According to The Storehouse of Collin County’s Project Hope Director Jackie Welchman,
“Most neighbors in North Texas know The Storehouse of Collin County for our Seven Loaves Food Pantry. After all, Seven Loaves is our program with the greatest reach – serving over 1,600 families monthly. For many neighbors facing food insecurity, our pantry serves as a safety net and a reliable source of staples such as fresh produce, meats, and canned goods.
“What many may not know is that there are two other important programs at The Storehouse. At each food distribution, our neighbors receive information on how to schedule an appointment to shop for clothing at no cost for their families through our Joseph’s Coat Clothing Closet. As a mother of two daughters, I know how quickly children outgrow their clothing and what a valuable resource Joseph’s Coat can be to young families.
“As a mental health professional, I know that many neighbors find it difficult to visit a place like The Storehouse due to the stigma associated with seeking help. This is in addition to obstacles such as language and cultural barriers. One of our core values at The Storehouse is empathy. We challenge ourselves to constantly ask, ‘What is it like to be in the shoes of our neighbors? How can we normalize asking for help and build trust?’ Because our team believes that every neighbor who visits The Storehouse has needs beyond food and clothing, we offer a third program, called Project Hope.
“When a neighbor comes to The Storehouse, the Project Hope staff and volunteers are the first to greet each neighbor and provide a welcoming atmosphere. Over time, our neighbors begin to trust us and share their other needs with us. We work closely with those neighbors to help them determine their next steps, providing a listening ear, referrals, and critical resources.
“One such neighbor is Maria. I first met Maria and her two young daughters at our food pantry. As an immigrant and single mother for whom English is her second language, Maria faced many challenges to provide for her family. In her home country, Maria had a career as a journalist but left to escape domestic violence. Over the past year, I helped connect Maria to various resources in the community. I also walked alongside her as she navigated past emotional trauma. In our most recent meeting, Maria told me, ‘Jackie, the impact you have on my life goes beyond me. By empowering me, you are also transforming the future of my children. Thank you.’
“We serve hundreds of neighbors, like Maria, at our food pantry and clothing closet each week. My hope is that at the right time, our neighbors will learn to trust us and feel empowered to share with us the other challenges they might be facing. Your gifts on North Texas Giving Day allow us to ‘feed, clothe, and care as neighbors in one community.’ Thank you for helping us transform the life trajectories of our neighbors!”
* Photo credit: Ben Skye ** Graphic The Storehouse of Collin County
In 12 years, Communities Foundation of Texas’ North Texas Giving Day has pumped more than $375 million into the North Texas community. In 2020, more than $58.8 million was raised through more than 106,000 donors benefiting over 3,200 area nonprofits.
On Thursday, September 23, support The Storehouse of Collin County by linking here and spreading the word. #NTxGivingDay