Waco Nonprofits and Charities

Friends for Life and Christ Episcopal Church have been involved in collaborating and housing and sustaining for a man I first got to know several years ago. At that time Marcus was living in a room in a house a few blocks away from the church...and would stop in with a smile, check on us, and leave with some Dinty Moore Stew (which I keep on hand for the homeless who come by on a regular basis.) <br><br>A few months after Marcus first started coming over, he was notified that he was going to have to move from his apartment (which he had been in for over 15 years). He could not comprehend that the landownder could require that he move since they were going to remodel the entire house for the potential of a sale. We were able to explain his personal situation to their agents, remind them that he needed adequate notice, and try to communicate with Marcus the situation. We also tried to find an alternate location for him to move.<br><br>Marcus was evicted. He was homeless on the street, and after a few weeks was incarcerated for Criminal Trespassing. Over a two year time frame, he has been incarcerated several times while we have tried to find housing that can be adequate with regard to his mental capabilities and the funding he has avaialbe.<br><br>That is where Friends of Life has been so important to Marcus. Katherine Beecher and Candice Mitchell have helped with his needs when he has funds available. In fact...because of their regular communication directly with him, they are part of his special support community and have been key in helping navigate the complexities of the situations Marcus has been in. <br><br>Currently Marcus is housed (due to some donations from our church), and is in a place where he can get food on a daily basis (Feed My Sheep). He also is receiving attention from Central County Services with regard to his mental capabilities, and is on a waiting list for subsidized housing. Our efforts together culminated in him getting his Texas ID! This is key to opening paths for Marcus that should offer more benefits...which he stil needs.<br><br>Because of Candice and Katherine, we have been able to get Marcus into temporary housing with hopes of some stability. His needs are great because of his mental capabilities, and because of his apparent lack of parenting throughout his life. The resouces here in Bell County are slowly being applied to his situation, and I have included the BELL County Judicial System in developments (becasue of his incarceration when housing has been unavailable).<br><br>Unfortunately, there are many like Marcus. Because of Candice and Katherine and Friends for Life, there is hope for Marcus and others in his situation. I am in deep gratitude for their understanding, their kindness and their care. They are key to helping others who are in very difficult situations and moving them towards more life and participation in their local communities. <br><br>Becky Sparks<br>Deacon<br>Christ Episcopal Church<br>Temple, Texas

This place goes above & beyond the call of duty. They are always eager to help and make sure us patients feel confident knowing we are taken care of. <br><br>On several occasions, I've taken about 6 cats to this place for the "T.N.R.". They were so kind and helpful during the whole process. They also loaned me a trap since I wanted to take more than one cat on the last visit.

I was a client there for 3 days. I reported that 3 black girls was fighting with everyone and calling us theives because we were white. They also was sneaking out at night and selling drugs in the big room we were in. They had the workers falling all over them to help them with bus ticket and social services help. I didn't get any help. I was kicked out when I reported the criminal activity. Never donate to this place. It is total ghetto.<br>They even kicked out a girl and her 2 year baby the same day because she had to work late one night. But funny they didn't kick out the black girls and their drug dealing.<br>Never donate to this place.

Me and my wife went to Waco to see my mother we went to see what they might have and we found Dimond. We took her home e that day. She was real good in the van. When we got home we found out that he was house trained and knows basic commands from sit to lay down and she doesn't bark now even at other dogs.we love her very much.

had a horrible experience with the employees or volunteers that work there. I'm a 33 year old male and they continued to call me maam after I repeatedly told them otherwise. told me I couldn't understand the password she gave me because I burned up my brain cells on THC. it was so unprofessional it makes my head spin. she called me a teenager!!!!!!!! I got mad and hung up. called back spoke to the supervisor and she was ok with the way I was treated. I would never ever call this one employee. had a great experience with the lady before.

Great nonprofits Foundation, which provides assistance to over 110 domestic violence shelters across the country. The need to help has continued to grow over the years, as franchise owners see the impact domestic violence has had not only on its customers but also among Molly Maid employees. <br> <br>Danessa Itaya, the chairperson on the Ms. Molly board of directors, says that a mission of the Great nonprofits is to have their employees get involved in the community. Each franchise participates in various activities throughout the year, but most of the awareness and activities are focused in October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. These grassroots efforts include silent auctions, charity concerts, car washes, and chili cook-offs, to name a few. Danessa also states that over the years, customer donations have increased by 50 percent, as more and more customers see the need for shelter services and want to give back to their communities. <br> <br>great nonprofits also educate their customers by including information on domestic violence on their website, in-home materials and through social media. <br> <br>We applaud Great nonprofits, their employees, and customers for taking a stand against domestic violence. To learn more about their work, please visit the website. <br>https://www.besthouse1.com/2018/09/how-to-clean-fridge-best-cleaning-tips.html

AVANCE Waco is an excellent pre-school program for both parents/families and pre-K children. It offers effective parenting education classes and support programs to predominately Spanish speaking families in at-risk communities. The belief of the teachers and Executive Director, Felipe Garza if that the education is the key to help families out of poverty. The program has examples of young adults that have grown up with the support of AVANCE Waco are high school graduates and are advancing successfully into college/university life.

Great place to see art! Very friendly and knowledgeable staff.<br>I will always donate to this organization. Summer Art Camp is <br>BEST in town. Would recommend any of my friends to take their<br>children to their classes.

Hello, I had the wonderful privilege of being one of the main speakers for this organization and working with dynamic teachers and professionals. Sadly to say, the non profit had to close their doors in August; however, myself and colleague are continuing to provide teacher inservice-training regarding strategies for helping the struggling learners and classroom interventions for the disruptive/disengaged students. <br><br>Here's to you CLD, may your legacy live On!!!<br>Dr. Tamara Hodges & Dr. Karen Rollins

PASS IT ON! Please help RCHS help others. That is what it is all about. Please PASS IT ON and let's make it a great Food for Familes 2015 in Central Texas! All donations translate directly into pounds of food in Central Texas! No shopping required. Thank you for your generosity.

One lucky dog was fortunate enough to go home with us. Although they state that they will take dog back, never in a million years will that happen. If our dog had to be re-homed for any reason, this so called "rescue" would be the last place it would go. The woman who runs this place is very rude and the animals are kept in very poor conditions. We were surprised there is no oversight for a rescue organization. An animal who ends up with this rescue, might as well be receiving a death sentence. Truly, the animals are the ones who are suffering.

My mother lived at Woodland Springs for a couple years, and it was awful. A few of the staff members were very nice, yet several were mean, rude and treated the clients as a burden. The area the facility is located in has a high crime rate and on several occasions there were gunshots nearby. The sound of police sirens was a regular (near daily) occurrence. The food they provided her was low nutrition, sub par, and a few times we noticed items that were expired and/or had visible mold. The center courtyard was overgrown with weeds and infested with vermin, insects and spiders, some of which routinely found their way inside. I understand that being a "medical facility" they discourage tobacco use, however the residents that do smoke are required to sit out in the elements with no coverage, even in freezing cold temperatures. My mother went into this facility needing help to go to the restroom and fell several times because no one would come to help her to and fro the bathroom. Eventually to "deal" with this problem they had her put into adult diapers, that she usually had to change herself. This led to her becoming dependent upon them, and now she has to use them full time. The smell upon entering this facility is sickening. Even in the dining area the smell of fecal matter and urine is strong, and the smell of disinfectant wafting through the place does nothing to mask it. Even worse, on one visit to her the staff had left the body of a newly deceased resident in the hallway while they waited on someone to pick up the body. My mother is a diabetic, and I regularly had to purchase food items for her to meet her dietary needs even though I couldn't really afford it, and 95% of her disability check went to the place and she was told it would cover all of her basic needs including food. Her bedding was rarely changed, they frequently went through her belongings without her permission, some of which went missing, and on several occasions she had to call me so that I could call the staff and FORCE them to assist her. I got her out of there as soon as I could, but she's still scarred emotionally and physically from her experience there. She's literally had nightmares about being there, and the place need to just be shut down.

This organization serves clients with care, love and respect. The staff is extremely dedicated to the mission of the agency. When budget cuts had to be made they cut down on their hours which resulted in their salaries being cut. Excellence describes this organization.!