Thankful for Hope, who shared her story with us.
As a longtime Waco resident and social worker, I’ve known about EOAC since I first moved here in 2009. Over the years, I’ve referred countless clients to them for assistance and have always heard how compassionate, responsive, and effective their team is. Until recently, I had never been on the receiving end of that help myself.
After more than a year of inconsistent contract work and self-employment, I reached a point where the weight of financial strain became too heavy to carry alone. I’ve sold what I could, launched fundraisers to save my home, and taken on whatever work was available—but sometimes, systems and circumstances still work against you, no matter how hard you try.
As someone who has spent my entire career helping others, I’ve noticed how society often assumes that if you’re struggling, you can’t also be a source of wisdom or guidance to others. I wanted to model that the opposite is true—that needing help doesn’t make you any less capable, wise, or impactful. You can be both the helper and the one who needs helping hands sometimes, and it doesn’t diminish your worth or your work.
When I reached out to EOAC, they responded with incredible care and efficiency. Within just a few days, they paid my electricity bill and lifted one major burden off my shoulders during an already stressful season. Their support didn’t fix everything, but it did make one crucial part of my life a little lighter.
For me, that’s what community care looks like—neighbors helping neighbors, dignity intact, no hierarchy of who “deserves” help. I’m deeply grateful to EOAC for showing up when I needed it and for the work they do every day to ensure that compassion isn’t just an idea, but a practice.
· If you or someone you know needs support, visit www.eoacwaco.org
· If you’d like to help others like me, you can donate at www.eoacwaco.org/donate