Helping Our Community Weather the Storm

With rolling power outages and many in dire need of temporary housing and other resources to stay safe and warm, CFT is especially thankful for our nonprofit partners who are on the frontlines of serving our community. Yet so many of our neighbors remain without power or the ability to cook a warm meal and have experienced frozen and/or bursting pipes. While temperatures are slowly beginning to warm and power is being restored, we know there is still great need amongst our neighbors who remain in crisis and the nonprofits working to support them.

As we’ve seen time and again, our North Texas community comes together to support those in need. We have received many inquiries from individuals, families, and businesses asking how to help. Our team has collaborated with community leaders to create a list of nonprofits in need as they weather the storm and provide resources to our neighbors. If you’re in a position to do so, we encourage you to consider supporting one or more of these organizations:

Clothing, food, and financial donations needed:

• Adult Rehabilitation Ministry (A.R.M. Dallas) – Offers services to those who struggle from life-deteriorating dependencies such as drugs and alcohol. They had a sprinkler system burst due to the freezing temperatures and the entire building is flooded, and they are in need of financial help. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Austin Street Center – Specializes in caring for homeless men and women in Dallas. Beyond meeting basic needs, Austin Street is committed to individualized care for each person. Austin Street is requesting donations of sweatpants, hoodies and long sleeve shirts for men and women, sizes L-4X, thick gloves, boots (all sizes), and coats (sizes 3XL and up). Donations can be dropped off Sun-Sat, 9-5 pm at 2929 Hickory Street. Monetary donations may be made here.
• Bachman Lake Together – Brings together partners and resources to help families support their children’s development and take control of their neighborhood’s destiny. Bachman Lake Together is running out of supplies to serve their families because of high demand. They are requesting gift cards to give to their families in need. Monetary donations can be made here.
• The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center – Supports individuals without a home in Dallas County. Their doors are open twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week, and is the only shelter in Dallas providing day shelter services to all adults experiencing homelessness. The Bridge is in need of winter weather items for their clients. You can find an updated list on their Amazon wish list where you can purchase and have the items shipped straight to the Center.
• Center for Transforming Lives – Provides anti-poverty programs for women and children in Tarrant County. This week, many of their clients, primarily single mothers with hourly-wage positions, were out of work. With bills to pay and mouths to feed, these working moms need grocery and gas gift cards to provide to make ends meet. Monetary donations can be made here. Write gas or groceries in the comment line.
• Christian Care Communities and Services – Provides long-term care, rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, assisted living, memory care assisted living and retirement living between its communities located in Mesquite, Allen, and Fort Worth. Senior adult resident apartments have flooded due to damaged pipes, power outages and water rationing that has affected their residents and teammates. They are in need of unopened jugs/bottles of water and online monetary donations for relief efforts to provide clean and safe drinking water for residents, patients, and teammates, to provide their Dining Services team with purified water for cooking meals, and other personal care needs which have resulted from this winter storm.
• Emily’s Place – Provides long-term transformational care that is critical for helping domestic violence survivors permanently escape abuse. Many of their partners are having to relocate domestic violence victims due to damage and significant increase in demand for our program due to the pandemic and winter crisis, so Emily’s Place has been working around the clock to increase capacity. They are in need of donations to assist with providing meals and resources. A list of needed items is on this website or you can make a monetary donation here.
• Grand Prairie Homeless Outreach Organization – Is a faith-based organization that helps Grand Prairie’s Cat. 1 unsheltered homeless. The organization paid for 70 motel rooms to house 83 individuals without shelter in Grand Prairie during the winter storm. They also distributed extra blankets, food packs, and other supplies to keep them warm in their motel rooms amid power outages. They are need of financial donations to cover the cost of 70 motel rooms rented for 10 days and to replenish their funds for future service. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Grand Prairie United Charities – Provides immediate emergency services and referrals to the residents of Grand Prairie. They are running out of supplies due to high demand and low supply. They are in need of nonperishable items. Contact Patti Brock to coordinate delivering your donations. Monetary donations can be made here.
• H.I.M. Center/Metroplex Food Bank & Pantry – Is a food bank/food pantry in the DFW metroplex that supports over 5,000 families each month. They’ve received an overwhelmingly large amount of requests for food assistance and are providing full carts of groceries to those affected by the winter storm and for those still affected by COVID. They anticipate 3,500 cars in their mobile drive-thru pantry and are in need of staple food items, canned meats, cereal, and monetary donations for bulk food purchases. Monetary donations can be made here. Food items can be donated at their warehouse located at 150 S 6th Avenue, Mansfield, TX 76063. They can also coordinate large food donations with their truck.
• Hope Supply Co. – Meets the critical needs of homeless and at-risk children across North Texas by providing necessities including diapers, clothing, school supplies, and toys to enhance their lives. Hope Supply is requesting donations of coats, blankets, socks, diapers. Monetary donations can be made here. To donate supplies, visit here.
• The Human Impact – Is a faith-based organization that befriends the homeless and walks with them to stability and wholeness by addressing legal issues, counseling and mental health needs, job recommendations, spiritual formation, drug & alcohol recovery, and connections to affordable housing. They are in need of volunteers this Saturday to drive their homeless friends from where they have been staying back to their tents and also to provide items that have been stolen over the past week (coats, tents, sleeping bags). Sign up to volunteer here. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Human Rights Initiative of North Texas – Represents immigrant survivors of human rights abuses as they pursue the legal process of applying for status under U.S. humanitarian laws and provide social services and immigrant-led organizing opportunities. They are learning about many families going hungry and are doing all they can to help with food, financial assistance for utilities, and more. If you would like to donate food, please contact Jenny Weil or purchase through their Amazon Wishlist. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Jubliee Park and Community Center – Improves lives and strengthens community through a variety of resources and programming. They are in need of blankets, non-perishable items, and monetary donations to purchase food, blankets, water and supplies for neighbors. Donations may be made here.
• Network of Community Ministries – Seeks to care, coach, and empower our neighbors in need as they seek an improved quality of life through their programming at outreach. They are in need of cash donations to continue supporting warming centers in the area. Monetary donations can be made here.
• The Salvation Army of North Texas – Stepped up to convert several of its locations into temporary shelters and warming centers during the winter storm. They are in need of financial donations to help offset the cost of the food, supplies, and electricity used at these facilities. Cold-weather gear will also be accepted indefinitely to prepare individuals without homes for future storms and freezing temperatures. New or gently used blankets, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and hand warmers are appreciated. Learn more here. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Services of Hope – Provides rental and mortgage and utility assistance for families in need. Last week, Services of Hope had seven commercial refrigerators stolen – one was a freezer that had three units and food. They are in need of financial donations to replace the stolen refrigerators and freezer. Monetary donations can be made here.
• The Stewpot – Offers a safe haven for homeless and at-risk individuals of Dallas, providing resources for basic survival needs, as well as opportunities to start a new life. The Stewpot is seeking financial donations to purchase food to feed people at various warming stations. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Trusted World – Is a supply chain for nonprofits, social workers, advocates, and first responders. Due to the cold weather and COVID support they are providing, they are in desperate need of food and personal care donations. They will accept any food that is shelf-stable or non-perishable. If you are interested in hosting a food drive, please click here. Contact Courtney Weaver to set up a time to drop off your donations (613 Easy Street in Garland). Monetary donations can be made here.
• The TurnAround Agenda – Serves as an agent for change by developing an array of program initiatives to address the critical needs of urban youth and families in the Dallas community. They are running out of supplies due to high-demand and are in need of 
  

  sturdy banana boxes (or equivalent) for packing food boxes to give out; dry canned goods, microwaveable food, and PPE for the community and volunteers (i.e. gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, lysol). Monetary donations can be made here.

• United to Learn – Partners with 50 Dallas ISD elementary schools to accelerate student achievement, close opportunity gaps and generate awareness across our community. They are seeking donations to help purchase food, gift cards, blankets, coats, etc. for Dallas ISD educators, students and families. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Vickery Meadow Community Support – International Rescue Committee (IRC) – Provides opportunities for refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, and other immigrants to thrive in America and is providing support to Vickery Meadow. They are in need of cash donations to purchase supplies for clients and to fund Uber rides to warming stations and grocery stores. Monetary donations can be made here. Literacy Achieves provides non-English speaking adults and their young children with English literacy and life skills. They are also accepting donations to support the Vickery Meadow community right now and are in need of food, blankets, and supplies. Donations can be made here.
• Voice of Hope Ministries – Nurtures and trains children through Biblical teaching, Christian character models, life skills coaching, and educational support. They are in need of items to stay warm, meals, baby supplies, clothes, hygiene items, food and water. See their full list of needs here. Contact Edward Franklin to coordinate delivering your donations to Voice of Hope (4120 Gentry Drive). Monetary donations can be made here.
• White Rock Center of Hope – Provides a place where their community can share God’s blessings by satisfying basic human needs. They are running out of supplies to serve their community well because of high demand. They are in need of food, cleaning supplies, gloves, disinfectants and disposable masks. Monetary donations can be made here.

Needs due to water damage/pipes bursting:

• Brighter Tomorrows– For over 30 years, Brighter Tomorrows has empowered victims of domestic violence and sexual assault by providing emergency safe shelter, transitional housing, support services, and partnering with stakeholders to raise awareness of domestic violence in our community. Earlier this week, Brighter Tomorrows had a pipe burst and the ceiling fall through in their building. They are in need of financial or other donations. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Camp Summit – Provides outdoor and recreational opportunities for individuals with a variety of physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities that promote personal growth and foster independence. Camp Summit experienced several burst pipes at their camp facility in rural Paradise, Texas. This resulted in damage to ceilings, walls, floors, beds, and siding in several cabins. They are in need of financial donations to make repairs and replace ruined furnishings to be able to serve their campers in the upcoming camp sessions. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Catholic Charities Dallas – Helps our community’s most vulnerable by taking on the effects of poverty and helping all those in crisis move toward a better life. They had to evacuate St. Jude Center due to flooding from water pipes bursting and have placed over 80 people in hotels. They are in need of gift cards to buy food/clothes/medication/hygiene items, and other necessities. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Destiny Empowerment Enterprises (DEE), Inc. – Is dedicated to ensuring the continued growth and development of underserved communities throughout the Greater Arlington and DFW area. DEE, Inc. provides daycare for children of essential workers and offers a monthly drive-thru food pantry. Their water pipes burst and they’ve had to temporarility shut down the following: Destiny Academy Early Childhood Development Center, School for Schoolers from COVID-19, Destiny Community Food Outreach, and CACFP Programs. They are awaiting insurance restoration estimations and recovery repairs, and for water to be restored to their building. Monetary donations can be made here.
• The Family Place – Has been helping victims of family violence become survivors by giving them everything they need. A pipe burst during the winter storm at their emergency shelter and they have had to move 52 women and 71 children from their shelter to a new location. They have secured semi-permanent accommodations for their residents, but donations are needed to continue offering services to these survivors. To support these housing efforts and repairs, donate here.
• Genesis Women’s Shelter – Exists to give women and children in abusive situations a path to lead an independent and safe life. Due to a total power outage, they had to completely shut down. Additionally, the pipes burst in their transitional housing unit, Annie’s House, resulting in flooding to apartments, offices and their on-site school. All residents have been temporarily relocated. Monetary donations to purchase food and supplies can be made here. Additionally, The Rustic, which has partnered with Alto, will match every Hot Chicken & Cheese Sandwich purchased with another. Learn more here.
• Jonathan’s Place – Provides a safe place, loving homes, and promising futures for abused and neglected children, teens, and young adults. The inclement weather and power outages forced the organization to move the children in their care to another site. Additionally, a pipe burst in the Girls Residential Therapeutic Program cottage last week, and the facility is now uninhabitable. They are in need of financial donations, food, and supplies to continue caring for their residents. Monetary donations can be made here. Donate goods at the Garland campus (6065 Duck Creek Drive).
• Mosaic Services – Is a safe haven for refugees and survivors of human rights abuses like domestic violence and sex trafficking. In anticipation of the storm, all shelter residents were moved to secure hotels. The first floor Mosaic Services facility has flooded, so its residents will have to remain in hotels until repairs can be made. They are in need of financial donations to offset the cost of the repairs and accommodations. Monetary donations can be made here.
• OurCalling – Is a faith-based organization that leads the homeless to live a healthy and sustainable lifestyle by building lasting relationships and making disciples on the streets. OurCalling staff and volunteers worked around the clock to ensure Dallasites without homes were safe and warm during the winter storm. Some responded to reports of individuals who were out on the snowy streets and conducted search-and-rescues to bring them to safe locations. Several of these individuals suffered frostbite and were transported to hospitals for treatment. Without OurCalling’s intervention, they may have died. They had a pipe burst in their building, causing flooding and damage. They are in need of financial donations to make repairs and continue to serve vulnerable Dallasites in a safe environment. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Our Friends Place – Helps young women break generational cycles of abuse, neglect, poverty, and homelessness through their various programming. They had a pipe burst in their building, resulting in the need to evacuate their clients. They are in need of financial donations for the emergency cost of repairing the center and the young women who have been displaced a temporary place to stay. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Paper for Water – Provides access to clean water and sanitation for the poor around the world through donations. They have had significant water damage to their offices and their materials stored there. Their office building, Energy Square on Greenville Avenue, has had water damage and potential electrical damage, but management isn’t allowing them entry until they receive city permits for electrician inspections and repairs, along with draining of all the water on the floors. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Ronald McDonald House of Dallas – Keeps families together, inspires strength, and gives love and support to families whose children are receiving essential medical care. They received extensive water damage and are seeking financial assistance to offset the cost of relocating and housing their guest families and to cover current and future meal costs. Monetary donations can be made here or you can purchase items from their Amazon Wishlist.
• Samaritan House – Supports challenged individuals and families as they move toward independence by providing housing, resources, and hope. They recieved significant damage to their campuses due to the winter storm including burst pipes, depleated kitchen resources, power loss, water damage, and more. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Shurrun’s House – Provides a sober-living, faith-based home for women recovering from drug dependency in Dallas. They are in need of financial contributions to offset the damages done to some of their homes, replenish their food supply, and utlity costs. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Volunteers of America Texas – Uplifts the vulnerable by providing substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, reentry services for those returning from jails and prisons, education, and disability services. They sustained damage from broken water pipes in 14 of their more than 46 properties, locally impacting those with disabilities, low-income seniors, women serving federal sentences that have just given birth and their babies. Monetary donations can be made here. Alternatively, their updated Amazon wish list allows for the purchase and shipping of items straight to the agency.
• Wesley-Rankin Community Center – Identifies and bridges gaps in education, health, and skills development through their multigenerational programming. They experienced broken pipes and flooding in their church building and the Casa Feliz senior citizens center. They are in need of monetary donations to continue delivering food, water, blankets, and flashlights to 60 households as well as funds to repair the damage to the church building and senior citizens center. Monetary donations can be made here.

You can also support CFT’s newly created North Texas Winter Weather Crisis Relief Fund for emergency assistance and long-term recovery needs. We will be making grants from that fund in support of nonprofits addressing the many and various needs across the community related to recovery efforts.

If you’d like to give directly to a local nonprofit, you can always use our North Texas Giving Day website to search 3,000+ nonprofits by geography, issue area, and more.

If you’re a current CFT charitable fund holder: Email donorservices@cftexas.org or your CFT contact to make a grant to a nonprofit in need, or to make a gift to CFT’s relief fund!

Nonprofit leaders: Our Philanthropy Department can be reached at grants@cftexas.org if your organization has been severely affected by the winter weather crisis.