By Madison Fraser

Since United Way Worldwide was founded in 1887, we have been known as fundraisers – but we are so much more than that. In small towns and big cities around the world, we engage millions of people who seek to change lives and communities through service, collaboration, and impact. The United Way of Waco-McLennan County is no exception to this effort. Right here in Greater Waco and surrounding McLennan County, we are actively working to bridge community volunteers to the impact and important work of our local nonprofits.

Volunteerism is core to the mission of United Way across the globe. In 40 countries, over 2.8 million volunteers are engaged in United Ways and are actively serving their communities. United Ways share a vision of a world where all individuals and families achieve their human potential for education, healthy lives, and income stability. To realize this vision and thrive globally and locally, we work to ensure our donors and our community leaders can engage in volunteer experiences that enable them to witness firsthand the power of their personal philanthropy and support our work with their time and talents.

United Way’s GET CONNECTED volunteer portal, found at www.volunteergreaterwaco.com, exists to be the volunteer hub of McLennan County. It provides a real opportunity for you to give back beyond making a financial contribution.  Every volunteer hour given is the equivalent of $24 going back into our community. GET CONNECTED can connect you to local organizations, including the recent 2019-20 funded partner organizations, that are seeking volunteers to assist with the crucial work they do in our community every day. GET CONNECTED will also help connect your employee volunteer teams to meaningful volunteer experiences. Whether it’s a one-day activity or on-going team-building projects, GET CONNECTED is available to assist you through the entire process.

Surprisingly, over 71% of volunteers donate their time to only one organization per year. There are many factors to take into consideration as to why this might be, however, the most common seems to be that most volunteers are not aware of all available opportunities in their communities. Sixty-seven percent of people found more volunteer opportunities online in 2014 vs 34% in 2006, according to the Corporation for National & Community Service. GET CONNECTED is a great online resource for individuals to be informed of volunteer opportunities in their local community. The user-friendly portal is designed for individuals to create a user profile and specify their areas of interest and skills, such as education, health, food prep, manual labor, etc. Then, as new opportunities become available in the volunteer’s areas of interest, the portal will send them a notification so they will always be informed on current volunteer opportunities in the community.

The GET CONNECTED portal is your resource for both individual volunteers and for corporations and organizations who are looking for group volunteer opportunities for their employees. Volunteering as a group with your coworkers is beneficial for numerous reasons, including team bonding, reducing stress in the workplace, increasing motivation for leadership, and improving skill development. The portal allows for a team leader to easily sign up their team for an opportunity, quickly upload all required documents necessary to volunteer at an organization, and track volunteer hours.

Volunteers who feel meaningfully connected to an organization and their work stay engaged longer, donate more, and recruit other volunteers and donors. Offering a variety of volunteering opportunities is critical to responding to and meeting the needs, interests and availability of volunteers. Diverse points of entry to United Way’s volunteering landscape help form long lasting contributions and relationships that in turn will help United Way of Waco-McLennan County achieve its goals to improve the quality of education, health, financial stability, and safety net services in Waco-McLennan County.

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities in the Greater Waco or Waco-McLennan County area community, please visit www.volunteergreaterwaco.com.

Madison Fraser is a recent graduate of Baylor University where she earned her BA in journalism in 2018. Currently she serves as the Campaign and Communications Coordinator at United Way of Waco-McLennan County where she discovered her passion of community building and advocacy through the work of nonprofits.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

by Kelly Atkinson

The Cove is a teen nurturing center designed to provide a safe space for students experiencing homelessness to access the resources they need to thrive. Waco ISD high school students typically arrive at The Cove after school to receive wraparound care which includes anything from tutoring help to hot meals. 

With the end of summer nearing, we are excited to share all that our students have accomplished in the last few months. To kick the summer off, we celebrated graduation for 12 local seniors who both experienced homelessness and graduated high school! At an invitation-only, after-hours celebration at the Magnolia Silos, graduates celebrated an accomplishment some never dreamed possible. With dinner and ambiance provided by Magnolia, The Magnolia Baking Co., and Captain Billy Whizzbang’s, Cove scholars heard from Cove Co-Founder Rosemary Townsend and local teen mentor, Darryl Thomas, with The Size of a Man. Together they reminded students that: 
“Regardless of where we come from or where we’re going, we need to hold hands, be in community, respect and love one another.”  

So, what are the next steps for a recent Cove graduate? While it is always our desire to help students successfully transition into college, full-time work, the military or a certificate program, we don’t always know what Cove scholars choose to do next. What we do know is that some students stay connected and we get to journey with them into life after high school. 

One of our May graduates came to us in the spring having just transitioned out of the foster care system. She was a hard-working student with plans to attend a local college this fall. Since our Nurturing Center was open all summer, we learned that this student did not have the immunizations she needed, access to her birth certificate and financial information, or stable housing. While she was perfectly capable of performing academically, she had no access to the resources she needed to actually enroll in higher education. 

Throughout the summer, our staff team, volunteers, and local community partners like Caritas, The TSTC Foundation, Mission Waco’s MPowerment program, and the Department of Children’s Protective Services worked together to help this student realize her dreams. Just last week, she moved into an on-campus apartment, got a laptop, and started a new job! 

Most Cove Scholars have similar dreams and obstacles. We know that every student needs to know that there are people who care about them, who will help them realize those dreams.    

People can help The Cove in two ways – by giving donations in the form of snacks, sensory items, and hygiene items all of which can be found in our Amazon wishlist here and by supporting financially to help fund our operations. Whether you’re helping as an individual or with a group of friends, every bit of investment is appreciated.

Kelly Atkinson’s passion is to see individuals and families thrive in healthy communities. She came to The Cove in March of 2018 and enjoys working with a strong team, grant writing, and strategic planning. While not at work, she can be found relishing time with her three children and husband, John. 

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

Press Release

Grassroots Community Development is proud to announce a phase V of its highly successful roof repair program to help low income families with repairing their roofs. In the rainy months we receive calls from families with terrible roof problems. This fifth phase of our program hopes to address some of that need. Grassroots Community Development is finishing up the completion of 125 roof repairs for families and is starting a Phase V of these efforts.

The services provided by Grassroots Community Development Corporation are made possible in part through a grant from the City of Waco. The program is free to low-income families that live in the City of Waco. We have enough funds to repair around 15 roofs. We will open up enrollment for the program August 15th with a deadline to accept applications of October 15th. We will begin evaluating homes in October/November, then we will be hiring roofing contractors to complete the roofing projects.

Applications are available at our office or via our Website: www.GrassrootsWaco.org or we can email you an application.
For more information about the Roof Repair Program or about Grassroots Community Development call Mike Stone 254-235-7358 Ext 206

About Grassroots Community Development Grassroots Community Development was formed in 2001 and is located at 1624 Colcord Avenue. Our mission is “committed to a brighter future for children, neighbors and communities.”
Grassroots Community Development is committed to a brighter future for children, neighbors and communities. The organization operates with the mindset that cultivating healthy neighborhoods is more than just building attractive and affordable homes. Community members must work alongside each other to create sustainable change. Building intentional and authentic relationships with neighbors is at the heart of what Grassroots does. The team at Grassroots aims to bring neighbors together to work towards community driven change. Children are served through community supported reading clubs at the elementary schools. Neighbors are served through leadership development training classes, and free education and counseling to prepare families to become homeowners. Communities are served through roof and external home repair programs for the disabled and elderly, building new homes and community enhancement projects. Contact the team for how they can help you.

Visit http://www.GrassrootsWaco.org or the Facebook page https://facebook.com/ GrassrootsCommunityDevelopmentWaco to learn more information about Grassroots Community Development.

Press release –

As the Texas summer heat settles in and the index raises to triple digits, The Salvation Army reminds people about their cooling station open in downtown Waco, open to anyone seeking  some salvation from the heat.

The cooling center is conveniently located at 300 Webster Avenue and remains open until 4:30pm, closing only briefly to allow the staff to prepare for dinner service when the center reopens its doors as the Community Kitchen, ready to serve anyone seeking a nourishing meal.  

“The cooling center is open any day the temperature or heat-index reaches 100 degrees or higher, which it is doing pretty consistently” says Jorge Delgado, The Salvation Army Shelter Director.  “Prolonged extreme heat, as is about more than discomfort, it is a public health risk.  Our cooling centers are open to everyone.  Guests can stay for hours, or simply stop-in to cool-off and have a refreshment before continuing with their day” said Delgado. “Our guests run the gamut” he continued, “Some may be homeless or residents living in homes without air conditioning. They may work outside or be one of the passersby strolling through downtown. The dangers of extreme heat can affect anyone, from any walk of life, which is why we welcome all to stop in our center.”

Cooling centers truly do serve the health of the community by providing two things necessary to reduce the risk of heat exposure:

• Hydration.  It’s especially important for people to drink water before they get thirsty and to continue drinking throughout the day.
• Cool-down time.  Time spent in air-conditioned environments helps the body cool off and lessens the likelihood of getting overheated.

Refreshments, including water and snacks, have been provided by the community. The Salvation Army is most in need of donations of bottled water or beverages so they may continue serving during these final days of summer. 

This summer heat also serves as a reminder to check on neighbors such as the elderly, shut-ins, or those neighbors living in much older homes with insufficient cooling systems. The Salvation Army has several box fans available free of charge to anyone in need, thanks to a recent Fan Drive with Keith ACE Hardware locations throughout Central Texas. 

Contact The Salvation Army at 254-756-7271 for additional information.

By Amy Hammerton

August has somehow sneaked up on us again, which means back to school season is in full swing. For college students, going back to school means lots of additional expenses. Between tuition, text books, and housing costs, it’s no secret that college is expensive. With all these costs, it can be hard to find room in your budget for the fun stuff like a new wardrobe for the new semester and cute dorm decor. But don’t worry because there is a solution for all your budget-conscious needs: shop at Goodwill. Thrifting is the best, most sustainable option for updating your wardrobe, decorating your dorm room, and finding just what you need to start off the school year right.

Buying secondhand at Goodwill means you can find stylish (even name brand!) clothes at a tiny fraction of what you would normally pay—perfect for the tight college budget. And Goodwill has something for every occasion. So whether you’re looking for workout gear, an outfit for a night out, or that pair of comfy sweatpants you’re probably going to live in come finals week, Goodwill has got you covered.

You can also find almost everything you need to deck out your dorm or apartment. Need a lamp, end table, desk, or chair? Why not check Goodwill for some of the best deals you’re likely to find anywhere. You can also find wall décor and picture frames perfect for displaying all your favorite college memories. And don’t forget to check the glassware section for storage options for all your desk supplies and knickknacks. Especially if you get a little creative with it, the possibilities are nearly endless.

Not only can you score great finds at even better prices when you shop at Goodwill, you can feel good about doing it. One of the best parts about shopping at Goodwill is that you know exactly where your money is going. Every penny you spend at Goodwill supports their many mission service programs. These programs help empower people through work, creating opportunities for those with disabilities or other disadvantaging conditions to develop the skills and resources they need to find sustainable employment. So when you shop at Goodwill, not only do you know you’re getting good prices, you know that your money is going to support the community—a great deal all around. 

Amy Hammerton is a Baylor University Senior studying English Literature, Journalism and Graphic Design.  This summer, Amy has worked as a Heart of Texas Goodwill Marketing Intern developing social media content, creating brand collateral and promoting the mission of Goodwill through various media outlets.  In her final project, she leans on her own experience as a college student living on a budget.  In this blog series; Goodwill Goes to College, Amy shares how Goodwill can serve as a significant resource for her fellow student body to save money, get organized and be socially responsible keeping unwanted items out of the landfill through donations. 

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

By Garland Hancock

“But what can I do?”

I think most of us have asked that question at one time or another. 

We hear a story on the radio about tensions and even violence between nations around the world and many of us think — “Why is it so hard for us to get along?  We are all people. We all have the same basic needs.  We all love our children. Why can’t we learn to understand each other?” And finally, “But what can I do?”  

If you would like to take that question seriously and also have a wonderful learning experience for your own family, I have a suggestion – host a foreign exchange student this school year.

I have worked with foreign-exchange students — in one way or another — for nearly 20 years now, and nothing has given me greater pleasure. To watch these kids culturally mature before your very eyes is priceless. More than that, though, I am absolutely convinced that America’s foreign-exchange programs play an integral role in facilitating our diplomatic relations abroad.

This year we have an urgent need for Waco area host families for 15 students from two important exchange programs: FLEX and YES.  

FLEX

The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program is a United States Department of State-sponsored program for secondary school students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine. The program provides merit-based scholarships for students to travel to the United States, live with a host family, and attend a U.S. high school for a full academic year.

FLEX was established in 1992 and funding is provided through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program was created from the conviction of former Senator Bill Bradley that the best way to ensure long-lasting peace and understanding between the U.S. and the countries of Eurasia is to enable young people to learn about the U.S. and Americans firsthand, and to teach Americans about their countries.

The primary goal of the FLEX program is to improve mutual understanding and develop and strengthen long-term relationships between citizens of the United States and other peoples and countries.

YES

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was established by Congress in October 2002 in response to the events of September 11, 2001. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of State and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs (ECA) to provide scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the United States. Students live with host families, attend high schools, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures. The first class of YES students arrived from Egypt, Gaza, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, West Bank, and Yemen.

How do I get involved?

Both of these programs are incredibly selective. Only 3 percent of those who apply and submit essays are actually admitted. Which is to say these are cream-of-the-crop, “yes ma’am, no ma’am” kids who are hyper-focused on developing skills here in America that will allow them to assume leadership roles once they return back home. They arrive here full of vigor and purpose. And all are proficient in English.

Why the urgency? Students from around the world have been accepted into these highly competitive programs; but with the school year nigh upon us, many of these kids are still in need of host families or, at least, “welcome families.” So, as a coordinator with American Councils for International Education, I am working around the clock to make sure these well-deserving kids can pack their bags for Waco!

So, what are your costs/responsibilities should you decide to host one of these wonderful kids? Hosts must assure their students have transportation to and from school; so, if you are on a bus route, you are already set. Other than that, you simply provide room and board. And anytime the student might dine outside the home — for example, at the school cafeteria, or when accompanying your family to a restaurant — he or she is on his or her own.

Plus, the students come fully insured; and with the scholarship dollars they receive through acceptance into the FLEX/YES programs, they are required to budget for all personal expenses — entertainment, toiletries, school supplies, etc.

I am sure you have questions so please call me at your earliest convenience — today would be great! — at (254) 216-0460.

These kids are driven. They inspire. And they will win your heart. The bond you forge will last forever. The worst thing about hosting is that one day soon you will have to say goodbye. Best of all, you can rest assured that your student will ultimately pay it forward – hosting one student can start a chain reaction that can touch hundreds or even thousands of people back in their home communities.  That’s what you can do that will really make  a difference.

Garland Hancock is a free-lance journalist who publishes the Texas-based magazine J.D. Mayo’s Full-Court Press. In his free time, the China Spring resident and amateur percussionist travels the world to feed his passion for live, indigenous music. Garland has been working with foreign-exchange students for nearly 20 years and, as a part-time Language Arts tutor who specializes in ACT/SAT prep, he dedicates much of his schedule to helping ESL learners realize their dream of attending an American college.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

By Meredith Palmer

What makes Waco, Waco? Is it the booming business climate? Maybe it’s the wide array of philanthropic organizations? Or the up-and-coming arts sector? The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce hopes to give people a glimpse of how Wacoans live through its second annual “Find Your Waco event.”

Find Your Waco is a “Life Fair” and a great place to learn about all things Waco.  The purpose of the “Life Fair” is to connect attendees to different components of the community. The 2019 Find Your Waco Life Fair will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 16 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Freedom Fountain and Waco Convention Center.

How does Find Your Waco differs from the “old-school” job fair? While this event does feature businesses and organizations offering employment opportunities, it also focuses on other outlets that make the Waco area an exciting place to live.

Find Your Waco consists of four “quads” which attendees are encouraged to explore. These include Find Your Tribe, Find Your Career, Find Your Space, and Find Your Flavor.

Find Your Tribe helps attendees connect with people and organizations in the area. There will be a variety of organizations present including, churches and religious groups, non-profits, fitness facilities, networking groups, and sporting groups.

Find Your Career encourages attendees to get plugged in with local employers. Participating employers may be looking for full time, part-time, or internships candidates from a range of fields such as education, healthcare, tech and manufacturing.

In Find Your Space, attendees can find out what life is like in Waco and look for a place to call “home.” Several real estate companies, apartment complexes, hotels, construction and roofing companies, banks and school districts will be present to inform attendees about the living climate in the area and explore financial options.

Find Your Flavor gives attendees a taste of the unique food services, culinary practices of the area. Industries represented will include restaurants, bars, wedding venues, sporting activity companies, grocers, and car dealerships. Find Your Waco is proudly partnering with Waco Food Hub, a local start-up creating a multi-station shared kitchen space for Waco food artisans, to showcase the variety of different eateries, wineries, craft breweries and food trucks in the area. This year, attendees can sample food and drinks from exhibitors in the Find Your Flavor quadrant.

Last year, around 500 attendees participated in the Find Your Waco life fair. Jennifer Branch, Director of Existing Industries & Workforce Development for the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, said this number exceeded expectations and demonstrates the need for such an event in Waco’s growing community. There is no charge for people to attend Find Your Waco and the Chamber is hopeful the event will draw in a large and diverse group of attendees to the life fair again this year.

Recent graduates, transitioning military veterans and their spouses, area visitors and traditional job seekers are encouraged to attend Find Your Waco. Last year, buses transported military veterans and their families between Fort Hood and Waco, so they could participate in Find Your Waco.

For locals, Find Your Waco is a great time to learn about different ways to get plugged into the community. Branch said she hopes attendees will learn about different things Waco has to offer from the wide range of exhibitors featured in the different sections of Find Your Waco.

Exhibitors who participate in Find Your Waco have the opportunity to find their next great employee, team member or volunteer and to network with other businesses and potential customers. For Manpower Central Texas, a career placement and development agency, Find Your Waco proved to be a great return on investment. Jodi Morgan, Business Manager for Manpower in Central Texas, said Find Your Waco opened up a new market for Manpower to explore. Over 110 people filled out interest forms at Find Your Waco, and Manpower was able to add nearly ten companies to their pipeline. “For any business that is on the fence about Find Your Waco, I’d encourage them to try it. You’ll get face time in a potentially untapped market,” Morgan said.

So, if you are new to or looking to move to the Waco area, have been here your whole life, or are somewhere in between, Find Your Waco is a great opportunity to show off your business or organization, network with others and learn more about Waco.   

Businesses that are members of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce and of the McLennan County Chamber Alliance (MCCA) will receive discounted exhibitor booth prices. To register as an exhibitor or learn more about the Find Your Waco Life Fair, visit the Facebook event page (https://bit.ly/2LbOBNC) or contact Jennifer Branch at [email protected] or (254) 757-5625.

Meredith Palmer had the opportunity to intern at the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce this summer for the Marketing & Communications Team. She is a local Wacoan and graduated from China Spring High School. Meredith is a rising senior at the University of Texas at Austin where she is studying journalism. Meredith enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling and reading.

 The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.