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.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
September is upon us, and our duty this Suicide Awareness Month is to start conversations regarding mental health, spread hope to those in need, and spark meaningful action around one of the most urgent crises of our time. World Suicide Prevention Day is Wednesday, September 10th, but all month long, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, and allied community members are uniting to promote suicide prevention.
Suicide affects millions of people every year, yet too many struggle in silence. It starts with one conversation: ask someone how they’re doing and be ready to truly listen. No one has to face their battles alone. Whether you’re facing challenges, hoping to support a friend or loved one, or looking to help, your voice matters.
Here in Texas, there are three branches of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. AFSP of Central Texas is hosting an Out of the Darkness fundraiser walk in Waco on September 27, 2025. With over 350 participants already joined, this walk at Brazos Park East is the perfect way to participate in the community in a way that matters.
Help exists, and healing is possible. Inform yourself of warning signs for suicide, encourage open conversations about mental health, and connect people to proven treatments and resources.
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 Darryl Thomas
Texas is reeling. Over 100 lives were lost during the catastrophic flash floods that ravaged the Hill Country over the Fourth of July weekend. Kerr County bore the brunt — 96 confirmed deaths and more than 160 still missing, including dozens of children who vanished at Camp Mystic.(MySA) The tragedy galvanized the state, but the path to healing and rebuilding is just beginning.
A Devastating Wake-Up Call for Community
Torrential rain transformed the Guadalupe River into a surge of destruction, with water levels rising over 26 feet in under an hour at Camp Mystic. Homes disintegrated, families were displaced, and countless memories washed away. In a disaster of this scale, it’s clear: recovery is not just an individual act, it’s a collective responsibility.
Five Practical Ways to Recover From Traumatic Loss
1. Acknowledge the Grief. Don’t rush past loss. Cry, remember, and honor what—or who—is missing. Emotional wounds demand time to breathe.
2. Stay Connected Through Community. Together, we heal better. That loss is softened when neighbors cook meals, donate clothes, or listen—without expecting answers.
3. Access Mental Health Support. Resources are active now: Kerr County’s 24/7 crisis hotline (1-877-466-0660) and Hill Country Mental Health Centers are offering free trauma counseling.(NAMI)
4. Rebuild With Purpose. Whether helping clear debris, preventing mold, or documenting losses for recovery aid—action is healing, and purpose is restorative.
5. Tell Your Story When You’re Ready. If safe, write or speak about what happened. Sharing your truth is an act of release—for you, and for others waiting for hope.
The Power of Coming Together
This tragedy reminds us that freedom from emotional imprisonment isn’t granted; it’s earned through collective care. Communities have raised funds, offered homes, and provided comfort. Heavy equipment from local wrecker services recovered personal belongings and remains; local restaurants, nonprofits, and places of worship mobilized resources to meet immediate needs. When devastation hits, togetherness isn’t optional — it’s essential.
Hope for the Underdogs and Emotional Freedom
Many young Texans, especially youth in detention, face floods of a different kind: emotional and psychological. Trauma floods their minds through neglect, abuse, or instability. Hope for the Underdogs offers more than literacy — it’s a roadmap to emotional freedom and trauma recovery.
We use TODAY… I WIN and TODAY WE WIN (Volumes 1&2) to foster self-expression, build confidence, and offer young people mental escape routes from their own storms. Your support helps us bring the healing power of story and community to youth who are both physically and emotionally captive.
How Can You Make a Difference? Here’s how:
- Sponsor a youth’s participation in our summer program so that more vulnerable young people gain access to recovery through narrative and leadership.
- Share our message through your networks. Awareness fuels resources.
- Volunteer or donate directly to support survivors in Kerr County and other impacted communities.
- Engage in community restoration: help clean up, provide shelter, or pray with families seeking closure.
In the aftermath of loss, our actions reveal who we really are. Recovery isn’t easy, but it’s possible. Texas is depending on its citizens to lead not just with resources, but with compassion, presence, and steady love.
Stay Connected: Connect with me on social media for updates and inspiration:📺 YouTube Live, Tuesdays @ 6 pm CST: @1DarrylWThomas🔗 LinkedIn & Instagram: follow @1DarrylWThomas
April is National Volunteer Month! This month, recognize and celebrate the contributions of volunteers by getting involved, developing skills, forming relationships, and making tangible impacts in our community. Consider your own interests, reflect on your availability, and apply to help businesses in the Greater Waco area! Check out the new Volunteer Board for additional opportunities.
Art Center Waco has many volunteer opportunities, including work with their art summer camps, general family events, artists workshops, and much more. Until July 2025, Art Center Waco will be accepting applications for this summer’s Elementary and Teen Art Camps. High school students have the opportunity to lead as Youth Ambassadors for Art Center Waco. Apply, email a staff member at [email protected], or call the center at (254)-752-4371 for additional details.
The Waco Animal Birth Control Clinic is a primary resource for pet owners and lovers in the community. Help out the fantastic veterinarians and veterinary technicians by organizing rabies tags, cleaning and labeling syringes, and doing loads of laundry for the health and happiness of our animal friends. Visit https://www.animalbirthcontrol.org/volunteer to apply for positions and track volunteer hours.
The Cameron Park Zoo offers unique volunteering experiences, including aiding animal keepers, entertaining park guests with hands-on activities, and maintaining the grounds’ garden life. The Zoo Crew is the park’s teen volunteer program, which runs through summer and gives kids real zookeeping experiences. For applications and additional information, visit https://www.cameronparkzoo.com/programs/volunteer/.
WACO, Texas – The Greater Waco Sports Commission is looking for volunteers for two upcoming spring events: the Light Up the Dark 5K on April 12 and the 3V3 Basketball Tournament on April 25.
The Light Up the Dark 5K, presented by Chick-fil-A and hosted by Unbound Now, will take place at Cameron Park Zoo. This family-friendly race supports Unbound Now’s anti-human trafficking efforts. Multiple volunteer shifts are available, with some allowing participants to both volunteer and run in the 5K.
The 3V3 Basketball Tournament, hosted by Baylor University, will be held at Midway High School. Volunteers are needed to run the clock, update brackets and help keep the tournament on schedule.
Both events are listed on POINT and can be accessed through the Greater Waco Sports Commission website at wacosports.org/volunteers or by logging into a POINT account and viewing the GWSC page.
For more information, contact Caitlyn at [email protected].
Debbie Wright is driven by a passion for social media management, digital storytelling, and community activism. She specializes in creating engaging online content. Through blogs, she explores local culture, art, lifestyle, and travel, while fostering ccommunity. Tune into the Know Waco podcast for dynamic conversations and insights.
Waco, TX (Nov. 23, 23)—In light of the challenges presented by increasing food costs, The Salvation Army of McLennan County is helping by offering Thanksgiving meals to anyone in need. “Rising food costs have created challenges for many people in our community,” said Major James Taylor, leader of The Salvation Army of McLennan County. “Anyone needing food this Thanksgiving is invited to get a hot Thanksgiving meal.”
Community Meal: The Salvation Army hosts a Thanksgiving meal at the Community Kitchen to share the season’s spirit. This will be the 132nd year to serve a Thanksgiving meal in Waco Texas.
Date: Thursday, November 23, 2023
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: 300 Webster Avenue, Waco TX, 76706
How to Get Help:
If you need a Thanksgiving meal, please join us at 300 Webster Avenue on Thursday, November 23, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Volunteer Opportunities:
We are looking for volunteers to support this event. To volunteer, please sign up online at The Salvation Army Waco/McLennan County – Volunteer Console (cervistech.com) or contact our Volunteer Coordinator at 254.756.7271. We are also asking for pies and cookies and cakes from the community for the event.
Donations:
Your support and generosity will help ensure that everyone in our community can enjoy a warm Thanksgiving meal during this season of gratitude. Donate by visiting our offices at 4721 W. Waco Drive or by mailing a check to 4721 W. Waco Drive, Waco, TX 76710. Please note “Thanksgiving Meals” on the check memo line. Thank you for your kindness and community spirit. Pies, cookies and cakes are need too!
For additional information, please contact 254.756.7271 M-F 8-5 or visit Facebook to see the event.
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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org
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 Ferrell Foster
Five China Spring and Waco residents left Sunday for a week of helping our neighbors to the north in Dallas. People are still unable to return to their flooded homes in Dallas, and the TBM: Texans on Mission volunteers are working to remove mud from those homes and clean them throughout the week.
Sam Yates, Butch Abernathy, Renee Parker, Al Smith, and Dave Roby are among 25 TBM volunteers associated with Waco Regional Baptist Association, which is led by Director Tim Randolph, who saw the group off Sunday.
“We have been doing disaster relief for five years now,” said Yates, who leads the local volunteers. “Our unit has a Flood and Fire Recovery unit, a Chainsaw unit, a Box unit, and two equipment units that include a skid steer loader and a 50ft manlift. We started out hauling our tools and volunteers in a Suburban for Hurricane Harvey. We were blessed to be able to get all we have now.”
In Dallas, the group will “clean out flooded homes removing flooring, drywall and insulation. Then we powerwash and treat the interior for black mold,” Yates said.
I’m sure the group will appreciate our thoughts and prayers this week.
Ferrell Foster is directing communications for Act Locally Waco. He is president of Kortabocker LLC: Communications Built on Caring. Ferrell also does communications work with TBM and Prosper Waco.