As we get closer to the holidays, my mind and heart naturally turn toward those in our community who are struggling. For many, this season brings joy, celebration, and family gatherings — but for others, it can be an especially difficult time marked by loneliness, instability, and need. Our local shelters, Sally’s House for women and children and the Men’s Shelter at the Salvation Army, work tirelessly all year long. But the Christmas season is always their busiest. More people seek warmth, safety, and support, and the demand for basic supplies grows quickly.
To help raise awareness and support both shelters, I’m sharing their current list of most-needed essentials.
These are simple, everyday items — things we often take for granted — but they make an enormous difference for someone trying to get back on their feet.
* Shampoo
* Conditioner
* Razors
* Hot chocolate
* Tea bags
* Honey
* Coffee
* Bottled water
* Socks
* Mittens
* Hats
*Hygiene Products
These donations directly support women, children, and men who rely on the shelters for warmth, hygiene, comfort, and care.If you’re local and able to help in any way, it would be so appreciated — not just by the staff and monitors, but by every person who receives these small acts of kindness. Every bottle of shampoo, every warm pair of socks, every cup of tea matters.Thank you all for any help you can give this holiday season. Together, we can make it a little brighter for those who need it most.
If you are experiencing homelessness and you would like to be assessed for available housing options in the Heart of Texas region, please call Heart to Home Coordinated Entry at 254-297-8929, or go to an access point to be assessed. Full resource page here: https://www.mclennan.gov/1190/Community-Resources
Debbie Wright is a Waco-based creative entrepreneur, digital storyteller, and community advocate dedicated to elevating local voices and arts culture. As the Digital Media Specialist for WACOAN Magazine and host of the Know Waco podcast, she spotlights the people, places, and stories that make Central Texas vibrant. Debbie is also the founder of Cultivate Waco, a mobile arts initiative bringing pop-up galleries, community events, and creative experiences to neighborhoods across the city. With a background in marketing, curation, and multimedia content creation, she blends her love for travel, art, and community connection into every project she touches.
The Robinson Family Farm is opening up for Fall Festivities on Saturday, September 27th. Get ready for family-friendly fun, including helicopter rides, pig races, food trucks, putt-putt games, farm animals, zip lines, pumpkin patches, crazy desserts, live concerts, gift shops and so much more. The Robinson Family Farm’s Fall Fest will go on through the month of October, so plan your visit to the Farm soon!
The Western Belle Family Farm will be starting their fall celebrations on the same day, Saturday, September 27th. Open until early November, the Western Belle Family Farm is open for plenty of time to catch their pumpkin patches, hay rides, farm animals, zip lines, delicious foods, and so much more.
Over in Hewitt, Skellington Courtesies keeps the spooky vibes going year round, with inquisitive oddities, dark decor, and metaphysical supplies for all your witchy needs. Check out the curious collection at 512 N Hewitt Drive for books, candles, crystals, and all of your upcoming Halloween-season essentials.
Gallery 11 is dedicated to offering high-quality gems and jewelry to delight customers from every walk of life. Their focus on community and customer service means you’ll have a stellar experience, every time. Lucy, the official shop dog, is excited to welcome you to their pet-friendly business. Kara, the owner who founded Gallery 11 in January 2023, sources premium crystals and jewelry throughout the year, so stop by the store to see what’s new!
Downtown Waco is full of unique art galleries and interesting exhibits that attract visitors from all over the country. However, instead of exploring the conventional art galleries in Waco, try to find the locations of the six spooky rat murals painted by Xavier Prou, a well-known Parisian artist. By exploring Franklin and Austin Avenue, visitors can discover the locations of these murals. The best way to go on this unique journey is by finding the mural locations by yourself without spoilers.
Waco is the birthplace of Dr. Pepper. For this reason, visitors often go to the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco to explore the fascinating history of this popular beverage. However, there’s an experience inside the museum that is known for being unique and memorable: making your own soda. The Make-a-Soda tour at the Dr. Pepper Museum allows visitors to create their own unique, weird soda flavor – make it as weird or as plain as possible! General admission to the museum is just $10 per person, but the Make-a-Soda tour costs an additional $10.
Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a graduate of English Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric from Baylor University. With passions in archival preservation, communal connection, and women in sports, she writes because it matters, with hopes of bridging villages and fostering revelry amongst them.
We turn our calendars to August, the school year starts, and college football kicks off!
Local Wacoans should prepare for thousands of Baylor University students making their way back into town the week of August 18th, with classes starting on Monday, August 25th. It’ll be a quick turnaround for the Bears, with the first football game of the season taking place that Friday!
Baylor’s football team will be facing Auburn University for the start of the 2025-2026 season. The last matchup between these teams was in September of 1976, in which Baylor came out on top by one point. We hope head coach Dave Aranda and the Bears can put a bigger spread against the Auburn Tigers!
Under McLane Stadium’s lights on a Friday night, the Bears will be ‘blacking out’ McLane Stadium to celebrate their first week back and the start of a new season. Baylor’s football team is expected to have a substantial season this year, but promises have been made before. It’s widely understood that Baylor fans are expecting nothing less than a Big 12 Championship from Coach Aranda and the Bears.
Aside from this rare matchup against an SEC opponent, the Bears have a stacked schedule with seven home games on the docket. Schools like Samford, Arizona State, Kansas State, UCF, Utah, and Houston will be making their way to Waco throughout the season.
Students and alumni are looking forward to the Halloween Homecoming matchup against the University of Central Florida, which is a new addition to the Big 12 conference. On Saturday, November 1, 2025, expect hordes of hungover college kids dressed in their costumes from the night before, cheering on the Bears as they take on a new rival.
Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a graduate of English Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric from Baylor University. With passions in archival preservation, communal connection, and women in sports, she writes because it matters, with hopes of bridging villages and fostering revelry amongst them.
By: Elizabeth Riley
This July, we are striving to find ways that reinvigorate the Christmas spirit of lighting the world through giving at the halfway point of the year. Perhaps you’ve been bogged down with mid-year reviews at work, anxious over the outcome of assessments, or tired from wrangling children all summer long. Get outside, get involved, and enjoy the miraculous lives we live.
Waco GoodFellas to Host ‘Christmas in July’ at Extraco Center
The Waco GoodFellas will host Christmas in July on July 19 at the Extraco Events Center, bringing holiday cheer to the summer season. The event will include food, an open bar, live and silent auctions, mini raffles and more. All proceeds raised will stay within the surrounding communities.
The Waco GoodFellas is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families in need during the holiday season and beyond.
Keep Waco Beautiful Hosts Summer Sustainability Pop-Ups
Looking to get outside this July? Keep Waco Beautiful will host the Summer Sustainability Passport Pop-Up on July 10 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Heart of Texas Goodwill on New Road. The event is part of the Junior Sustainability Advocate outreach program, which offers children educational programming, STEM/STEAM activities, and community engagement opportunities.
A second pop-up event will be held Aug. 12 at the East Waco Goodwill, also from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Gatesville Hosts ‘Jingle in July’ Shopping Event
For those up for a short drive, Jingle in July will take place Saturday, July 12, in Gatesville. The vendor market will be held at Pennoli Bed and Breakfast and will run throughout the day.
Attendees can take photos with “Santa on Vacation” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and shop while enjoying beverages at these local vendors and storefronts:
- Spur Nutrition: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Green Rooster: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- 1854 Mercantile: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring Prickly Diamond, Lawson’s and Gypsy Rooster
- The Salty Señorita: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- The Pink Pearl: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring Spaghetti Western
- Sassi’s Boutique: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- L&M Clothing Boutique: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Maverick Exchange: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring Gussied Up
Whether you’re giving back, learning something new or shopping small, Central Texas has plenty of ways to celebrate the season—no snow required.
Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a graduate of English Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric from Baylor University. With passions in archival preservation, communal connection, and women in sports, she writes because it matters, with hopes of bridging villages and fostering revelry amongst them.
If you are searching for the perfect holiday activities to entertain family and friends, look no further. This is a comprehensive list of available shows and events catering to the holiday season, the spread of Christmas joy, and the interests of all in our community.
Waco Wonderland will be hosted December 6th through the 8th in downtown Waco. This three-day day celebration, brought about by the City of Waco, the Downtown Public Improvement District, City Center Waco, and other sponsors, kicks off the holiday fun and cheer.
With a tree lighting, a firework show, a snow tube slide, a ferris wheel, and visits with Santa, this community-wide spectacle is a fantastic attraction for all ages. Be sure not to miss the Christmas Parade and Grouchy Santa Experience happening on Saturday night!
Cha Community x Designs with Jamie are overseeing the BIPOC Holiday Market on December 7th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This market will feature 15+ Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) small businesses, handmade vendors, and local artists. Cha Community is also providing a Buy One, Get One (BOGO) sale on boba drinks with the event, so sip and shop with the community at 1001 Franklin Avenue!
Waco Civic Theater is performing It’s a Wonderful Life: The Musical throughout the start of December. With shows from the 5th to the 8th, the 12th through 15th with varying start times, there are plenty of opportunities to see this classic Christmas narrative performed through song! Later in the month, join the Civic Theater for the Royce Montgomery Rat Pack Christmas and Rudolph: The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Show dates, times, and tickets are available on their website.
Waco Symphony Orchestra will be performing The Nutcracker, a treasured holiday tradition, on Saturday, December 14th at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 15th at 2 p.m. These shows will take place at the beautiful Waco Hall on Baylor University’s campus. After the Sunday matinee, meet and take photos with the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier Prince in Roxy Grove Hall.
The Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour is a ninety minute tour of the greater Waco area, displaying the greatest Christmas light assortments in our community. This particular tour will be hosted from November 29th through December 28th, with plenty of opportunities to snag tickets to this cherished event! The Trolley Tour takes the stress out of finding the best light displays, navigating through the slow vehicles, and crafting the delicious hot cocoa.
Cameron Park Zoo is inviting you to Wild Lights! This event will take place from November 29th through December 31st, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night. Experience the Cameron Park Zoo from a different light, with Christmas spirit floating through the park.
The Mayborn Museum will be recreating the holiday season in the historic village, with Christmas Lights in the Village starting on December 13th through the 15th. They will have a second opportunity to attend from the 20th through the 22nd. The Christmas Village will occur from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m each night, with creative storytelling and the beloved Christmas Train.
The season of thanks is in full swing, and as the day of joining and feasting approaches, we reflect and show gratitude for all that occurs for us. While it is easy to get caught up in the hustle of preparing meals, gathering with loved ones, and counting our blessings, this time is the perfect opportunity to give to those who may be struggling or in need. Volunteering during the Thanksgiving season is a unique way to experience gratitude and spread holiday cheer for others in our community. For ways to contribute your time and energy in Waco, here is a compiled list of volunteer opportunities searching for participants.
The Salvation Army is hosting Thanksgiving Lunch on November 28th from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. at the Community Kitchen located at 300 Webster, Waco, TX 76706. While the first shift is already filled with eager volunteers, the second shift, working from noon to close, is still looking for several available contributors. Alongside the Thanksgiving Lunch, the Salvation Army will be hosting a Christmas Lunch on December 25th and continuing their Community Kitchen and Family Thrift Store volunteer opportunities.
Mission Waco will be hosting their annual Thanksgiving Lunch on November 28th from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the First Methodist Church of Waco. They will be hosting chapel the half hour before lunch with an hour of BINGO following! They are seeking volunteers to help prepare turkeys ahead of time, such as cooking, deboning, separating meats, and to assist with food preparation on November 27th. For information on volunteering please email Bailie Rouse at [email protected].
Food For Families is an annual project hosted by the Longhorn Council–Scouting America, H.E.B. Grocery Company, and KWTX News 10. With food pantries across Central Texas, this food drive collects non-perishable items and stocks the shelves of banks and pantries in our area beyond the holiday season. Join them on Friday, November 22nd for the 35th year of Food for Families. All food and monetary donations will benefit nine local food pantries. Their goal for this year is 550,000 pounds of food, and with your help, they will achieve that total! What’s Needed? Canned Meats, Tuna, Chili, Stew, Chicken, Canned Vegetables, Sugar, Corn Meal, Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Cereals, Flour, Peanut Butter, Dry Beans, Flour, Rice.
Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a senior double majoring in English and Professional Writing & Rhetoric at Baylor University. She works as a Transcription Assistant at the Baylor University Institute for Oral History and is President of the Baylor Ice Girls for the 2024-2025 season.
This food-focused holiday is among the few with roots in charitable service.
Waco, TX June 2, 2023 – On the first Friday in June, Americans celebrate all the gooey goodness of donuts. But many don’t know that National Donut Day has its roots in doing good. This sweet tradition dates back to World War I, when nearly 250 Salvation Army volunteers known as “Donut Lassies” traveled overseas to provide emotional and spiritual support and fried confections, supplies, and other services to troops on the front lines.
The Donut Lassies fried donuts in small pans and are credited with popularizing the donut in the United States when troops returned home from war. The Salvation Army in Chicago celebrated the first National Donut Day in 1938 to help those in need during the Great Depression and commemorate the Donut Lassies’ work.
For over a century, the organization has provided a wide range of essential services like food, shelter, and emotional and spiritual support to the most vulnerable and to many of the men and women serving on the front lines of need.
“This National Donut Day, as citizens of Waco celebrate with a sweet treat, we are proud to remember that this fun tradition started with our volunteers over a hundred years ago,” said Major Jim Taylor. “If you ask me, knowing that the day has its roots in the fight for good makes those glazed pastries taste even sweeter.”
To honor the history of Donut Day, The Salvation Army of Waco will celebrate by spending the day dropping off donuts to First Responders who fight the battle here at home. A “Donut Lassie” will be handing out donuts to over 100 veterans at the VA hospital. Another “Donut Lassie” will be at the HEB on Valley Mills to greet and meet guests as we partner with them statewide to celebrate this day. HEB donated a portion of the donuts for the day and will be giving back 2% of all donut sales for the week (not prepackaged boxes) to The Salvation Army Waco. Shipley’s makes over 20 dozen donuts for delivery as well.
The best way to participate with The Salvation Army Waco is by volunteering either at the Family Store or the Community Kitchen and during the Holidays when Bell Ringing Season is here. Volunteer activities are posted at: The Salvation Army Waco/McLennan County – Volunteer Console (cervistech.com) You can also support the Salvation Army financially by giving online at Donate to TSA Waco General Donation Page (salvationarmytexas.org).
For more information about The Salvation Army of Waco, please visit our website at: https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/waco or call 254.756.7271 or email [email protected]
By Angela Daly
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and in the spirit of giving St. Jerome Catholic Church has teamed with H-E-B and Hello Bello for a free family-friendly Christmas giving event. The event, It’s All About a Baby, will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the church campus.
Diapers, wipes, and sanitizer are among the giveaways to help families.
This inaugural event is open to the public and will feature photo opportunities with Santa, a surprise landing of the Airlift Waco chopper, festive treats, a bounce house, and complimentary supplies to celebrate the Christmas season at home.
Preparations for Christmas can be demanding for young families, so we wanted to bring them together for some family fun that is totally expense free.
Families are encouraged to attend the event for a day of entertainment along with giveaways of infant essentials – perhaps offering a little extra wiggle room in the family budget for treasures under the tree on Christmas Day.
Hello Bello has graciously contributed 350 packages of diapers, 1,000 packages of wipes and more than 1,000 bottles of hand sanitizer (‘tis the season for cold and flu)!
Texas grocery chain, H-E-B, is no stranger to philanthropy and generously donated $2,500, which the parish then used to purchase 350 more units of diapers and festive treats for attendees to enjoy at the event.
Giveaways will be available until supplies run out. St. Jerome Catholic Church is at 9820 Chapel Road, Woodway. For more information, visit StJeromeWaco.org or call 254-666-7722.
Angela Daly is director of preschool ministry at St. Jerome Catholic Church.
By Ferrell Foster
’Tis the season to be merry! Christmas and New Year are coming, and merriment is in the air. In fact, we hardly ever use the word “merry” except in relation to Christmas.
So what does this little-used word mean? Dictionary.com to the rescue:
— full of cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous in disposition or spirit
— laughingly happy; mirthful; festively joyous; hilarious
You’ve got to love a little merrymaking.
But, there is, however, a problem. For some strange reason, our culture has come to associate merry making with drinking lots of alcohol. There is probably no better indication of a sickness in our society than that we associate fun with consuming vast quantities of something that numbs our thinking.
Cutting to the chase: This holiday season, try making merry without a bunch of alcohol. A little is OK, but a lot can ruin a party and a life.
Most people do not think of what they do as binge drinking — that’s what foolish college students do. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines binge drinking as four drinks for women and five drinks for men on one occasion.
“Heavy drinking” is eight or more drinks in a week for a woman and 15 or more for a man. (It seems alcohol is a bit sexist.)
I’m concerned broadly about the negative effects of heavy drinking on people. The more I learn about challenges facing individuals and families, the more it becomes obvious substance abuse is playing a huge part — from mental health to quality parenting, from ability to hold a job to deadly auto accidents. It’s the ugly truth that alcohol commercials never depict.
Pardon me for being direct, but some people will probably die in the next couple of weeks because some otherwise good people drink too much at a party and then drive. Please, don’t drink and drive; you might save a life, even though you will never know it. You will, however, know it for the rest of your life if you kill someone, as will all of the people who love your victim.
Also, there are some people around you who really struggle with limiting their alcohol intake. Please don’t let your own ability to “handle” a drink make it hard for people around you.
Be smart this Christmas and New Years. Be safe. Having fun need not be associated with heavy drinking. The holidays will be best in Waco if we keep the lid on drinking.
Ferrell Foster is senior specialist for care & communication with Prosper Waco.
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 the ALW team — [email protected].
By Natalie Galindo
Join the City of Waco as we celebrate the first big event at the newly opened Bridge Street Plaza 3-7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, with live performances beginning at 5 p.m. This family-friendly event will feature live music, local food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, Skate Waco mobile unit, and much more.
This plaza was built with the talent and entrepreneurship of the East Waco community in mind, and thus most of our performers and vendors are from East Waco or have ties to it.
Due to construction on Elm Avenue, access to the plaza will be via Taylor Avenue. We are asking the public to park in designated parking lots along Taylor. These lots include the TFNB (715 Elm), Elm Ave Community Clinic (609 Elm), and City Center Waco (801 Elm).
Parking signage will be deployed to direct people, and a shuttle service will be available for those who have to park blocks from the plaza.
East Side Market at Brotherwell Brewing will be occurring on the same day. So, we are excited about the concentration of activity in the Elm corridor on that day.
City Center Waco is a nonprofit agency that serves as a bridge between community and development in
downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Natalie Galindo is public information communications specialist with the City of Waco.
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 the ALW team — [email protected].