Assistance Center of Collin County celebrates 35 years

It's hard to believe that the Assistance Center of Collin County has been providing critical services to families for 35 years.

What may be even more surprising, however, is that about a year ago, the assistance hub was dangerously close to ending that history.

"We were 45 days away from shutting our doors," said Tanya Sastoque, executive director of the Assistance Center of Collin County. "We should have folded."

Despite losing its grant funding from United Way last year -approximately 48 percent of its yearly budget - the center managed to provide help and support to more than 17,000 people in Collin County.

Thanks to a list of corporate sponsors who stepped up to make up the difference, the Assistance Center managed to bounce back to life with an even stronger resolve to reach others, Sastoque said. Cutting overhead from five to one-and-a-half staff members and a handful of volunteers, the center was also able to better allocate operating costs, while at the same time teaming up with local churches to help administer services and referrals.

"There's need here in Plano - people need to know," Sastoque said. "We want to work with other agencies. We're here, we answer the phone."

Founded by state Sen. Florence Shapiro and based in Plano, the Assistance Center prides itself in helping families overcome unexpected setbacks and emergencies, while helping create a sense of stability in their lives. The center focuses on everything from homelessness, hunger and schools to general emergency assistance, medical bills and prescriptions.

"There are times when this lobby is packed with people," Sastoque said. "We send people to other agencies and we help these families as a whole."

Some of the seasonal programs the center organizes are its annual school supplies drive, the holiday program with Plano Santas and a Thanksgiving meal drive.

For an organization that receives on average 31,000 calls a year and, in the past six months has added 100 new clients with no prior history of receiving assistance, the center wants the community to know the demand for emergency relief is directly related to an unstable economy, Sastoque said.

"That tells us the need is getting greater; we don't want them to fall through the cracks," she said. "There are a lot of children we need to reach, and that is what we're going to start looking at in the coming years. You have to give them some type of hope."

Another concept currently being implemented at the center and some of its sister nonprofits includes what board member Fran Gallagher called a "Facebook for charities" - an online platform allowing groups to communicate with one another. The center is already sharing its data with Seven Loaves Food Pantry in Plano, and the record sharing has proven beneficial for both the nonprofits and as their clients as well.

"The Assistance Center has always been a clearinghouse for referrals," Gallagher said. "This is going to go electronic, allowing all local nonprofits to collaborate to make sure the needs of everyone are met and make each donation as effective as possible."

One of the most popular misconceptions about organizations such as the Assistance Center is that their clients consist of the stereotypical homeless person; however, that couldn't be further from the truth, Sastoque said. Just as the unpredictable economy has had rippling effects across numerous sectors, it has also created a multitude of dire scenarios reaching families and individuals of virtually all classes, from single moms to retirees and military personnel.

"People need to come to know who we are and what we do," Sastoque said. "We exist for a reason and we have to show it."

This year, the center is preparing to distribute gifts and a month's worth of food to 525 worthy families through the Plano Santas program, marking a partnership 18 years in the making. Although their holiday project is just about wrapped up, Sastoque and Gallagher said it isn't too late to make a difference in a family's life, and encouraged anyone to call the center to learn about volunteer opportunities or how to adopt a family for the holidays.

"We're always looking for solutions to streamline with the software but I think volunteers are needed [as well]," Gallagher said. "It's always changing and evolving because the demand is there and we have to keep up with the needs. It is daunting."

For information about the Assistance Center of Collin County, visit assistancecenter.org or call 972-422-1125.

Current Rating: 4 of 1 votes!

Rate File: Select Rating: * ** *** ****

 Plano Apartments
 Plano Attorneys
 Plano Auto Dealers
 Plano Auto Parts
 Plano Auto Repair
 Plano Beauty Salons
 Plano Car Rental
 Plano Dentists
 Plano Doctors
 Plano Flowers
 Plano Hotels
 Plano Insurance
 Plano Loans
 Plano Mortgages
 Plano Movers
 Plano Pizza
 Plano Realtors
 Plano Restaurants
 Plano Storage
 Plano Tax Preparation
 Plano Travel
 Featured
 More...