Christian Community Action emergency assistance and social services.
The Christian Community Action is involved in assisting the less fortunate and fighting poverty in the counties of Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant, and Wise. They provide services to the needy, with a focus on seniors, and operate programs in a holistic approach. Everything is focused on helping their clients, or Angels as they call them.
While people are working on self-sufficiency, CCA may have free food, meals, referrals to emergency financial support and more. However the goal is to help families escape the cycle of poverty and move toward greater stability.
Family Assistance Services, or FAS, is one of those main programs administered. This is involved in providing immediate, critical assistance with specific needs or concerns. FAS will address unemployment or under-employment, lack of health insurance, major illness or any other circumstance that limits a family’s independence.
Through offering Christ-centered case management and mutual accountability, FAS helps families in the region, including Dallas and Fort Worth, with accessing quality healthcare, food, housing/rent help, bill-paying assistance services, clothing or any other services that are deemed necessary.
Seniors can get support from the Golden Angels Program. This offers them the opportunity to enjoy exclusive access to the Christian Community Action Community Room and other support systems. There is also advice for their caregivers.
The program provides elderly clients with a number of opportunities for social interaction, free healthy meals, access to the Food Pantry, home repairs, and more. There are also several vocational and educational programs as well at the nearby Adult Health Center.
Additionally, each senior who participates in Golden Angels is assigned a Family Assistance case manager, who performs a thorough assessment of the individual’s circumstances. Based on the results, they provide links to appropriate programs and services, including government benefits such as SSI or Medicare if needed.
The Dallas Women’s Foundation’s Mustard Seed Fund has enabled CCA to offer monthly vouchers to pay for a portion of transportation and even provide free gas cards to those who qualify. This will be mostly for employment reasons, such as a job interview or if the family's only car needs repairs.
During the school year, many low-income families and their children rely on the USDA Free and Reduced School Lunch Program. However, during the summer, that source of free and healthy food source is not available in Dallas or in Texas.
Christian Community Action addresses this issue by offering the Kids Eat Free Program. As part of this, there will be lunch or meals for children in need during the summer, when school is not in session. The agency will recruit volunteers from churches, non-profits and other organizations to prepare and deliver lunches daily to Kids Eat Free locations throughout the service area, which incorporates Collin, Tarrant, Dallas, and other counties.
The Food Pantry is also key to preserving the dignity of clients and low income families as they assist them. It is located at 200 S. Mill Street in Lewisville Texas. The food bank is set up as a self-selection grocery store that is fully stocked with items. There may be supplies such as ground beef, ingredients for baking (sugar, flour); tuna, chicken, and; canned meat and fish; baby formula; household cleaners (laundry soap, trash bags, multi-purpose cleansers, and so on); personal hygiene products; and even free paper goods (toilet paper, paper towels).
Each household that qualifies as part of CCA services is provided with a voucher that works like a debit card to pay for their groceries or other purchases at the site. The regional Food Pantry serves hundreds of families each week. People that use the site free up their income, and they are in effect making funds available for other necessary expenditures, such as utilities, childcare, rent, and healthcare.
AHC - Adult Health Center is a National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics member. The location provides comprehensive healthcare services to uninsured adults residing in the greater Texas service area, which is comprised of Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant, and Wise Counties. The clinic from Christian Community Action uses a volunteer/staff model for providing non-emergency healthcare services to low-income patients, and is also a Patient-Centered Medical Home provider.
All medical care offered and treatment is coordinated by a primary care physician or even a dentist. Some of what is provided may include Well-Woman Exams; Chiropractic Services; root canals, tooth extractions; basic treatment; free Optometric Services such as eyeglasses, vision screenings, and much more.
In addition to meeting basic needs like food and shelter, education is one of the most vital keys to breaking the cycle of poverty. Low income and unemployed clients can get the skills necessary for achieving long term independence and economic self-sufficiency. This after all is vital to CCA clients’ success.
To fill this need, Christian Community Action of Texas offers vocational classes and services that furnish practical education and skills training. Available courses include Financial Management, GED Training Program, English as a Second Language, and Basic Computer Skills.
Seasonal programs are available. Too many low-income families need more support during certain parts of the year. For example, the Holidays can be a stressful time for families who may not have a great deal of money to spend on gifts for their children and Christmas dinners. Or there may be back to school clothes, books, and shoes for children that need them.
For those that qualify, CCA provides services that aim to make the Thanksgiving and/or Christmas holiday fun. The Christian Community Action Christmas Toy Store gives parents the opportunity to select new, unwrapped, donated gifts and stocking stuffers, right down to the boxes used as wrapping and bows on them. Family Assistance Services from the faith based organization help by identifying whether a family is eligible for this service.
Another regional service is the Senior Christmas Program. This is very special to the organization, since it provides holiday cheer, meals, and companionship for the seniors. The charity will collect wish lists from elderly clients, and then distribute gifts purchased and donated by individuals and companies.
Apply for help from Christian Community Action
The main location is at 200 South Mill St., Lewisville, TX 75057. Call 972-219-4300 for details.
|
