|
I recently was interviewed by Allen’s outgoing Mayor, The Honorable Baine Brooks, and it was video recorded for Allen ACTV and also airs on YouTube. Baine has been a long-time supporter of ACO, even prior to his years in public service, and he and I have been friends for almost two decades. I was honored to be asked to be his final interview for “Dish With The Mayor.”
When I watched it back, I realized how many times I mentioned people “living on the edge.”
Repeatedly, I said, families that are coming to ACO for help are “on the edge.” What did I mean by that? I told Baine that the families we see are our own neighbors, living in my neighborhood and his, and our children attend schools together. Struggling families are living paychecks to paychecks, with no savings or financial safety net, and are one catastrophe away, one major illness away, and one job loss away from being homeless, having their kids go hungry, and facing true poverty. They are on the edge and far from financial stability and security.
I know that I can relate, as I have personally felt as though I was living on the edge as well at times throughout my life. You may have or know someone close to you who has struggled financially to make ends meet. They sometimes manage month to month, but not without a struggle, maybe skipping meals themselves so that their children can eat, or continually pay utility bills or their rent late.
Baine asked, “Why are many of the cars that are at the food pantry nice cars like he drives or in suits like he wears? Again, I used the “on the edge” example, as many weren’t in financial stress when they leased that car or bought nice clothes, but now they are locked into a lease agreement or high interest credit card debt and it’s just sent them over the edge. Maybe they lost their job between then and now. That leaves them having to choose between buying gas or groceries, and which bills to pay and what they cannot.
He also asked, “Why is an organization like ACO important to our community?” My answer was, “Imagine what our communities would look like if there were not an ACO.” Click here if you'd like to hear more.
I say to you continually how important ACO truly is. Together, with our community partners, we are preventing families from facing a major crisis, preventing hunger and homelessness. But it’s a constant challenge.
Each June, ACO spreads a special message throughout the county, asking our neighbors to join hands and be the reason that a family thrives in adversity instead of struggling to survive.
With your financial gifts, you can be the reason that a desperate parent gets financial help with their rent and utilities to stay in their home. You can be the reason that ACO’s Food Pantry stays stocked with groceries for children facing hunger. You can be the reason that ACO is able to provide programs and services to teach classes such as financial literacy, life skills, and employment training. You can be the reason that a family sleeps safe, warm and fed in their home tonight AND why there is an ACO in our community.
This summer again brings ACO’s annual campaign, GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE, for the awareness of the need so many of our neighbors are facing and the help available with community support.
With a few easy clicks on our website your gift will have lasting impacts on Collin County families struggling to stay in their homes and feed their children. Please GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE and donate TODAY.
One more thing... I’d like to extend my sincerest appreciation to Mayor Brooks and his long-time personal support of ACO’s mission, and to the City of Allen Council, staff and leadership.
Congratulations to the incoming Mayor of Allen, The Honorable Chris Schulmeister. Chris is a past ACO Board President and has been a supporter of and leader in ACO’s growth for many years.
We look forward to a strong, continued partnership with the City of Allen, as well as our partnerships and support from the City of McKinney, the City of Plano and those across Collin County.
To view the interview with Mayor Brooks, visit this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6PChrFW07Y
| 
