Photography by Rod Prado, Hello WoodlandsPeople
Nonprofit of the Month: Community Assistance Center
Randy Lovelace of Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies introduces the Hello Woodlands Nonprofit of the Month, Community Assistance Center (CAC), and talks with Jennifer Landers, Executive Director of CAC, at their location at 1022 McCall Avenue, Conroe, TX 77301.
Community Assistance Center’s mission is to provide resources to meet basic needs and improve quality of life for our neighbors in Montgomery County with a vision to strengthen Montgomery County one neighbor at a time.
Watch our video interview below!
About CAC
Founded in 1981, Community Assistance Center is a private, nonprofit agency operating in and for Montgomery County residents. CAC provides emergency financial and tangible assistance to families and individuals whose health, well-being and stability are threatened by an unexpected crisis. Community Assistance Center (CAC) provides assistance through immediate basic needs and long term case management services to our neighbors throughout all of Montgomery County who are experiencing challenging times. Strengthened through collaboration with community partners, Community Assistance Center honors and restores the dignity of individuals and families to attain greater levels of responsibility and financial independence by delivering assistance and life lasting strategic solutions.
Each year Community Assistance Center (CAC) serves thousands of residents in need. CAC recognizes these are our neighbors who are facing temporary financial crisis, and they make every effort to provide solid, practical solutions through financial assistance with- rent/mortgage, utilities, prescriptions, transportation vouchers, food, clothing, education, and disaster recovery.
As a valued agency in providing basic needs and crisis intervention in Montgomery County, they have developed a strong collaboration of community partners and other local non-profit organizations to coordinate the access and delivery of resources to their clients.
What separates CAC from other basic needs organizations is their case management services providing an individualized holistic approach providing clients with services, support and resources as they work to obtain financial independence.
One of the most significant assistance programs provided by Community Assistance Center is the Hand Up Program. Clients motivated to make positive changes and willing to engage in a coordinated, comprehensive plan can achieve their fullest potential. The purpose of the Hand Up Initiative is to identify, encourage, and empower clients to gain significantly greater levels of financial independence and self-sufficiency. The Hand Up Initiative provides client-centered, comprehensive case management, enhanced intake assessments, individualized service plans and expanded service delivery through an outcomes-driven collaboration of community service providers. Additionally, CAC offers Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) under their self-sufficiency programs, this program is for those that are chronically homeless and disabled.
The CAC Client Choice Food Pantry empowers clients to choose the food items they prefer in a space where a variety of healthy options are available and promoted. Their client choice food pantry resembles a small grocery market, with products displayed on shelves and in refrigerators/freezers. Baby care and personal hygiene items as well as cleaning products are also distributed when available. Volunteers and staff accompany each client during their visit, assisting them as they “shop” and fill their grocery carts. Food pantry assistance is provided at no fee to CAC clients.
The client choice food pantry model is a critical part of CAC’s efforts to end food insecurity- not only does this model allow clients the opportunity to choose their own food to fit their personal preferences and special dietary needs, it gives clients being served a sense of dignity and control, limits waste and allows them to tailor the help they receive to be the best possible help for their own situations.
CAC’s Unique Resale Shop provides assistance to the neighbors they serve with clothing, shoes, housewares, furniture and more. The shop is also open to the public Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., runs completely on donations and revenue goes in to funding CAC programs. Furniture pickups are available by scheduled appointments for residents in Montgomery County.
CAC Legacy Luncheon
On Friday, May 10 the 2019 Community Assistance Center (CAC) Legacy Luncheon will be held at the Palmer Legacy Ballroom at The Woodlands Country Club in The Woodlands. Leon Logothetis, bestselling author and host of the Netflix series The Kindness Diaries, will share his journey traveling the world looking for the kindness in others at the luncheon. Learn more here.
Learn more about CAC
Ultimately for everything they do at CAC, assisting our neighbors in need is their core purpose. Please contact Kathy Rifaat for additional information at kathy@cac-mctx.org or 936-494-4412. Contributions should be made out to Community Assistance Center, Attn: Development, 1022 McCall Avenue, Conroe, TX 77301.
Visit Community Assistance Center’s website to learn more, how to get involved, and make a donation at https://cac-mctx.org
About Randy Lovelace
To learn more about Randy Lovelace, his “Referral for a Cause” program to help local nonprofit organizations, and of Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies, please call (281) 298-0440, email rlovelace@paragoninsagencies or visit www.paragoninsagencies.com/woodlands.
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