CARITAS OF WACO

Caritas of Waco has provided emergency services to local people in need in for over 53 years. Our clients live 185% below the federal poverty line and struggle to meet basic needs. The majority live in Waco-McLennan County, but there are no geographical barriers to receiving our services. Caritas of Waco provides emergency services in the form of nutritious food, prescription assistance, utility assistance, rent/mortgage assistance, clothing, household items, and transportation. On average, over 7,500 individuals receive emergency services at Caritas, every month. Our primary emergency service is food distribution, with over 8.4 pounds of food processed through our warehouse every year. In addition to feeding families and individuals, Caritas of Waco serves as a food bank for local pantry partners in the McLennan County community.

At Caritas of Waco, we also run a case management program to help clients move from a state of dependency on assistance to a level of greater self-reliance and independence. Case managers help clients with financial education, job training and stability, and assistance with affordable housing and childcare. Our case management program launched in 2013 from a generous grant given by the Rapoport Foundation. In 2016, we were awarded a grant by the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans Assistance to expanded the case management program to veterans. In addition to McLennan County, veteran case managers also work directly with veterans in the rural counties of Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, and Limestone. In 2019, 712 clients enrolled in case management services