Community Partners Providing Hope in Uncertain Times

Our United Way Community Partners have shown incredible determination, persistence, and courage as they continue to serve their clients through the crisis. We wanted to highlight a few of the incredible things they've done.

 

The American Red Cross serving the Texas South Plains got in on the virutal education game and partnered with Lubbock ISD to host disaster preparedness trainings for children of healthcare workers attending daycare at Ramirez and Miller Elementary Schools. 

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock has come up with some fun and creative ways for their "Bigs" and "Littles" to stay in touch and keep building relationships that result in a lifetime of success for the children enrolled in the program. 

 

The Talkington Boys and Girls Club hosted a Curbside Cinco de Mayo celebration for their club members with free goody bags and activities for club members.

 

The South Plains Council of the Boy Scouts joined Boy Scouts of America for a National Camp-In, including a STEM session with Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, touring a Hollywood set with Francis Lawrence, director of the Hunger Games Series.

 

CASA of the South Plains helped their volunteer shift from face-to-face meetings with the children they advocate for in foster care to virtual face-to-face interactions. Advocates have also helped connect foster families with education, food and other resources.

Catholic Charities made meals and connected other volunteers to make meals for International Students at Texas Tech who cannot go home right now. They also served almost 1,500 individuals and families in the first three weeks of the crisis.

 

Children's Advocacy Center has continued to help families in crisis and to protect and advocate for children who have been abused. They are also offering virtual counseling and limited in-person counseling to victims and their families.

 

Kids enrolled in Communities in Schools programs are receiving special birthday treats, hygiene kids, food deliveries and more as their Site Coordinators continue to connect with families and make sure they have access to the things they need.

 

Early Learning Centers has kept their child care centers open for essential service families, continuing to provide affordable, quality care.

 

Family Counseling Services counseling interns and counselors have been taking care of everyone's mental health through regular posts with tips and advice on how to cope with the crisis. They're also providing free online counseling with their master's level interns.

 

The Girl Scouts of the Texas Oklahoma Plains started a letter-writing service project writing letters to people in nursing homes, senior residences and assisted living facitilies, including the dedicated staff and caregivers at these facilities.

 

Goodwill of Northwest Texas helped Lubbock ISD get ready to distribute meals to students through their curbside feeding programs.

 

Guadalupe Parkway Neighborhood Centers dropped off snack and board games to kids in their neighborhood. They're also offering home work help to children of essential service families.

 

Legal Aid Society of Lubbock continues to provide legal services to victims of domestic violence and others throughout the crisis, in office and then remotely after stay-at-home orders went into effect.

 

Literacy Lubbock stated Tiny Tots Take-Home Bags, delivering books and other resources to families in their Tiny Tots program. They're also offering GED and ESL tutoring online.

 

Lubbock Children's Health Clinic established a well clinic for physicals and well exams at their north location on University and a sick clinic at their east location on MLK Blvd. They've also proved their dance skills on TikTok as they continue to provide high-quality, low-cost healthcare for children.

 

The Parenting Cottage has been providing tons of parenting resources on their social media, while their caseworkers have continued to safely work with families in their Parents as Teachers program.

https://www.facebook.com/ParentingCottage/videos/705843176893388/

 

Salvation Army is making "Hope Totes" for South Plains residents in need. Inside the Hope Tote are things like paper towels, toilet paper, Clorox wipes, cleanding supplies, blankets, and more. They have also provided nearly $61,000 in monetary assistance to help individuals and families pay rent and utilitity bills.

 

Upbring's Neighborhood House has continued to provide food and utility assistance to more and more individuals and families as the crisis continues. Many seeking help for the first time in their lives.

 

Voice of Hope took their annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes virtual for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. Their advocates continue to work on behalf of victims of sexual violence.

 

The Volunteer Center of Lubbock has been helping connect volunteers to opportunities of all kinds, including grassroots opportunities not officially connected to a nonprofit like the Face Masks for Lubbock Facebook Group.

 

Women's Protective Services continued providing safety and services for victims of domestic abuse and their children, seeing a large increase in the number of victims reaching out to them.

 

YWCA of Lubbock extended their Spring Break Camps into Study Camps for children of essential service families. They're also providing food for neighborhood children and family meals in the evenings.