Hello Friends,

We hope this newsletter finds you all well. The sun has been shining in Collin County for most of the week with temperatures reaching into the 70s. It is hard to believe we had snow on the ground only a few short days ago with temperatures in the single digits.

We have seen the impact that last week’s winter storm had on so many people in our community including our staff, donors, and clients. Some people are still without water, some have lost everything due to flooding from broken pipes, and others had to go an entire week or more without pay because their place of employment was shut down due to damage sustained from the storm.

We were incredibly fortunate to not lose power or incur any damage at the Center. Last week, we provided on-site services for critical cases and our Family Advocates met virtually to begin organizing support efforts and resources for clients who had emergency needs as a result of the winter storm. Not only have our advocates been providing families with gift cards and essentials from our Rainbow Room, they have also been coordinating efforts with our development team to reach out to donors who have asked for ways they can help our clients in crisis.

One of our clients, a single mother of four struggling to find work and childcare, was affected by the storm. She lives in the northern part of the county and was out of power for four days. She packed up her four children and went to stay with family and after being gone for two days, the family came home to find that they had multiple busted pipes and their home had completely flooded. They lost everything including clothes, toys, and furniture. They luckily have insurance, but the insurance company wants the family to pay for everything first, and then they will reimburse them.

The family is not allowed to go into their home to begin the cleanup process until an insurance adjuster has assessed the damage and they have no idea when that will occur. They are currently staying in a hotel, and the Center provided a $200 Walmart gift card for the mother to purchase food, necessities, and toys to entertain the children in a hotel room. Our advocates are working with generous donors to purchase other necessary items the family needs like twin sheets for air mattresses, sippy cups because the toddlers are sharing, clothes, diapers, wipes, books, games, etc. Anything to bring the children some joy.

There has been so much hardship and despair over the past year and yet through it all, we have seen our community come together to help those less fortunate. We couldn’t be more grateful for our friends and supporters. Your commitment to the families we serve, who have already been through so much, is extraordinary. Thank you for your continued support which allows us to continue this important work.