The Services Division is responsible for coordinating the Network of Community Ministries’ assistance programs for low-income families. The department provides assistance to working poor individuals and seniors with obtaining needed shelter, food, prescription medications, and clothing. The non-profit will also provide financial support to Dallas County residents who are struggling to make their utility or rent payments.
Food and clothing type resources from Network of Community Ministries
The Thomas Family Food Pantry’s goal is to provide food for Dallas County families who are struggling with hunger. The food pantry often provides personal care items, groceries, and free food to dozens of families per week. The amount of aid offered varies, depending on need. The food distribution system operates using a Client Choice Hybrid Model, which allows clients to choose which food items they receive.
Families who go to this center are able to choose which food items they need, instead of getting a box of food that may have items that the family does not want or need. There is a community organization that can help families with limited resources on a monthly basis.
It is important to note that families who are awaiting SNAP food stamp notification have access to groceries or meals every two weeks. Not only does the Network partner with the North Texas Food bank, but it also provides on-site SNAP food stamp interviews.
The Big Meals for Little Kids Project is an option for more than 20,000 Richardson ISD students. This service’s clients rely on the free or reduced lunch program that was in place when school was in session. Although they are not in school, many students still need food during summer break. Some students may go hungry because they do not have enough money or a way to get food.
Network of Community Ministries offers a mobile summer program that provides children with two to three days’ worth of shelf-stable lunches twice a week during summer vacation.
The aid is aimed at people living in certain low-income apartment complexes in Dallas. The program has made it easier for families by delivering nutritious food to the homes of thousands of children.
The Richardson-North Dallas Family Clothing Center provides free clothing for children and low income adults from qualifying households. The clothing is either new or gently used. The Ministry is also focusing on making sure that new school clothes, professional work attire or uniforms are available for children returning to school along with the fall school supplies program.
This is a model where both parents and children get to choose their own free clothing based on their needs. The food assistance program provides families with up to $250 per family, six times a year.
Tools 4 School is a program that provides free school supplies to children from Pre-K through 12th Grade. The goal is to help them have a good start to the school year. The Dallas County community will donate supplies that students can use to help them start the new year.
This is the only Network project that encompasses the Plano, Dallas, and Garland school districts, in addition to the Richardson Independent School District. Parents and children will be able to select $250 worth of free clothing per family per visit.
The national One Warm Coat campaign helps provide free winter coats to adults and children who are in need. One Warm Coat is a key partner of Network of Community Ministries. The non-profit organization Network Ministry has become the North Dallas hub for winter garment donations. This organization also provides jackets to those who are in need or have a low income.
Medical care and emergency assistance in Dallas
The Network Adolescent and Children’s Clinic is open during the school year to help meet the health needs of uninsured or uninsurable children living within the Richardson Independent School District in Dallas County. Many families who qualify for financial assistance cannot afford the costs of paying for hospital bills or private medical care. The clinic is used by many people who don’t qualify for Medicaid and can’t afford to take an entire day off from work to wait for services at Parkland Hospital.
The Children’s Clinic is made up of professional staff who volunteer their time to help children. The clinic has physicians, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, and hygienists on staff. These professionals schedule their time at the clinic one year in advance. Acute care and dental treatment are free of charge at this facility.
The Network of Community Ministries is expanding their clinic hours to include bi-weekly evening services in order to help working parents. An additional benefit of the program is that it will help to reduce congestion in hospital emergency rooms in Dallas, and it will also lead to an increase in student attendance as treated students are able to quickly return to the classroom.
The clinic offers medical services at little or no cost to help with things such as tooth extractions, dental cleanings, flu symptoms, and upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, pharyngitis, and tonsillitis, to name a few.
ViewPoint Bank has teamed up with Network Ministries to offer the Women’s Financial Empowerment Class. This class is designed to help women gain the financial knowledge and skills they need to be successful. This article covers how single mothers can take action to improve their financial situation and life skills. It discusses how to gain knowledge and access resources that can help them stabilize their households.
Some things that you might learn in a class about financial literacy include how to create and stick to a budget, how to save and manage money, how to improve your credit score, and how to find ways to reduce your expenses. In addition to in-class instruction, students are given materials to take home with them so they can continue learning and applying what they’ve learned to real life situations.
The Network Santa Holiday Project collects donations of toys from local businesses and churches in Dallas, and then distributes the toys to those in need through the Network Santa Corner. The assistance is for children from low income families in Dallas County. The Angel Tree Project is another part of the Santa Project that is supported by donations from local companies, churches, and organizations.
If the charity is unable to help the person with their needs, then the Network of Community Ministries may be able to help them by providing referrals to other places that can help them. Dearborn Street The main office is located on 741 S. Dearborn Street. The address for the Richardson branch of the library is Sherman St., Richardson, TX 75081. The phone number is 972-234-8880.