Individualized support for people affected by pandemic available 7 days a week at The Salvation Army.

WACO, TX (3/31/20) — As the days and weeks of stress and strain weigh heavily on the nation, The Salvation Army has established a place anyone affected by COVID-19 can call for emotional and spiritual support. The Emotional and Spiritual Care (ESC) Hotline is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (CST), seven days a week at (844) 458-HOPE (844-458-4673). A team of ESC specialists, made up of Salvation Army Officers and trained employees, are avilabable to help callers, in both  English and Spanish  

The specific goal of the hotline is to offer assistance to people overcome with worry or undue stress caused by the pandemic. Callers will find people ready to listen to their concerns and pray with them.

“Our goal is to give people an opportunity to connect with someone who will hear their story and concerns. We hope to offer a calming presence in the midst of circumstances none of us has ever experienced before,” said Major James Taylor. “The Salvation Army wants people to know they are not alone and that even though we might not be able to meet them face to face, we care, want to listen and are as close as a phone call.”

The hotline, which started taking calls Friday, March 27,  received a number of calls its first weekend including a mother dealing with the additional stress of two weeks of home schooling her children for the first time, another individual seeking advice and prayer while facing the potential loss of their home, and a young man coping with the reality of being furloughed from his job. All callers expressed their gratitude for the opportuntiy to speak with someone and receive prayer. If needed, callers will be referred to additional helpful resources when possible.

Immediate physical needs in the community such as providing meals through our Community Kitchen, groceries through the food pantry, shelters for the homeless, hygiene supplies, and emergency assistance will continue to be addressed by The Salvation Army during this crisis. Facilities remain open, while our Thrift Store was required to close.   

Emotional and spiritual care is an integral part of year-round Salvation Army service. Particularly evident during times of natural disaster, The Salvation Army ‘s Emergency Disaster Services teams are known for being the first on the scene to provide food and hydration for first responders, front-line workers and survivors. In addition to meeting those physical needs, the Army also focuses on the emotional and spiritual well-being of those impacted in all sorts of catastrophic events. Though this pandemic is a new situation for the world, the service provided by The Salvation Army to help those affected has decades of experience behind it. Trained ESC staff and volunteers work alongside mobile feeding units as they minister to hurting communities. “Ministry of Presence” training is available to staff and volunteers as part of The Salvation Army’s ongoing training program.

“The Salvation Army is here to help during this time of heightened need, said Major Taylor. “We understand physical needs are just one aspect of this. We also want people to know we are here – trained and ready – to pray with and encourage them throughout this crisis.”

To contribute to The Salvation Army’s ongoing efforts in your community, please visit give.salvationarmytexas.org, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or mail a check to 4721 W.Waco Drive, Waco, TX, 76710. Donations of supplies are also needed, including bottled water for take-out meals, groceries, cleaning items, etc. please contact our local office at 254-756-7271 for details.

By Glenn Robinson and Jim Morrison

We anticipate several new words will be added to the Oxford English Dictionary before the end of 2020, including “shelter in place” — the act of remaining safely indoors with the exception of essential activities. With the recent mandates from city and county leadership to follow this practice, many people are asking if it can really make a difference.

The answer to that question is “yes.”

By sheltering in place, we can all help slow the spread of COVID-19. While it may mean adjusting to a new, inconvenient, or uncomfortable way of life, these temporary changes can make a big difference in our community and our world.

In times of uncertainty, Texans rise to the challenge.

 You may be thinking, “I feel fine, so a quick beach vacation can’t hurt anyone. I’m not sick.” But we have now learned that people can spread this infection before they even know they’re sick. Regardless of your current health or your personal level of risk, the effectiveness of shelter in place hinges on each of us doing our part to stay home.

When you do need to leave your house for essential activities, it is important to practice “physical distancing” — our second buzzword, meaning to deliberately increase the physical space between you and others (at least six feet). This applies to all people, whether you are at-risk, symptomatic, or completely healthy.

It takes a strong community of Texans to heal Texas.

Physical distancing is not easy. You may feel disconnected or isolated from your family, friends, and loved ones. But, by physical distancing, we are actually coming together as a community in a powerful way. We are uniting under a shared goal: to keep our community healthy and strong.

Our healthcare system is working tirelessly each day to care for those in need and to prepare for an influx of patients. But we need your help. We are urging you, your friends, and your loved ones to help keep the healthy healthy by staying in, keeping a safe distance between others, and washing your hands often. By doing this, you can help us “flatten the curve” — our last buzzword, which means avoiding a huge increase of sick people at the same time and, instead, spreading out the number of new cases over a longer period of time. The goal of flattening the curve is to keep hospitals from being overwhelmed and allow them to better manage their resources.

Texans stand together, even while physically apart.

Thank you for helping us protect each other and our community. Please stay home, follow proper handwashing, and check out other guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These are challenging times we’re facing, but we are in it together!

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By The Rev. Aaron M. G. Zimmerman

Jesus said, “Be rude unto others, as you would have them be rude unto you.”

OK, he never said that. 

But he might if he were faced with a pandemic. 

Let me explain. The day after the mayor’s shelter-in-place order, I went for a run. It’s my favorite way to blow off steam, and like everyone else, I have been pretty stressed in these days of Coronavirus. 

As I returned home (feeling much better), I ran into one of my neighbors. He was taking a walk around the block. He approached and we started to chat. 

He was about ten feet away. 

We talked about the new world of Facebook live-streaming. 

He moved a little closer. Eight feet away. 

We talked about the challenges of doing church these days. 

He got a little closer. Seven feet away. 

As the conversation veered into billiards, I started to get nervous. We were about to violate the social distancing six-feet-apart rule. And he’s at risk: He’s older and lives with a 90-year-old. 

But I didn’t want to be, you know, not nice. Could I tell him to back up? It felt, well, downright rude! I faced a dilemma: what is proper etiquette during Coronatime? 

Then I remembered what Waco’s CEO (Chief Etiquette Officer) Sarah Aynesworth told me: Etiquette is not fundamentally about salad forks and stationery. It’s all about showing hospitality to other people, about honoring and respecting others. In other words, we are polite in order to be kind to others. 

This was my realization: in a time of a highly contagious pandemic, when I could be sick and not even know it, when vulnerable people are at great risk, and when medical supplies are in short supply, the most polite thing to do is to be rude. 

So here’s what I did. I held up my hand. Just like Diana Ross and the Supremes did in 1965 when they sang “Stop in the Name of Love.” Just like we did in the 1990s when “Talk to the hand” was a thing. 

And I told my friend, “I don’t mean to be rude, but for the sake of our families, we better follow this six-feet-apart rule.” 

My neighbor graciously backed up. 

To paraphrase Elvis Costello, in these days, it’s rude to be kind. So be rude! In the name of love, health, and public safety, be rude. 
I invite you to join me in adopting the new Caronavirus salute: Hold up that just-washed-for-twenty-seconds hand and say, “In the name of love, back up!” 

It’s what Jesus would do. 

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The Rev. Aaron M. G. Zimmerman has served as the Rector of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church since 2013. He co-hosts a popular preaching podcast called Same Old Song (link: https://thesameoldsong.fireside.fm) and serves as a trustee of the Waco Foundation. He is an avid trail runner so keep an eye out for him in Cameron Park, his favorite spot in 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 [email protected] for more information.

By Andie Chilson

With all of the fear and anxiety surrounding the Corona Virus, some of us are wondering, “What’s going to happen to all the wonderful new small businesses that are just starting to sprout up in Waco?” In an effort to help out our favorite local shops during this slow time, we’ve compiled a list of ways for you to help out small businesses, generally, as well as some ways you can show your support for some local Waco favorites.

Tips for helping small businesses:

1. Buy gift cards: Buying gift cards at your favorite small shops that you can use later will help them out tremendously while business is slow.

2. Shop locally online: Most businesses have an online shop where you can find some of your favorite products. Consider shopping your go-to small businesses online instead of ordering from larger retailers.

3. Order in: Order takeout from your favorite local restaurants to limit your exposure to others while still supporting small restaurants that may be otherwise vacant. A number of restaurants as well as delivery services are offering discounts as incentives to order in during this time. 

4. Be extra generous with your tips: If you do decide to order in, consider tipping a little more than usual to help out your favorite local eateries.

Here are a few examples of how to show your support for local Waco shops:

Mamaka Bowls: The new smoothie bowl shop in Waco just is offering in-store pickups as well as curbside deliveries. When you order online, you can write the description of your car in the notes section. When you arrive at Mamaka, all you have to do is text (469) 248-5988 with your name and that you’ve arrived and someone will bring your food to your car, sealed and with gloves on.

Waco Cha: The bubble tea truck will continue to operate at its usual location next to White Elephant boutique Tues-Fri this week, noon-5:30pm for all to-go orders and now offers curbside pickup. Co-owner Jaja Chen said that social media sharing and reposting is another great way to help out. Waco Cha is offering gift cards for $20 or $25. Promo code is WACOCO.

Link to Waco Cha gift cards: https://squareup.com/gift/7PDST6CWDGHTC/order.

Wine Shoppe: The Wine Shoppe is offering in-town delivery and asks that Wacoans opt to shop their selection of wines instead of going to big-box stores.

Revival Eastside Eatery: Offering family style meals to take home.  Follow their Facebook page for details.

Check social media for your favorite local restaurant or shop to see what they are offering.  Now more than ever, it’s time to shop local!

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Helpful resources for small businesses

-The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has created a toolkit to help small businesses and their employees navigate the virus: https://www.uschamber.com/coronavirus-response-toolkit

-Disaster assistance loans for small businesses from the SBA: https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releases-media-advisories/sba-provide-disaster-assistance-loans-small-businesses-impacted-coronavirus-covid-19

-Citi Bank will waive small business customers’ monthly service fees: https://online.citi.com/US/JRS/pands/detail.do?ID=covid19

-The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has proposed legislation to help small businesses. The proposed legislation would 1. cancel the payment of all payroll taxes, which are typically paid by employers in March, April and May and 2. expand loan programs for small businesses that have experienced revenue loss in the wake of the virus. https://www.uschamber.com/letters-congress/letter-us-government-leaders-coronavirus-response

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Andie Chilson is a senior at Baylor University studying journalism and creative writing. She is originally from Houston, but Waco has quickly come to feel like a second home to her. Andie enjoys writing and digital content creation as a way to express her creativity and help people spread their message. In her free time, you can find her reading anything by Brené Brown, doing yoga or exploring downtown Waco. Andie is so excited to be working as part of the Act Locally Waco team this semester!

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 Andie Chilson

Chef Michele Brown is the head of the Culinary Arts Program at Texas State Technical College where she has worked since September 2018. Chef Brown is a member of the Epicurean World Master Chefs Society, Les Dames d’Escoffier and the Texas Chefs Association. She has also competed in the IKA Culinary Olympics.

Andie Chilson: Give me a general overview of the TSTC Culinary Arts Program – what can prospective students expect?

Michele Brown: It’s only five semesters for a degree, which is fantastic. And it’s a real degree – not just, you know, a paper or a certificate or something like that. It translates to all colleges, which is fantastic if a student wants to go and get their bachelor’s. When a lot of our students come to the program they don’t realize that you can get your bachelor’s in food science or accounting management. There are other ways rather than just going in to the kitchen. And what we try to do is train them to become managers and owners. That’s our goal. We’re trying to give our students the background and the credentials that they need to have.

I just got back from Germany where I competed in the culinary Olympics and came home with a silver. And it was really fun to have the students come in and see what we were doing. You know, see the huge amount of work that goes in to all the practices and washing your dishes and, you know, the lack of glamor. And it’s also a kind of international networking. So if a student comes to me and says, ‘I really want to travel,’ well, I have about four people in four different countries that I can call and say, hey, I’ve got a student who may want to come in and work with you, and try to make that happen.

AC: So, what kinds of students does the program attract? What is the typical demographic?

MB:I have students who have been looking at the school since eighth grade. They graduated from high school and came in. And I have students who are in retirement and doing it for fun. I have some business owners or chefs that need to get their credentials. In the past I’ve had research chefs that needed to get their credentials, their culinary degree or certificate so that they could move forward in their jobs. So, I get everybody. And in Waco, we’re the only facility within the TSTC family that has housing. So younger kids all over Texas could come and get a culinary degree for a fraction of the cost of what it would be to go to a private school.

AC: So as far as the dining room goes, is it open to the public? Can anyone come and try your students’ creations?

MB:Absolutely. Every Wednesday and Friday about four weeks into each semester, we open up the restaurants. It runs for about eleven weeks and it’s Wednesday and Fridays. And the cool thing about it is that in the second semester, students are thrown out into the dining room to be servers. So, they learn to respect the front of the house, understanding the soft skills of dealing with clients and trying to understand how the front of the house works so that they can be a little more empathetic. Or they may say, ‘Hey, wait a minute, what am I doing in the kitchen? I would rather be out here dealing with people.’ It gives you the opportunity to figure out where you want to be. 

The students that are cooking the food are doing their capstone. And not only do they cook the food, but they decide the menus. They research the food, they get out and train each other. So, they are basically the chefs. You don’t see that at many other schools.

AC: And how expensive are the dining events?

MB: Between $25-$60. And anything that we do for the public, all of that money that we make goes right back into the program. We are not funded 100% by the state, so we need to bring in funding to purchase beautiful cuts of meat and fabulous chocolate and things that students wouldn’t be exposed to at a different school. We’re really trying to bring in some great stuff and have the students handle the protein multiple times,and that’s something that people don’t really think about. We also encourage our students to work during their classes, so we have all kinds of jobs posted at all times.

AC: Well this sounds like a great opportunity for students looking for a career in the culinary world as well as Wacoans looking for a terrific meal!

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Example Menu

Argentina by Anahi Guerrero

 STARTERS

Chipas

Baked cheese-flavored rolls with cilantro butter

Complimentary Argentinian-Style Soup with pumpkin puree, pork steak bits, diced onion, butter beans and sliced spring onions – $2.25 cup, $2.75 bowl

Heart of Palms Salad with sliced shallots, Roma tomatoes, radishes, diced avocado, chopped cilantro, capers and Heart of Palms with a sherry habanero vinaigrette – $2.25

MAINS

Roasted Argentine Frenched Chicken Breast Salad with roasted French chicken breast, chilled green beans, carrots, marinated mushrooms, diced tomatoes, roasted baby potatoes and spicy garlic salsa – $7.15

Choripan – Grilled turkey chorizo in a hoagie bread topped with a parsley aioli and a tomato-onion relish, a side of baked parmesan fries and house-made spicy pickles – $7.15

Fish Baked in a Banana Leaf – Banana-steamed cod fillets with roasted tomato sauce, coconut lime rice, grilled yellow squash, fruit salsa and julienned fried onions – $8.25

Argentinian Grilled Chimichurri Steak – Grilled beef steak with a roasted sweet potato puree, marinated mini bell peppers, pickled cherry tomatoes, au gratin cauliflower and a red chimichurri sauce – $8.25

DESSERT

Pionono – A sheet cake filled with an infused strawberry-Malbec whipped cream with sliced strawberries, candied mint leaf, chocolate pistachio shard, dulce de leche drizzle and whipped cream – $2.95

BEVERAGES

Soft drinks, regular iced tea and flavored tea of the week – $1.25

Pineapple Juice – $2.25

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The dining room is located at 109 8th Street, Waco, TX at the corner of 8th and Campus Drive on TSTC Campus.

Lunch is served from 11 AM – 12:15 PM. $10-12. For reservations  call 254-867-4868

Gourmet to Go and Tours are available 8 AM – 5 PM. $5-8.  

For more information about the TSTC Culinary Arts Program, visit their website at https://www.tstc.edu/programs/CulinaryArts.

TSTC is a part of SkillsUSA and is a SkillsUSA international training site.

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Andie Chilson is a senior at Baylor University studying journalism and creative writing. She is originally from Houston, but Waco has quickly come to feel like a second home to her. Andie enjoys writing and digital content creation as a way to express her creativity and help people spread their message. In her free time, you can find her reading anything by Brené Brown, doing yoga or exploring downtown Waco. Andie is so excited to be working as part of the Act Locally Waco team this semester!

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 – One in three teens in the U.S. will experience physical, sexual or emotional abuse by someone they are in a relationship with before they become adults. ¹ February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and Family Abuse Center has joined The National Domestic Violence Hotline and its project for young people, loveisrespect, to end teen dating abuse.

The theme for this year’s campaign is “#1Thing.” Pronounced “one thing” or “hashtag one thing,” the campaign challenges everyone to learn one thing about dating violence and share it with a friend. Sharing one thing sparks a series of conversations that foster awareness and bring us closer to the end of teen dating violence.

Here’s #1Thing to think about, “In a single year, nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner.” ²

For ideas on how you can join the movement, visit loveisrespect.org/teendvmonth. There, downloadable action guides are available that contain educational material, social media resources and practical ideas for ways you can prevent teen dating abuse.

For more information about teen dating violence or inquiries for presentations and community education on teen dating violence, please email [email protected]. Visit loveisrespect.org for more information about Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

Loveisrespect is a project of The Hotline. Its purpose is to engage, educate and empower young people to prevent and end abusive relationships. The organization provides information and support to concerned friends and family members, teachers, counselors, service providers and members of law enforcement. Free and confidential phone, live chat and texting services are available around the clock by visiting the chat at loveisrespect.org, texting “loveis” to 22522* or calling 866-331-9474.

It is the mission of Family Abuse Center to eliminate domestic violence in Central Texas by sheltering victims of domestic violence and by preventing abuse from occurring through intervention and education. If you or someone you know is at risk, please call our 24-hour hotline at 800-283-8401.

Notes:

¹ Vagi, K.J., Olsen, E.O.M., Basile, K.C., & Vivolo-Kantor, A.M. (2015).  Teen dating violence (physical and sexual) among US high school students: findings from the 2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.  JAMA Pediatrics, 169 (5), 474-482.

² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Physical Dating Violence Among High School Students—United States, 2003,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 19, 2006, Vol. 55, No. 19.