Allen Community Outreach Staff

Stacy Cooper, Director of Development

Krystal Herrington, Director of Programs

Sandy Klieger, Director of Finance

Marjorie Vaneskahian, Director of Volunteer Services/

ACO Food Pantry Del Herrod,

Director of Resale Shops Vicki Morris,

Executive Assistant Joyce Gorman,

Resource Database SpecialistDebbie Bush,

Lindsay Moreau and Marquita Huland,

Community Outreach Specialists

Janis Christie, Asst. Dir. Volunteer Services

Martha Hogue, Finance Assistant

Rhonda Ptak, Special Events Director

Michelle Clough, Food Pantry Manager

Sheila Cummings, Volunteer Services

Administrative Assistant/Meals on Wheels

& More

History

Allen Community Outreach helps transform lives by providing essential human and social services in our communities. Founded in 1985, Allen Community Outreach (ACO) has helped families living in Allen, Lucas and Fairview rebuild their lives through the many services and programs provided. ACO is a non-profit organization, with the majority of funding for the agency coming through local business and individual donations, as well as fundraising activities. In September 2009, ACO moved into the current location at 801 E. Main St. and began providing a “one-stop shop” for essential human and social services. Clients can now come to one location for individual counseling with the ACO Case Worker, they can utilize the computer lab, and have access to the Food Pantry and Resale Shop to ensure their families have all basic needs. Collections of everything from toothpaste and diapers to flour and milk are gathered with kindness from school children, church groups, and community leaders and are made available to families with ACO’s Care & Share Program and the ACO Food Pantry. School supplies, holiday food and toys make struggles at hard times of the year easier for parents and children. Programs such as GED classes and Financial classes are offered for free to help strengthen families served. Donations large and small stay in our community. Most of all, financial gifts of all sizes make it possible to offer programs and services to families needing assistance.

From my view at the Executive Director’s desk, I look back at past milestones to understand and celebrate our success, while evaluating our programs as we move forward.

In the past few years we’ve certainly forged ahead in many areas. This is our fourth year in our current building on Main Street, having become Collin County’s first and only “One-Stop-Shop” for services. The ACO Food Pantry has continued to grow and become a much needed service to local families. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers and donors, in the past year the pantry added a new section, the Nutrition and Nourishment Center. It provides fresh fruits and vegetables, a complete healthy foods section of low sodium, low-fat, low-sugar and gluten free items, and an information center for healthy recipes and cookbooks. The ACO Kids Summer Food program grew even larger this year as we provided breakfast and lunch foods for hungry children in our area. While we continue to see more food-insecure children in our communities, we are thankful for the continued support of donations to provide for them. Looking ahead, ACO’s GED classes are moving forward to meet the federal and state mandate of computerizing the study guides and tests to help our clients be more successful in today’s workplace. Also moving forward is our Board of Directors’ vision to keep the 2-1-1- database current, being the only local agency in Collin County to continue providing accurate Information and Referrals, which is our largest service, having answered more than 16,000 calls last year. All of these successes would not be possible without our 3000+ background-checked, adult volunteers and countless students who provide service year round to ACO. Our volunteers redesigned the food pantry into the healthy center it is today and work diligently 6 days a week to keep it stocked and open for hungry shoppers. Volunteers deliver Meals-On-Wheels each weekday and check on our area’s aging resident’s who are sick or homebound. They work tirelessly on special projects like our summer kids’ food program, school supplies drive, and holiday programs. Volunteers keep the ACO Resale Shops running smoothly each and every day. ACO Volunteers continually answer our call to make our communities a better place to work and live. I am fortunate to have the view of looking back on my 18 years of the agency’s growth and change, while taking a look at what lies ahead for our organization. We’ve come a long way in our service to our communities since our beginning in 1985, yet still have work ahead to tackle hunger and homelessness. Thank you for your support in the past and your vision to support ACO in the future.

Glenda MayExecutive Director

Dear Friends, The idea of loving your neighbor is a value that permeates all religions, businesses, families, and major institutions in historic and modern society. This value has eternal merit and goes a long way to unite people of all walks of life. Allen Community Outreach has served as a pillar in our community that manifests the idea of loving your neighbor and unites Allen, Lucas, and Fairview in this worthy human endeavor. As president of the ACO Board of Directors, I often review facts, figures, policies, procedures, and strategic plans with other board members. In these business reviews, however, our goal is to look at more than just the data and plans. Our primary intent is to help orchestrate and organize an ongoing effort of transforming lives by offering love to our neighbors. By offering that love, we work together to give people HOPE. Hope is often the listening ear a person receives when they enter the client services office. Hope is found in the form of rental assistance that bridges the gap in an emergency. Hope is the coaching one receives when they’ve lost their job and can’t pay their bills. Hope is discovered in the groceries a mom or dad selects that will ensure food on the table for their children as they navigate through a difficult time. Hope is found in the food delivered by teams of Meals on Wheels volunteers who knock on a door and provide for some the only human contact a person receives in a day or week. Hope is found in the brand new backpack and school supplies a child receives at the beginning of the school year. ACO leads our community, helping us transcend our religious, political, and cultural differences and uniting us in a common effort to love our neighbors and offer hope. ACO seeks to be the premier provider of human services in Allen, Lucas, and Fairview. Through your support, we are reaching our vision and changing the lives of people who find themselves trapped in unexpected life emergences. Thank you for all the ways you give, support, and volunteer to Allen Community Outreach. I sincerely trust that you realize your giving makes a huge difference in people’s lives. And, when you give you are giving HOPE to another person and living out the common value of loving your neighbor. Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in a one-of-a-kind organization that is unequivocally changing lives. Gratefully, Todd Harris President

Message from the ACO Board President

Volunteers Make An Impact

More than 3000 adult background checked volunteers and hundreds of students serving for community service hours work together to transform lives and rebuild families through ACO’s many programs and services. Without their 32,000+ hours given annually, ACO could not make such an impact on our community. Each weekday volunteers deliver hot meals and caring smiles to homebound individuals. The ACO Food Pantry and ACO Resale Shops need volunteers daily to assist with sorting and stocking of donated food and household items. Programs and events would not be possible without ACO volunteers organizing fundraisers, a summer food program for ACO Kids, school supplies and backpacks for each new school year, holiday food and Christmastime toys and gifts for kids, teens and seniors.

2013 Board of Directors

Rev. Todd Harris, President First United Methodist Church Allen Carol Sutton, Vice President Community Volunteer Nick Nuspl , Secretary Pittenger, Paxton, Nuspl & Crumley Chris Schulmeister, Treasurer Small Biz Financial Advisors Robin Frantz, Immediate Past President Color Dynamics, Inc.

Niccole Frazier City of Allen – Police Department Kurt HallAssistant Fire Chief – City of Allen Brad Hempkins Hempkins Insurance Dr. Frank Martinez M.D., P.A. Dr. Gary Miller Community Volunteer

Jimmy Moore Community Volunteer Michael MoranSimpson Strong Tie Debbie Stout Community Volunteer Sheacy Thompson State Senator Ken Paxton’s Office Dr. Maroba Zoeller Allen ISD

Rent and Utility AssistanceAllen Community Outreach is able to work with families and individuals at risk of eviction and utility service disconnection by helping provide funds for short-term financial assistance with rent and utility bills. The ACO Case Worker then works with the family to strengthen them and avoid the same crisis in the future. Building self sufficient families by supporting them during a financial crisis is possible through the donations from our community.

Meals on Wheels & More Meals-on-Wheels (MOW) is a program designed to deliver hot, nutritious meals to people age 60 or older who, due to physical limitations, are unable to prepare their own meals. Meals are prepared by the Meals on Wheels & Senior Services in Collin County and brought to ACO hot and fresh each day of the week. Meals are delivered throughout Allen, Fairview and Lucas 5 days a week, except holidays. The meals are only part of the MOW Program. For some of our clients, the volunteer delivering the food is the only personal contact they may receive that day.

Care & Share Program Collections of everything from household cleaning items, toothpaste, diapers, paper goods and personal hygiene products are kept in our Care & Share Closet. Families may come in once a month to get the items needed. By providing clients with these types of items, they are able to utilize their financial resources in other important areas of their household budget. Donations of these items are needed throughout the year, and come from individuals, school groups, and various service organizations.

Graduation Equivalence Degree (GED) ACO implemented a GED program in August 2009 (formerly part of Allen ISD) that focuses on accommodations for GED preparation and testing. This initiative targets working age adults, 18 to 64 years of age, who are employed or employable

Meals on Wh eels and More

Care and ShareProgram

Graduation Equivalenc

e

Degree (GED)

and can demonstrate academic readiness to prepare for and pass the English version of the GED tests. Millions of adults have completed their high school diploma in General Equivalency Diploma programs to increase their employment potential or to enroll in a higher education program. The GED program is free to participants and is being led by the same teacher who has taught the program for 25 years in the Allen ISD. The program is taught year-round in the ACO Community Room 47 weeks per year on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

ACO Resale Shops The Allen Resale Shop first opened in 1998. Founded upon ACO’s mission of providing basic necessities, the principles have not changed: providing free, quality clothing to clients who reside in Allen, Fairview and Lucas while simultaneously selling affordable clothing, furniture, and house wares to the public. Clients are able to shop for their needs side-by-side with the retail customers. This method allows all people to retain their dignity. The Resale Shop is a source of funding and offers ongoing support for other ACO programs.

ACO Resale Shops

“Fill th e Bus”School Supply Drive

Holiday Food Drive

Toys for Our Tots

ACO Food Pantry

The Farmersville Resale Shop opened in September 2011 and offers the same quality merchandise for sale in that community. With the guidance of the Board of Directors and community leaders, the Farmersville Resale Shop hopes to impact the families of Northeast Collin County in the same way as the Allen Resale Shop. The Treasure Chest is an opportunity for ACO to reuse, reduce and recycle items that might otherwise end up in the landfill. Every item in the store is marked at just $0.25. The Treasure Chest is open the 1st and 3rd weekends of each month, and is a bargain shopper’s dream, proving the old adage of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

“Fill the Bus” School Supply Drive “Fill The Bus” is a program sponsored by the Allen-Fairview Chamber of Commerce, First United Methodist Church Allen, the Allen ISD and the Allen Community Outreach to provide children of low-income families with new school supplies for the fall. ACO is dependent on donations to provide supplies to all students who will need them for the school year. For so many families, new school supplies can be a large financial burden, especially if they have multiple children. Costs of $50 or more per child can make it impossible for parents to provide all of the necessary supplies. Through generous community donations, ACO is able to provide these families with new school supplies for the best start back to school.

Holiday Food Drive andToys for Our TotsEach holiday season, volunteers working through Allen Community Outreach (ACO) touch hundreds of lives and bring joy to what might otherwise be a very sad time for families in financial crisis. With donations and support from the community, families are given boxes of food for a complete Thanksgiving meal as well as new toys and clothing for Christmas. More than 600 individuals are helped each year through these special programs. With your donation of new clothing, food, or new toys, you can make this very special time of year a lasting memory for someone who otherwise would not experience the joy of the holiday season.

ACO Food Pantry Opened in 2009, the ACO Food Pantry is the only local pantry offering choices to families of staple items plus refrigerated and frozen food sections. The ACO Food Pantry offers crisis food to families living in Allen, Fairview and Lucas. Stock in the ACO Food Pantry is a reflection of donations from the community and support from the North Texas Food Bank. Through 2012, ACO gave away over 275,000 pounds of food to 9,784 individuals. Families are able to shop the pantry twice each month with a cart, choosing the items they know will best feed their families. In April 2013, ACO unveiled the new “Nutrition and Nourishment Center” within the Food Pantry. A new healthy foods section and produce display offers families direct access to fresh and healthy foods. A library provides families with an array of cookbooks and magazines that they can borrow for healthy recipes. Brochure racks hold more information and provide additional resources, and cooking demonstrations are offered to show firsthand how to prepare healthier meals with food available in the Food Pantry. The ACO Food Pantry also offers a weekly bread and fresh produce voucher to ensure our families don’t go without and have access to healthy, fresh snacks. The pantry is dependent on the generosity of the community for donations and is completely staffed with volunteers.

Prescription and Medical Sick Visit Assistance Individuals who are feeling sick or need help paying for a prescription now have a place to go. ACO provides a service helping all individuals without insurance have a way to maintain their health for free. The program covers a doctor visit, two labs, x-ray if needed, and prescription assistance.

REVENUE:

Contributions $491,247

Grants $138,766

Special Events $125,291

Interest Income and Investments $29,496

Resale Store Donated Goods/Inventory $1,044,597

Resale Store Sales $809,629

Food Pantry $45,803

Total Revenue: $2,684,829

EXPENSES:

Program Services $2,294,804

Management and General $97,154

Fund-raising $212,339

Total Expenses: $2,604,297

Allen Community Outreach helps transform lives by providingessential human and social services in our communities.

Thank you to the following companies for matching gifts and designations.Abbott FundAllstate Giving CampaignAmerica’s CharitiesAT&T Services, Inc.AT&T United Way Employee Giving CampaignBank of America Matching GiftsBank of America United Way CampaignBNY Mellon Community PartnershipBoeing Company Employee’s Community FundCA, Inc.Chevron Humankind Matching Gift ProgramCommunities Foundation of TexasDell YourCause, LLCDenbury Resources, Inc.Encana Cares (USA) FoundationEricsson Matching Gifts and Volunteer Grant ProgramFluor United Way Employee DonationsFujitsu Network Communications, Inc.GE Foundation Matching Gifts ProgramGE United Way CampaignGive with LibertyGlobal ImpactHalliburton Giving ChoicesHCA Caring for the CommunityHealth Care Service Inc.Hewlett-PackardIBM Employee Services CenterJPMorgan Chase & Co.Microsoft Matching Gifts ProgramORIX FoundationPepsico Found. Matching GiftsRaytheon Charitable GivingRockwell Collins Empl. United FundRoll GivingSabre Holdings Corp.Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.Texas Health GivesTravelers Employee Giving CampaignTruist Comprehensive DistributionUnited Way for Southwestern MichiganUnited Way of Central & Northeastern ConnecticutUnited Way of Metropolitan ChicagoUnited Way of Metropolitan DallasUnited Way of Tarrant CountyUnited Way of Williamson CountyVerizon FoundationWomen of AT&T-Dallas ChapterZynga YourCause, LLC

ETHNICITY:

Hispanic 992

African American 981

Anglo 1,420

Other 106

Asian 62

Race Unknown 146

Total Clients Served: 3,707

MALE/FEMALE:

Males 1,712

Females 1,995

Total Clients Served: 3,707

AGES:

0-17 1,613

18-60 1,768

61+ 271

No age given 55

Total Clients Served: 3,707

Contributions – 18%

Grants – 5%

Special Events – 5%

Interest Income and Investments – 1%

Resale StoreSales – 30%

Food Pantry – 2%

Resale Store Donated Goods/Inventory – 39%

Managementand General – 4% Fund-raising – 8%

Program Services – 88%

Hispanic – 27%

African American – 28%

Other – 2%Race Unknown – 4%

Anglo – 38%

Asian – 2%

Males – 48%

Females – 54%

0-17 – 44%

61+ – 7%No age given – 1%

18-60 – 48%

FinancialsApr. 1, 2012 – Mar. 31, 2013

Client DemographicsJan. 1, 2012 – Dec. 31, 2013

Christmas in July Giving — 2013Angels Mark and Laura Feld First United Methodist Church AllenGreenville Oaks Church of ChristThomas and Pat McGarityDan and Debra Stenger

Guardian AngelsGrace Evangelical Free Church Richard and Carol Sutton

Five Star SantasAllen Kiwanis ClubAllen Sunrise RotaryStephen and Lisa BarnesBarton and Lisa BlackTom and Sharon BrianJoe and Debbie BushGwen CampbellCottonwood Creek Baptist Church Davidson Enterprises, Inc.Betty DraffenMatt and Sharon DuncanLouis and Linda FederleTerry Felker-Dillman

Forest Grove Christian ChurchJay and Preeti GhoshChester and Phyllis Graham Stephen HamiltonJake and Krystal HerringtonRich and Carla HickmanKerry and Martha HogueJerry and Mannon Hubbard Katherine B. Johnson Foundation Kim and Sandy KliegerDave KluverHenry and Nancy LessnerJudge Johnny and Sharon LewisJo Long

Glenda MayMurry and Alyce McKenzieBob and Vicki MorrisBarbara PaxtonLuis and Kristi PlanasRuth PringleRodenbaugh FamilyChris and Jeanie SchulmeisterDavid and Jamie St. ClairPaul and Christi StinchcombUnited Methodist Women of FUMC Allen Rodney and Cindy Vaughan

Donors, April 1, 2012 – March 31, 2013($250 and up donations)

5 Star Senior Services84 Lumber CompanyDouglas and Karen AdamsAlison and CompanyBill and Karen AllenAllen Economic Development CorporationAllen Fire DepartmentAllen Heights Baptist ChurchAllen High Noon Lions ClubAllen Police AssociationAllen Professional Firefighters Assoc.Allen Rotary ClubAmerigroup RealSolutionsAmerisource Companies LPBeth Digby Anderson O.D. PLLCAndes Coil Processors, Inc.Peggy ArmandArmstrong World Industries, Inc.Edythe AstonAT&T FoundationAtmos Energy CorporationJoseph and Susan BakerBedard Motor Co.Brian and Elaine BelcherBH Semler Family FoundationBMC West CorporationBoise Cascade, LLCDennis and Virginia BorgneTom and Kathy BrandKevin and Judy BrannonDon and Sharon BrazealSteve and Melanie BriganteBrooklyn’s Firewheel, LLCKevin and Kimberly BrooksDana and Lorraine BrownDavid and Dawn BruchanSteve and Troie BurchWilliam and Cheryle CarderSteve and Terry CarsonJoann ChatfieldCheatham ElementaryKen ChesneyChili’s - AllenChrist Church of Plano, Inc.Church of the SaviorDebora ChuteCollege Hunks Hauling Junk MovingJack and Adrian CollinsColorDynamics, Inc.Communities Foundation of TexasCommunity Waste Disposal, Inc.Lewis and Ronda CookStacy CooperCore-Tek ServicesSimon and Jill CorneliusJonathan and Katia CrabbLibby CraftCraig’s Car Care, Inc.Creekwood United Methodist ChurchSteven and Guadalupe CroniserJoy CrouchRaul’ and Sheila CummingsGreg and Julie Custer

Matthew and Lynn Koss DalbyDallas Mortgage Bankers Assoc.Dancar Printing Group, LLCBilly and Marilyn DavisJeffrey and Carol DavisDennis and Patti DeWetMike and Stacy DodsonCarson and Lin DossDorothy DouglasJohn and Elaine DowRichard DugasAlejandro and Tracey DuranStacy EisenbergEli Daniel GroupElke’s Market CaféEpsilon Sigma Alpha Beta PI 4257Jeffrey and Kelly ErbEreckson Middle SchoolHolger and Lori EsserExperian, Inc.Rodney and Sheila FabreFaith Church of Collin CountyDan FarleyBrian and Kim FarrarTerry and Margaret FarrellFellowship Christian Center ChurchPhil FeltCindy and Patricia FertittaFirst Baptist Church of AllenFirst Presbyterian Church of AllenJames FisherFord Middle SchoolRobin FrantzWilliam and Tonda FrazierFrontier CommunicationsJay and Peggy FryKenneth and Susan FulkGDSX, LTD.Bruce and Deborah GilmoreGirl Scouts of Northeast Texas #2664David and Theresa GlantzbergGlobal Power Equipment GroupGo StudioDoug and Marquita GordonJoyce GormanGorrell Accounting & Consulting PLLCCharlotte GosseauxSpence and Tanya GouldChristopher and Rainie GrahamGreat Migrations Travel AdvisorsGreen ElementaryEnrique and Mary Ann GuillenSteve and CJ HaddenMary Jane HamiltonMark and Elizabeth HansenCarey and Constance HardestyRobert and Barbara HardwickTim and Kathy HarlessHarley-Davidson of DallasTodd and Stephanie HarrisLisa HartHart ElementaryHarvest Oaks Baptist ChurchHealth Care Service Inc.Kurt Heinbecker

Brad and Rebecca HempkinsMark HerringtonDel HerrodRich and Carla HickmanMark HimesJohn and Lizabeth HoggardThe Hoglund FoundationHolloway Welding & Piping L.P.Jeffrey and Kay HoltHomeTeam Pest Defense, Inc.D.R. HortonJeffrey and Stacey HuettnerJames and Andrene HullIndependent BankInternational PaperJack Henry & Associates, Inc.Joni JanningJim and Toni JenkinsAvis JohnsonEmery and Barbara JohnsonNalin and Elizabeth KarunaratneKCK Utility Construction, Inc.Kevin KernanKerr ElementaryMary KienzlenJames and Gay Ann KiserGreg and Jeanette KisseeJulie KiteAndrew and Laura KlassenMark and Laura KleinPatrick and Meredith KnickerbockerKarla KnightBert KochKoneGeorge and Priscilla KrejciDavid and Ruth KuoCharles and Deanna KuykendallL. Watkins & AssociatesLa Finca ChiquitaMichael LaPlanteDavid and Claire LavergneJoseph and Ima Jean LeachPaul and Barbara LechelerMax and Inez LeeLegacyTexas BankJames and Patti LiepkeDavid and Becky LindbergBurton and Nell LoftusLovejoy ElementaryLP Building ProductsClay and Ginger LuttrellHugh and Claudia MairGeorge and Alicia MakayeHershel and Ann MalettVicki MaleyMarket StreetMike and Solina MarquisSarah MarsdenFrank E. Martinez, M.D., P.A.Mike and Michelle MarvinMaterial Control Services Inc.McDermott ChiropracticSteve and Jane McGregorEugene McKenzieDarren and Romy MedeirosGary MillerJon Mitchell

Brent and Sarah MitchellDenvil and Jean MixonBlake MonroeJoe and Georgjean MontgomeryMr. & Mrs. Grady MooreGriff and Tonya MooreJimmy and Vickie MooreMike MoranPat MoranRon and Jane MorrillGeorge MortJ.T. and Margo NarramoreBob and Laurie NelsonChieu Nguyen and Linh LuuNorton ElementaryNick and Malissa NusplJohn and Patricia OgrizovichOlive GardenOlson ElementaryOncor Electric DeliveryORIX FoundationKirk and Melissa OwenBruce and Jeanne ParentChris and Kellie ParrickFrank and Jennifer PascucciWard and Pat PaxtonMichael PearceMadison and Cheryl PedigoPlano Police Association Christmas CopsPluckers - Allen, LPJennifer PriceJames and Melinda ProvenceDan and Rhonda PtakRobert and Rebecca PusterQuest Medical, Inc.Melissa QuintanaRaintree PediatricsJohn and Kathryn RapierDr. and Mrs. David ReaganJames and Pamela ReavesRedbuilt LLCJohn ReitingerLarry and Patricia RexfordJason ReyesRhythms & FitnessRichardson Radio Control ClubMargaret Richter-HughesGene and Jackie RifeMike RogersRon Patterson Insurance Agency, Inc.Roseburg Forest ProductsMarty and Carmen RoyTed RustPaul and Adrienne RutenisMike and Wendy RyanJames and Patsy SadowskiSandifer Law OfficeTom and Janie ScalesE.L. and Janice ScalesMike and Melissa SchabelJoel SchaffnerMauro and Shanna SchiavonSchneider ElectricCynthia SchulzChristopher and Karen Schwab

Tom ScottSteven and Robin SedlacekFrank and JoAnn SeestromBill and June SerafiniRobert and Roberta ShankSimpson Strong-Tie Co., Inc.Kate SlaughterBill and Vicki SledgeBarney and Elaine SmithJames SmithPaul and Amy SmithRuss and Judy SmithSnavely Forest ProductsChip and Barbara SnyderRobert and Karyl SnyderMark SpargoCindy SpeiserAllen and Beth SpinksStacy Furniture & AccessoriesTim and Lynne StadlerScotty SteenJohn and Amy StevensPete and Pam StoryMark and Debbie StoutRobert Nelson and Lael SummerJohn and Paula SummerlinRonald and Audrey SutherlandRandy and Tracy SutherlinEdna SuttonKevin and Kara SuttonDan and Maxine SweetSylvan Learning CenterJonathan SzetoDave and Sheron TaylorCarolyn TerryTexas Health Presbyterian AllenMilton and Susan ThomasP.D. and Diane ThomasBill and Carla ThompsonChristopher and Sheacy ThompsonRick and Margie ThompsonTomes Auto GroupBill and Pam TooleyDavid and Julie ToopsTown of FairviewTom UpchurchThe UPS Store #3589Marjorie VaneskahianBobby and Michelle VarnerChuck and Debbie VavraDavid VincentRobert and Cathy VitanzaTom and Michelle WalkerDane and Pamela WatsonPatti WeigChristopher and Tonya WennerWeyerhaeuserWhole Foods MarketSherwin WilliamsGary and Brenda WilliamsonDavid and Jane WilsonEric and Lynn WrightEtta YoungYoung Men’s Service LeagueVicki YoungJamie and Leslie YoussefBill and Dorothy Zimmer

“It may have been hard, but I was able to stick to it and persistence has now paid off!” says Janet. Ron and Janet moved to their apartment home in Allen in early 2011. They live there with their youngest daughter and granddaughter. Ron has full time employment and Janet had been receiving unemployment benefits. While receiving unemployment, Janet had been diligently looking for work. When her benefits were close to expiring she was concerned because they were unable to pay their rent and she had yet to find work. At this time they reached out to Allen Community Outreach for help. The ACO social worker helped the family evaluate their income and expenses and determined they would qualify for the ACO Rent and Utility Assistance. This assistance would provide one-time rental assistance to help them bridge the financial gap until Janet found work. In addition to the financial assistance, ACO engaged the family in our financial education curriculum while providing emotional support and encouragement. The family was able to shop in the ACO Food Pantry to provide fresh vegetables, dairy, meats and other pantry staples on a monthly basis. Through the Care & Share Closet, costly household supplies such as toothpaste, shampoo, and detergent were provided so that Ron’s income was able to better support the family. ACO was able to provide Janet a list of available jobs in the area, and she was able to obtain full time employment through that referral. Both she and Ron are feeling relieved having two full time incomes once again. Allen Community Outreach is designed to help families like Janet’s. By providing more than a check for rent, this family is better prepared for the future. ACO is delighted to be part of helping families successfully maintain housing, put food on the table, provide essential needs and transform their lives for the better.

*Names have been changed for privacy.

Secure online donations can be made by visitingwww.acocares.org