MISSIONWACO•WORLD

November 2016 <www.missionwaco.org> 254.753.4900

Grand Opening of Non-Profit Grocery Store Thursday, December 1, 10:00

food desert comes to end in North Waco

EVERYONE WELCOME!After fourteen months of dreaming, planning, raising funds, renovation, hiring staff, purchasing food and lots of hard work, the “Big Ugly Building” (BUB- pictured below) at 1505 N.15th Street, has been transformed to provide affordable and healthy food to the former food desert of North Waco. After purchasing the old convenience store, originally built in 1925 as a Safeway Grocery, Mission Waco in-vited the lower-income neighbors together to ask what they wanted it to be. 77% voted for a nearby store to offer a place where fresh vegetables, fruits, and quality products were available. (continued)

6500 sq’ convenience store was a predatory eyesore The “Jubilee Dream Team” directed the plan. First neighborhood listening meeting

Renovation of old structure cost over $500,000, all donated by supporters.

John Gallagher & Ed Mazanec shared general contractor roles.

Scores of contractors worked for months to remodel the old building. Many of them donated or discounted work.

Want to buy a Christmas gift for someone in need?

Biker Toy Run for Mission

Waco’s ChristmasToy Store

Nov. 27

19 churches donate new toys for lower-income

Children sitting in Sunday School class-es hear the roar of motorcycles coming to their church to collect new, unwrapped toys that they have collected for lower income families. Class is virtually over by then, and the parents and children head to the doors to welcome the bikers for the annual ef-fort to gather hundreds of gifts for Mission Waco’s Toy Store. On December 3 and 10, struggling parents can receive their 80% off vouchers to purchase these toys for their own kids at Mission Waco’s children’s cen-ter, thus giving them the dignity and joy of placing new toys under their own Christ-mas tree. The 20% fee the parents pay goes back into the purchase of more new toys for the hundreds of shoppers who attend. If you or your group wants to buy toys or make a donation the store, just drop your donation off at 1315 N. 15th St by Dec. 1.

Mission Waco

Children & Youth

Voluneteer

Kids with Seniors at a

local nursing home doing art together

Hold that date! Annual MLK Day

Jan. 16 Program, “Soul Food” Meal & Dialogue, & Community Service

Join Mission Waco’s 11th annual day of ac-tivities to not only remember King’s legacy but discuss the issues of racial reconcili-ation, watch a play about that era of civ-il rights and do hands-on service projects throughout Waco. Corporate sponsorships and volunteer groups are welcome again this year. Contact <jdorrell@missionwaco. org> for more infomation.

Lots of folks know how important it is to volunteer for others. But some don’t think about how important for those who are typically served to become servers. Mis-sion Waco’s children, youth and creative arts groups build volunteering into their programs. Recently, the Urban Expres-sions visual arts participants went to local nursing homes to do art projects with their residents. Both groups had meaningful experiences and have planned additional opportunities to serve senior citizens.

Plan Your Spring or Summer Now!

POVERTY SIMULATIONGROUP TRIPS TO WACO

INTERNSHIPS

Christmas Children’s

PlayJubilee Theatre

Dec. 16-18$10 adults, $5 students (4-18),

Free for kids 3 and underOnline at <jubileetheatre-waco.org>

Wow! 25 years.Celebrate with us on February 28 at the

Waco Convention CenterReserve your table now“Faith/Agency Collaborator”- $425 Tables for churches/nonprofit and for the individual person hosting a table. “In-Kind Sponsor” $500. Payee is un-derwriting a table for MW to fill w/partici-pants who have limited funds.“Anniversary Partner” $1000 or more“Anniversary Patron” $5000 or more“Friend” - (individuals) $55

Call or Go Online254.753.4900 or

<www.missionwaco.org> Designate: 25th Year Banquet Table

It may seem like a long way off, but our calendar is already filling up with reservations for spring and summer activities. If you want more information about available dates, costs, and opportunities go to our website. Apply now to be sure you get the dates you want. <www.missionwaco.org>

Besides Mission Waco’s Christmas toy store that provide thousands of gifts for low-income children, there are other spe-cial need folks we serve that may not be included. 1) The homeless of Waco (Church Under the Bridge party on Christmas Day)2) 250 disabled orphans in MxCity where we go each year (funds sent in early De-cember).

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his

courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalms 100:4

Thanksgiving Day With the

HomelessWorship, Food and Bingo

Haiti ReliefClean Water Crisis

Mission Waco Mission World sends workers

and $10,000 to hurricane victimsHolidays are hard on anyone who is alone

or disconnected from family. It is especially hard on the homeless. Mission Waco’s 11th annual Thanksgiving Day with the home-less fills that hole for over 100 men and women on our streets or in shelters. We be-gin with a thanksgiving worship service at 11:00 for both volunteers and the homeless, then go downstairs in the Meyer Center for an incredible meal “with all the fixin’s.” For those that want to play bingo, Van Da-vis and her Baylor team offer some rousing games for all to enjoy. If you want to make a donation toward the meal or bake a few pies or cakes, let us know!

New law library donat-ed to Mission Waco’s

Legal Services Program

Each month in the Meyer Cen-ter, scores of the poor and margin-alized are helped through

the normally expensive and challenging legal system, which few can afford today. The monthly “legal advice clinic,” advoca-cy (immigration, barriers to employment, housing/landlord-tenant), wills and estates, and special workshops are available to those cannot afford legal help. To see if you qual-ify or get more information, call 254-296-9866, ext. 212, or email <legalservices@missionwaco.org> for more information.

Mission Waco wins “favorite non-profit organization” 4th time in a row in Waco Trib’s

Reader’s Choice AwardsWorld Cup Cafe and Fair Trade Market

given “honorable mention”

Literacy GrantCommunity-based donation of books

help Mission Waco tutor low-income children

Jubilee Food Mkt...continued from p.1)

Because of the low profit margin of food, it took a group of ten volunteers who knew the grocery business, to guide the planning and create a non-profit model that seems most likely to be successful. With the gift of a volunteer architect, plans were drawn and submitted to the City of Waco.

HOW DO YOU RAISE $488,000?The old store was in bad shape and renova-tion costs were estimated just under a half million dollars. That did not include the food inventory of the grocery and staff training expenses, almost another $100,000 needed before the store could open. Using a unique “Oasis Stocks” plea, Mission Waco asked donors to invest in the neighborhood with $25/per stock, which even included a cer-tificate. And the comunity and others from all over shined with generosity. From Feb-ruary through mid-October, over $520,000 was donated, causing our staff and board of directors to be humbled at the outpouring.

“MY WIFE TOLD ME TO COME HELP!”But there were more surprises. With few local sub-contractors enlisted, it was only after Ed Mazanec walked through the doors of the “mess” that things began to hap-pen. With years of experience as head of a large construction company, Ed rolled up his sleeves and began making phone calls. Within two days, contractors were in the building offering to help, mostly at reduced costs. And several months later, everyone marveled at the workmanship.

AFFORDABLE AND HEALTHY FOODToday, the shelves are full and the word is spreading that the store is open. Our mot-to, “Eat well.Live well” is encouraging resi-dents, who now have access to good food, to eat better, exercise and seek healthier lifestyles. We hope to see you at the store!

Meet Darrell Wickert!Jubilee Food Mkt manager

Almost daily the big question was raised, “Who is going manage the store?” God’s leadership prevailed again. With 45 years of retail experience in food and staff training and only a few months until retirement, Darrell heard God’s call to set aside his dreams and do what only he could do in this critical start up phase. He and his family know this is the right task for this season of life and we could not be hap-pier! Welcome Darrell as the Jubilee Food Mkt manager.

“First Book on Book” program begins in North Waco

As Janet and Zach Dorrell worked tireless-ly for several days in the middle of the hard-hit Hurricane Matthew devastation, there was little time for sleep or eating. Hundreds of Haitians lined up in each of the three locations where Mission World installed chlorinators, in hopes of getting clean drinking water. With little food and water, 1.4 million Haitians are struggling for survival. Over 1000 died in the Catego-ry 4 hurricane. Relief workers found access very difficult to the hardest hit areas. The Dorrells traveled by fishing boat for four hours to reach the island of La Gonave with food and water purification items. Wacoans Gary and Diane Heavin have flown numerous trips back and forth to get aid workers and supplies into the hardest areas. After an appeal to our generous donors, Mission Waco will send 1500 more point of use water filters, two more chlorinators and $6260 for tin and housing repair mate-rials. If you are interested in helping in the relief effort, send funds to: Mission Waco Mission World, and put “Haiti relief” on your donation.

Donors have given $26,000 more for additional aid to prevent cholera

MISSIONWACO•WORLD

1315 N. 15th StreetWaco, TX 76707

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 74

Advent & Accolades

Join us on December 15, 4:30-6:30, for refreshments and singing Christmas carols in this

season of celebrating the birth of Christ

World Cup Cafe1321 N. 15th Street

just drop in if you can’t stay long

Year-end and holiday donations crucial for budget

As much as 25% of Mission Waco’s budget comes in most years in the last few weeks of the year, as donors remember the poor and gifts to non-profits before the 2016 deadline. We hope you will remember our ministry and the thousands we serve. Mis-sion Waco has been designated the highest 4-star charity rating by Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest evaluator of non-profit organizations, with an overall 98.21 score (out of 100) for financial accountability and transparency. (See <www.charitynavigator.org>. Whether $10 or $10,000, each dona-tion is important. If you would like to be-come a monthly donor, make a memorial gift, or have a question, please contact us. All donations must be postmarked by De-cember 31 to be eligible for tax purposes.

Record Number of Customers in Restaurant

& Fair Trade Market1321 N. 15th St. @ Colcord AveSome Saturday mornings, it’s hard to find an open table as customers fill the quaint cafe that has become known throughout Waco for its breakfast and lunch meals. “Out of towners looking for a great place to eat..Found it here at World Cup Cafe. Fab-ulous food at reasonable prices. Breakfast was delicious. Can’t wait to come back and try lunch.” (Yelp customer). Trip Advisor and other social media platforms have lured folks to the World Cup with great re-views of food and the Fair Trade Mkt in the back for its unique gifts made by folks from around the world. Open daily 7:00-2:00 for food (8:00a on Sat); Sundays, 11:00-2:00. Come taste and see for yourself!

Reserve your Christmas Meal/Party Now...

World Cup Cafe - 254.757-1748