Community organizers create task force for needs
Daily assessments made to help provide relief
By Guy Chapman Daily Sun
Mar 22, 2020
With the community in need, and local organizations wanting to provide assistance during the COVID-19 emergency, Pam Neal, Executive Director of Compassion Corsicana, has put together a “Community Needs Task Force,” The new group allows organizers to join forces and provide relief as state and national guidelines change daily.
The Virtual meetings are held Monday through Friday to discuss the ever-changing environment and community needs. People and organizations who wish to get involved can contact TaskForce@CompassionCorsicana.org.
“I anticipate the needs in our town to increase exponentially in the weeks and months ahead as jobs close,” Neal said. “I want to use our town’s synergy to explore and learn how to best assist the residents and get the word out about all available services.”
The Thursday, March 19 meeting provided the following updates:
• To-go lunches for kids were distributed at a few locations 10 a.m. to noon weekdays. The locations include most Corsicana ISD campuses: Corsicana High School, Collins Intermediate, Sam Houston, Bowie, Fannin, Navarro, Carroll, and Travis Elementary locations. Buses will also be available at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Northside Baptist Church, Greater Love Church, MLK Center, Believers Bible Church, Catholic Church, and the YMCA.
• To-go lunch Monday’s 12 p.m. at First Baptist Church.
• Compassion Corsicana Food Pantry and Emergency assistance 10 a.m. through 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, and open until 7 p.m. Tuesdays. The pantry is now drive through, partnering with Grace Community Church to deliver food to homebound and senior citizens 65 years and older. Those interested can e-mail FoodPantry@CompasionCorsicana.org to request monthly delivery.
• Salvation Army offers food and emergency assistance. For more information, visit their website: https://www.salvationarmytexas.org/corsicana/
• The Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services program, Growing Together, is accepting new clients for its program to help with parenting. For more information, visit their website: https://www.pchas.org
• Compassion Corsicana Resale Store is closed as all employees were 65 years and older.
• Northside Care Center is closed for next two weeks as all staff volunteers are seniors.
Neal is also working on creating a website that will be available soon to provide additional resource information.
Kinsloe House hosts Compassion Corsicana
Pam Dudley speaks to attendees about the future of Compassion Corsicana at the Kinsloe House luncheon. Daily Sun photo/Guy Chapman
Pam Dudley speaks to attendees about the future of Compassion Corsicana at the Kinsloe House luncheon. Daily Sun photo/Guy Chapman
By Guy Chapman Daily Sun
Feb 14, 2020
Guest Speaker Pam Dudley, Executive Director of Compassion Corsicana, shared her expertise and the agency's future plans through an informative program the Kinsloe House presented at its luncheon Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Dudley became Executive Director in April of 2019. After being awarded a two-month writing residency at 100W, she decided to make her move from Maryland to Corsicana permanent.
During the presentation, Dudley explained how Compassion Corsicana serves the community as a house of refuge, working to address and eliminate the the issue of poverty in Corsicana and Navarro County.
An estimated 20% of people in Corsicana live in poverty, but with the challenges the working poor struggle with to make ends meet, the number is estimated to be closer to 50%.
“People have very complex issues,” Dudley said. “It's not simple to address poverty.”
The organization, made up of staff, volunteers and donors, provides social services such as a house of refuge, a resale store, a food pantry, and family services. The intent of the services are to help individuals and families in the community achieve self-sufficiency.
“We'll be able to help people with dignity, which is so important,” Dudley said.
Dudley also mentioned during the presentation that the former Navarro Central Appraisal District building, located at 111 E. First Ave, has been donated to Compassion Corsicana. The building will be ready to move into next week to assist a larger number of people in need.
“There's a clear vision and direction of what we're doing in the town,” Dudley said. “Great things are in store for Compassion Corsicana with your help.”