BACKGROUND:
Caritas of Waco was founded in 1967 by the Austin Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. The organization has been serving the Waco community as an independent ecumenical agency since 1979. Caritas’ mission is to provide urgent support to people in need in the community.
SERVICES:
FACTS:
Caritas of Waco was founded in 1967 by the Austin Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. The organization has been serving the Waco community as an independent ecumenical agency since 1979. Caritas’ mission is to provide urgent support to people in need in the community.
SERVICES:
- Emergency Assistance program provides help with basic needs like food and household items
- Since 2013, Case Management program has provided one-on-one assistance to clients to help them become more self-sufficient
- Gifts-in-kind program facilitates the distribution of a variety of needed items like paper goods and hygiene supplies to local and regional nonprofits
- Two retail stores, called Hidden Treasures by Caritas, offer high quality merchandise at a discounted price
- HELPINGS assists clients with enrollment in the SNAP program, as well as other state and federal assistance programs
FACTS:
- Caritas’ vision is to eliminate hunger in McLennan County by providing direct services through the food pantry, as well as through advocacy, while working with other hunger relief programs in Central Texas
- More than 90 percent of all donations to Caritas go directly to aid people in need
- In 2015, Caritas provided 2.4 million pounds of food to 30,096 families
- There are no geographical limits on Caritas’ services, but most recipients reside in McLennan County
- Caritas hosts several annual events, including The Feast of Caring, The Spring into Summer Food Drive and the Greg May Caritas Golf Classic
- The two Hidden Treasures stores, located on Bosque Blvd. and on Bellmead Dr., sell gently used clothing, household items, appliances, furniture, electronics and more