, email, social media and virtual Zoom meetings during regular office hours.
The MAC Program’s role in the community is to make college affordable with grants, scholarships and financial aid assistance. That hasn’t changed. Included below are six financial tips available to college students.
Emergency Grants
Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), colleges and universities received $7 billion in funds specifically designated for emergency financial aid.
According to a statement from Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education, the emergency grants can be used to “cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.” Expenses include food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare and childcare.
The application process and award amounts vary at each college. If you are a college student experiencing any financial hardships due to COVID-19, please contact your college’s financial aid office as soon as possible. At this time, TASFA students and online-only students are not eligible.
Financial Aid Appeal
Each time you complete your FAFSA or TASFA, you and your family are using taxes that are already two years old by the time you start college. For example, the 2020-2021 FAFSA requires 2018 tax information. However, for many families, 2018 taxes are no longer reflective of their current financial situation, especially if they experienced layoffs or reduced hours.
Students can complete a financial aid appeal form (sometimes referred to as a special circumstances application) with their college’s financial aid office. The appeal allows students to request the college to consider their current financial situation for 2020 rather than 2018 if there is a significant difference. Contact your college’s financial aid office or visit their financial aid website for more information.
You can still receive federal work-study
If your school closes and you lose your federal work-study job, you may still be eligible to continue receiving work-study funds for the remaining period you were expected to work. The amount is based on your award amount rather than hours worked. Contact your college to learn more about their policies.
Pell Grant limits are waived
For students who are not able to complete college this semester, the CARES Act also allows colleges to waive lifetime limits on certain financial aid, including the Pell Grant. Typically, a student is eligible to receive 12 full-time semesters of Pell Grant during their lifetime. Pell grant money used this semester won’t count toward your lifetime limit.
Similarly, students’ satisfactory academic progress requirements have also been waived. If a student was no longer able to complete their courses because of COVID-19, they will not be penalized. The student will not be asked to repay any Pell Grant funds, and they will not lose their satisfactory academic standing.
Some students can receive stimulus checks
Since many students are over 16 and still claimed as dependents on their parents’ taxes, they are not eligible for stimulus checks provided under the CARES Act. Students who are not claimed as dependents on someone else’s tax return are eligible to receive the stimulus check. Generally, a full-time student under the age of 24 is considered a dependent if their parent(s) provide more than half of their support.
Be patient
Many colleges are slowly beginning to roll out their emergency grant applicants along with other policy changes related to the CARES Act. However, colleges, like many of us, are working remotely and with reduced staff. Please be patient with your college’s financial aid office when you call or email.
While your health and safety is always the priority, please take this time during social distancing to check off the last few items on your college checklist and contact your college’s financial aid office for more information about additional funding opportunities to help with any COVID-19 financial hardships.
If you have any questions or need assistance with your FAFSA, TASFA or other financial aid paperwork, the MAC Program is available to help.
Rolando Rodriguez – 254.327.1177 (Call or text) – [email protected]
Maria Arevalo – 254.327.1171 (Call or text) – [email protected]
Rolando Rodriguez is from a small town in Coahuila, Mexico and was raised in Waco. He graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts in professional writing and from University of North Texas with a master’s of science in digital communication analytics. He has been at Waco Foundation since January 2017 and is the Senior MAC & Scholarships Coordinator. His role at the Foundation is to manage scholarships, serve as an advocate of higher education for all students in McLennan County regardless of financial circumstances and assist McLennan County students with the financial aid process for college. Rolando is passionate and honored to serve the community through the same program that paved the way for him.
From your Heart of Texas Region MHMR (For more posts in this series, click here: Mental Health in the Time of Corona Virus)
Children are being flooded with information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) from a variety of sources. This is a unique situation that may leave parents questioning what to say to their children and how to address the possible emotional fallout from this concerning and anxiety-producing time in our society.
Children need to have important, factual, and appropriate information. They are likely receiving information from peers, adults, social media, and news outlets. We know that not all of this information is accurate. Parents should provide accurate information in an effort to reduce possible confusion, fear and anxiety and to provide reassurance. Be careful not to provide too much information and keep it at a level that the child is able to understand.
Remain sensitive to your child’s mood, behavior, and any noticeable changes in regular patterns such as sleeping and eating. Some children keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves, while others act out their emotions. If you notice changes in your child, encourage them to express their feelings so you can explain and provide support. This provides safety and security for your child in the midst of difficult feelings and emotions.
Continue to have as much structure in the day as your time will allow. Life as your children know it has been disrupted probably more than any other time in their lives. They are not attending school, they may not be seeing friends, sporting events have been cancelled or postponed, and they may be staying home more. Structure can decrease the amount of anxiety a child may be feeling, and give them a sense of control.
Provide children with practices that decrease the chances of getting the virus. Inform your children of the Center for Disease Control’s recommendations on what safety steps can be taken to lessen the spread of the virus (e.g., washing hands frequently, using wipes to clean surfaces, not gathering in large groups, keeping distance from others, using proper means to cover mouth when coughing or sneezing). This will offer children a sense of control over the spread of the virus.
Be aware of your own responses to COVID-19. Children take signals from their parents. Try to be aware of how you are feeling and your own experiences around COVID-19, and how this can affect your child. Speak to a friend, spouse or other trusted person to talk about your concerns and anxieties. Don’t wait to feel overwhelmed by your worries to speak to others. Having ongoing discussion with others will help you with your own anxieties and in not feeling you are alone in your concerns.
MHMR Mental Health Hot line – 254-752-3451 or 1-866-752-3451 – 24 hours a day. For questions related to substance use challenges, call 254-297-8999. Call 911 for a life-threatening crisis.
By Maggie Sanders
With the current COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place guidelines, we are all having to adjust to new ways of doing things. Working and learning at home, cooking instead of eating out and meeting digitally instead of face-to-face are just some of the ways we are coping.
For those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias or their caregivers, the new guidelines add an extra layer of stress. Already confused, our loved ones are now even more so. Unable to understand why they must stay home if they are used to going out. And they may have trouble remembering to wash their hands or to keep their distance. Those residing in facilities, most of which are on lockdown, do not know why their families are no longer visiting.
Caregivers previously benefitting from support groups or seeking information may not know where to turn. Although these groups are not meeting in person, the Alzheimer’s Association provides support with call-in and virtual options. For a list of virtual support groups, visit www.alz.org/crf
Our local staff are working remotely and are available to help virtually as well. The toll-free 24/7 helpline (800) 272-3900 continues to provide information and connections to resources, and Links to online chats, resources and support groups can be found at www.alz.org. Caregivers and persons living with Alzheimer’s or dementia can join message forums on a variety of subjects at www.alzconnected.org.
Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Be safe. We will get through this.
Maggie Sanders is a free-lance artist and writer. Now retired from McLennan Community College, sheo cares for her mother, Vivian Sanders, who is living with severe dementia. Maggie volunteers with the local Alzheimer’s Association chapter and is a member of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s committee.
By Ferrell Foster and Emily Hunt-Hinojosa
Prosper Waco began using the phrase “Waco Working Together” before the tragedy of COVID-19 struck. The pandemic has shown just how important and possible it is for the people and organizations of Waco to work together. It has been great to see how the community has worked together to respond.
In light of the challenges, we are extending our phrase a little — Waco Working Together for a new normal. There is no going back; all aspects of the Greater Waco community are working together to create a new normal, and we think it can even be better than before.
By working together for the common good we do more than rebuild what was going well; we can bring new health and wellbeing to parts of our community that were struggling before the pandemic began.
To aid this collaboration, Prosper Waco has launched a new website — WacoWorkingTogether.org/covid. Check it out, but this is only the beginning.
In the next few weeks, with needed funding, we will move to phase two, which will utilize a web platform called RoundTable, from the Thriving Cities Group. On this platform, Prosper Waco and Thriving Cities Group are building a unique tool specifically designed for Waco. Roundtable supports an interactive map that connects stories with data for a more contextual understanding of our community. By leveraging a common data platform, we can develop a more holistic perspective of Greater Waco.
Key features of Roundtable are:
- Display of quantitative indicators across the Waco/McLennan County region searchable by various geographic levels (neighborhood, Zip codes, city, county, etc.). This feature enables everyone equal access to relevant data about our community (population demographics information, as well as data related to education, health, income, employment, and a variety of other topics) to enrich our understanding on issues, pipelines, and opportunities.
- A profile system whereby local organizations and groups can input and update their own information. This will enable quick and direct input of information in a changing environment.
- A map of the various assets and resources across our community that bring us together
Thriving Cities uses the phrase “human ecology” to speak of how a community works. Just as a biological ecology involves interacting of varied species, a human ecology refers to the interacting of the individuals and organizations in a community. Biological and human ecologies can promote thriving life or hinder it.
The goal of WacoWorkingTogether.org is to help us all see Waco as a human ecology that helps Greater Waco thrive. It will do this, in part, by building a store of information in one place previously unavailable in Waco. Prosper Waco will analyze the data and the information entered by the varied organizations to help all of us to understand our community better and to work more effectively together.
Thriving Cities Group likes to say that a Community IQ exists in every city, but it’s just not together in one place. WacoWorkingTogether.org, powered by the Roundtable platform, will bring the Community IQ of Greater Waco together in one place.
Ferrell Foster is content specialist for care and communications at Prosper Waco. He holds a doctorate in ministry, in which he focused on justice issues. He has been a professional ethicist, minister, and communicator.
Emily Hunt-Hinojosa is director of research and community impact at Prosper Waco. Hunt-Hinojosa holds an Associate Fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, where she was employed prior to joining Prosper Waco. She holds a master’s degree and doctorate in sociology from Baylor University.
What does it feel like to be new to Waco? What would a new person notice about our town? What’s it like to try to find your place in our community? Ferrell Foster is moving to Waco from Georgetown to become a part of the Prosper Waco team. In this blog series he will share some of his experiences as a Waco newbie. What will we see when we look at Waco through his fresh eyes? Read along to find out! To see all the posts in this series, click here: New to Waco. – ALW
By Ferrell Foster
My first days in Waco brought to mind Garrison Keillor’s introduction to his weekly radio story. “Welcome to Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.”
I know Keillor had his tongue firmly implanted in cheek, but he could have been truthfully referring to the women of Waco. When it comes to Waco women, strong leaders are easy to find.
This is not to negate the good qualities of Waco men. Shoot, we’ve got a mayor that I would put against any mayor in the country. But this is about our women.
I’m not going to name names, but a woman is leading that little school on the east side of I-35. Then there’s the head of the public health district. We’ve got two women leading two of our strongest foundations. Then there’s the woman who is in the middle of everything communicated in this town via the Internet. There’s a woman city council member who brings expertise, heart, and soul to meetings. I’ve tuned in online to hear a woman pastor who keeps many of us grounded in faith. A business-owning woman is a former mayor and is still active in city leadership. A woman leads our community-wide fundraising effort. Can’t forget the leaders of a local mental health facility and a substance abuse center. And, of course, my own boss is one of those leading ladies.
There are many other women providing leadership in our medical facilities, educational institutions, city government, real estate, and businesses. And, there are countless women leading their families (sometimes with a manly assist), and that is an especially important role in our stay-at-home times.
I have met all of the leaders referenced above and encountered women who fit into the next category in my short two months of working in Waco and one week of living here.
Back to Keillor’s intro, I don’t know about the handsomeness of Waco men, but the last phrase about above average children is an exercise in wishful thinking. Average is what it is, and it applies to all sorts of things. Each of us is average in some ways, and below and above average in others. But it’s also true that we can move up from being below average at many things.
One reason you get great leadership from boardroom to living room is because you stress quality education — from start to finish. Education is not just about book smarts; it’s about learning, and that takes many forms.
When I was in high school in Dallas ages ago, I took “distributive education” my senior year. I learned how the marketplace works, and I left school at lunch to work at a regular job — Sears, Roebuck & Co. The academic track eluded me. No one who knew me then, including me, speculated I would someday wear a hooded graduation gown.
Primary and secondary schools prepare us for all kinds of roles in life, and colleges and technical schools help students hone their skills in more specific ways. All of it is education, all of it is important, and all of it can be had right here in Waco.
Garrison Keillor was asked where the name, “Lake Wobegon,” came from. Keillor said the name had Native American roots meaning “the place where we waited all day in the rain [for you].”
I love that. The name, Waco, has a Native American lineage as well, and it gives me a very warm feeling thinking Waco can be a place where we wait all day in the rain for each other.
And to borrow the closing line from Lake Wobegon, “Well, that’s the news from Waco, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.”
Ferrell Foster is content specialist for care and communications at Prosper Waco. He and his wife, Trese, have five adult children and five grandchildren. He is a native Texan, having grown up in Dallas.
By Timothy Holtkamp, McLennan Small Business Development Center
Update: 4/17/20 both the PPP and EIDL programs are currently closed to new applications. However I fully expect these programs to reopen, and when they do it will be critical that you are prepared to respond extremely quickly when they do. Contact me for help preparing, [email protected]
Wow, is it just me or does it seem like we have crammed 10 years of concern, change and toilet paper purchasing into the last 2 weeks?
The next few weeks are critical to set the stage for the economic recovery of Waco. It is imperative that everyone do their part to get the word out about the resources that are available.
So, let me explain who should apply for these resources. People who own rental properties (even just one), Hair stylists, Nail techs, handy men or women, churches (just opened up this week), Non-profits, car dealers, insurance agents, Real Estate agents, Uber or Lyft drivers, event planners, photographers, personal trainers, lawn care, anybody that gets paid with a 1099 or files a schedule C on their tax return even if they have a regular job as well.
The reason it is critical that everyone that can, apply for these resources and take advantage of the free ones for certain and seriously consider the loans is because we need to prime the economy to get it moving.
If you plan on sitting back and waiting to see what other people are going to do before you go out and spend your money then start looking at life in the 1930’s because that’s what life is going to look like.
I understand if you feel like you are taking advantage of a social net put in place to help people who are down on their luck. However, that is not what this is at all.
Think 2008 – the banks were too big to fail or the whole of western civilization would come crashing down! The difference today is that instead of a few banks its tens of thousands of small businesses all across the country.
I’m sure some of you reading this are skeptical and think I am being dramatic. I assure you I am not. Unfortunately you will begin to see the breakdown of society in several countries shortly, that just a month ago were great places to live.
That could happen in the United States, but we can avoid it if enough people access the resources available, I feel we can stave off a collapse of society. I’m optimistic that a major depression can be avoided as well. However, some rough economic times are coming. Supply chains are being reworked and manufacturing shifted back to North America, but all that takes time and money, and some cities and counties will be winners and some will be losers.
Just like in college football, money helps you win. My goal is to get every person that is eligible to apply for the SBA EIDl loan to do so. If that happened with the number of people in Waco/McLennan County that have side hustles, and the $1,000 per employee Grant (you count as 1 employee) for just applying, our community could come out of this ordeal in good shape. That’s my goal.
The Small Business Association Economic Injury Disaster Loan (SBA EIDL) program includes an up to $10,000 grant if you are approved for the loan or turned down for the loan or if you are approved and decide not to take the loan. They are selling it as if you get $1000 minimum for just filling out the application. There may be some exclusions, but it only takes 15 min to fill out so do your civic duty and try. (You can pause Tiger King.) I have attached a YouTube video link where I go thru the application line by line showing you how to fill it out. However, if you have any trouble, call or shoot me an email. I have listed both my phone and email as well as the phone number & email to SBA to check the status of your application.
You can also apply at your local bank for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loan. This loan is possible if you are self-employed. If you follow its guidelines, it’s completely forgivable. It’s worth checking out. If your bank does not do the PPP send me an email and I can help find you one that does. Call me if you have questions about it as well.
How to fill out the application for an SBA EIDL loan
Contact Information
Tim Holtkamp: 254-299-8157 – [email protected]
SBA Customer Service Line: 1-800-659-2955 – [email protected]
Link to the Application: https://covid19relief.sba.gov
For more YouTube videos, Subscribe to the Texas Business Podcast.
Tim Holtkamp has been a Business Advisor with the McLennan Small Business Development Center for 7 years and is the President of Holtkamp Hill LLC, a private equity company that invests mainly in Real Estate, Agriculture, & Energy.
From your Heart of Texas Region MHMR
During times like these taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury. It is essential. And during this difficult time, when stress is running high, it’s more important than ever. Here are five tips that can help:
Make time for yourself – Right now, much of the personal time that was part of our daily routines may not be available. Without it, we have to be intentional about creating space to recharge and decompress. This could look like taking a shower or bath, walking around the block, or designating time to read. Think proactively of things you can do with this enforced time at home. Get back in touch with hobbies or activities you enjoy but rarely have time for, or make the choice to learn a new skill.
Prioritize healthy choices – The added stress and loss of structure we are all experiencing right now can make it easy to slip into habits that feel good in the moment but can be detrimental in the long term. Make sure you’re eating properly, try to get enough sleep, and create a routine that includes physical activity. Be thoughtful and intentional about how you are treating yourself and your body.
Be realistic – Avoid burnout by setting realistic expectations and giving yourself grace if you can’t meet them. Practice forgiveness and self-compassion. There’s no playbook for this. Remember you are doing your best during a very difficult time. Cut yourself some slack.
Set boundaries – Anxiety may seem rampant right now. With so much worry and uncertainty floating around it can be easy to absorb other people’s fears and concerns without even realizing it. If you have a friend or family member who is in the habit of sending worst-case-scenario news or is prone to sending anxiety-provoking text messages, practice a little emotional distancing. Let them know you sympathize but that you’re taking a break from constant worrying. You can always reconnect when things are calmer.
Finally, remember, being kind to yourself will not only help you stay calm during this difficult time, it will help ensure that you have the bandwidth you need to take good care of yourself. When you prioritize your needs, you’re filling the tank, emotionally and physically, and that means you’ll be in a position to offer comfort and care to others when they need it most.
By Travis Cheatham
Possibly my most annoying quality to people (this is a self-reflection), is that I use the word ‘caveat’ and ‘preface’ way too much. I rarely am able to tell a story or give a basic thought, without saying, “One caveat, though” or “Let me preface that.” I panic at the thought of being misunderstood and strongly believe that context matters. I completely relate to Chidi from The Good Place in questioning my every move and the implications of my actions. So, for me, the most growth comes from having Eleanors (also from The Good Place)come into my life to challenge me and introduce me to new modes of thinking.
So, as expected, let me now provide an important preface to a discussion on stimulus checks. I’ll start by saying that if you are one of the many people who have been critically affected by COVID-19, whether that means a loss of your job, an inability to work due to a lack of childcare/schooling, a pay cut from your job, new financial burdens as you directly care for family and friends etc. the rest of this blog entry is not for you. That’s not to say that you can’t read the rest, but please know this is a fairly niche target audience that I hope will consider what I have to say.
Let me narrow the field a bit further.
For most of my adult life, I’ve lived paycheck to paycheck. I still have enough student loans to make me queasy. I check my bank account regularly before getting groceries or placing an order to make sure I don’t go into the red. Right now, I’ve actually been putting off several cheap home repairs because I’m waiting for my next paycheck. My wife, Amy, and I split paying bills and she has often been the bigger “breadwinner” in our marriage.
Currently, we both work in public schools, which is not a way anyone got rich, but it has at least provided stability. For once in my life, we both have some money in savings and generally no credit card debt. All that to say, if you do not really have any form of savings, you were struggling even before we knew the term COVID-19, or the stability of your job is very uncertain, I think it’s fair to say that this blog entry is not really for you either.
For those who are so very blessed to remain in this conversation, I humbly suggest this – the stimulus checks were not made for us. These unprecedented funds were granted for the vast numbers of people and businesses who are in crisis. I know we all have debt, things we’ve put off, and things we’ve been saving for. For me, ultimately, I feel like this is a gift that isn’t really mine. I know that for many, the stimulus check will be a drop in the bucket and that there will be definite gaps that leave many people in need behind. So what am I proposing? That those of us who are fine without our stimulus checks find some way to donate them to those of us who are not fine.
Before the checks are released, I want to issue this request:
- Regardless of your spiritual tradition, I encourage you to ponder 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Even aside from this unusual time, I think one of the greatest joys of donating is finding an organization, business, or cause that speaks to you and that allows you to be a cheerful giver.
- Discuss the best use of these funds with your family/spouse. You are a team and you need to be on the same page. This is not an everyday occurrence and making decisions like these together strengthens relationships. Amy and I are still deciding what is best for us as a family.
- Think about those around you who are being affected the most. Is there someone in your life that you are uniquely positioned to help? Could that help be done anonymously? Could it be indirect, like contracting them for services?
- Consider organizations/causes that you are passionate about and that have a proven history of managing funds well and getting resources to the people who need it.
- Regardless of where you land on this topic, support local restaurants and businesses however you can. Get take-out meals, buy gift cards, and see how they are doing.
Regarding the greater Waco community, there is no shortage of worthy causes and nonprofits. In addition, there are many conversations going on right now with organizations like Prosper Waco, Waco Foundation, Cooper Foundation, Rapoport Foundation, Grassroots Community Development, United Way and others about the most effective way to gather, administrate, and distribute funds. One of the results of these conversations is a new website called Waco Working Together. In addition to these efforts, I wanted to specifically suggest two organizations:
- Caritas – They have consistently been Waco’s go-to place for urgent assistance with food, clothing, household items, utility assistance, prescription medication assistance, rent or mortgage assistance.
- Waco Immigrants Alliance (WIA) – Probably the largest section of our labor force who are 1) directly impacted by COVID-19 AND 2) will not receive stimulus checks are immigrants. Think about the number of staff in restaurants, hotels, agriculture, construction etc. WIA can help families that are particularly at risk of becoming homeless, falling victim to predatory lending, and other exploitative activities including notarios who do not properly represent them in their immigration cases.
Finally, for anyone reading this, know that I’m not proposing this is an all or nothing or one-size-fits-all concept. Any donation is meaningful, so consider what you can do.
Travis Cheatham has worked with local schools and nonprofits for the past 6 years. In 2019, he was honored as one of the Greater Waco Chamber’s 40 Under 40 finalists. Travis is the current chair of the Mentor Waco Coalition (one of Prosper Waco’s working groups). Travis is also the Chef/Owner of Cuppa, Waco, TX a catering and food consulting business. Travis is a ’06 Baylor grad who loves this community and loves to travel with his wife, Amy, whenever possible.