A brief look at what's in this edition:

• From Survival to Stability: M.J.'s Story
• Helping our Heroes: A Special Thank You to Sawyer Robertson!
• 2026 Celebration Banquet
• Cold Weather Wishlist for Voucher Center and Meyer Center
• Urban REAP Opportunities
• Summer Leadership and Service Ambassador Program
• Spring Event Save the Dates

From Survival to Stability: M.J.'s Story

Like most people, homelessness was something M.J. never thought he would experience. In his earlier twenties, he navigated mental health struggles as well as drug abuse. At the age of 28, a difficult breakup led to more drug use and unstable housing. M.J. found himself couch-hopping and sleeping in his car for two years causing strained relationships.



On his 30^th birthday, M.J. checked in at My Brother’s Keeper, Mission Waco’s crisis emergency shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness. His birthday is close to Christmas so he spent that day and the holidays away from friends and family. While at the shelter, he was struck with the thought that “This is not where I should be at 30 years old.”

My Brother’s Keeper provided stability through meals and a routine schedule to adhere to. With basic needs like food and shelter met, M.J. was able to focus on getting the services he needed to get back on his feet.

Staff at Mission Waco’s Meyer Center like Ms. Rochelle, were kind and supportive of him. Ms. Rochelle was his biggest advocate who encouraged him to succeed and supported the goals he set for himself to keep moving forward. He began working at Slow Rise on the Brazos and moved into an apartment in August of 2024. Not long after beginning his job at Slow Rise he was promoted to General Manager.

Today, M.J. is grateful for the stability, routine, and care he received at Mission Waco. He still adheres to the routine today as he has recognized how it helps in his daily life. The relationships he developed through the Meyer Center were essential to his success. He is repairing relationships that were strained earlier in his life and working hard to remain healthy.

Your gift to Mission Waco ensures programs like the Meyer Center Social Services and My Brother’s Keeper can continue to equip neighbors facing homelessness-like M.J.- and empower them with the stability, care and support they need to rebuild their lives. You can give here to support this work.

Helping Our Heroes:

A Special Thank You to Sawyer Robertson!

We cannot reach our goals without individuals stepping up to lead, and this season, we are sending a big "Thank You" to Sawyer Robertson.

Sawyer has partnered with Mission Waco to ensure that veterans experiencing homelessness have a place to call home at Creekside Community Village. His dedication is driving resources to the Creekside Heroes Fund, with 25% of his apparel sales going toward housing our veterans.



Help Us Close Phase 1 With Sawyer’s help, we are getting closer to our Phase 1 funding goal. Please consider joining Sawyer in this mission today. Whether you pick up some gear here or make a direct contribution here, you are building a foundation for our veterans.

2026 Celebration Banquet

Every year we like to take a moment to reflect and give thanks for the work that God has done and is doing among us in Waco. We come together to highlight the volunteer work many of you participate in, hear an inspiring word from a gifted speaker, and enjoy seeing familiar faces while fellowshipping together. Will you join us this year? Our guest speaker is Dr. Wayne "Coach" Gordon, President Emeritus of Christian Community Development Association.

• Date: Tuesday, March 3
• Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Location: Waco Convention Center, Waco, Texas
• Valet Parking Available - Must purchase with Ticket

Meyer Center and Voucher Center Wishlist

It's getting cold outside! Mission Waco's Voucher Center provides new and gently used clothing for our friends who are working their way out of homelessness and poverty. Individuals are able to get a small wardrobe for interviews, work, and everyday life.

We receive donations regularly to keep the Voucher Center stocked. If you have clothes with some life left in them that you are ready to pass on, please consider donating to our Voucher Center located behind The Clothesline at 1817 Franklin Ave.

We can also use some new items. Consider purchasing items off of our wishlist. The purchases can be shipped to our main office and we will ensure that they make it to the Voucher Center.

Urban REAP Opportunities

Composting Certification

The Community Composter Certification Course is an advanced compost education and outreach program, and will train residents of McLennan County in composting to create a network of compost educators and advocates in our community. Led by Emily Hills, Director of Urban REAP, this "training of trainers" course covers the following:

• soil and decomposition
• composting science
• composting systems and tools
• composting within the community
• education and outreach

Register and learn more here.

Fruit Tree Care Workshop

Did you know some fruit trees need a certain number of chill hours to produce fruit? Did you know that pruning your trees means you will get more fruit?

Come to our Fruit Tree Workshop this month to hear from horticulturalist Sarah Mayo to learn the basics of fruit tree pruning, get hands-on experience pruning Urban REAP’s peach trees.



Click here to register.

Summer Leadership and Service Ambassador Program

Each summer, Mission Waco hosts our summer intern program, the Summer Leadership and Summer Ambassador Program. We aim to develop interns in their capacity to build relationships within a diverse community and to increase compassion toward the poor and marginalized.

• Ambassadors can serve in one of six program areas.
• Ambassadors will receive a $2000 stipend total for the summer.
• Ambassadors will engage in 25 paid hours per week, along with an additional 10 hours of enrichment opportunities. 

The application window is open now until February 1, 2026. Visit our webpage here for more information.

Save the Dates for Our Major Spring Events

Be sure to mark your calendars and join us for these major events this spring. Registration information for each one will be available on our Events Page as well as in our monthly E-News as each one becomes available. We can't wait to see you!

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