This week is Act to Impact Sunday at Watermark! We’re reminding everyone of the great partners we have – each with fantastic ways to serve.
We’re excited to be “on mission” with you, and the External Focus team would love to help you get connected if you’re looking for ways to serve. Many of our members already serve by connecting with Ministry Partners – trusted organizations doing a great job of impacting others in Greater Dallas. Many partners are accessible to both Dallas and Plano members – and Fort Worth members have a great opportunity through Read 2 Win.
How do new Ministry Partners get established near you? That happens as you, our members, begin investing your time and talents in ministries not already on this list! But for now, here are our Greater Dallas partners:
ACT
Advocates for Community Transformation brings justice to the residents of West Dallas by fighting crime and blight. By engaging residents and building community in this multi-racial neighborhood, ACT is seeing powerful results, and both legal professionals and others can take part! Contact:actdallas@watermark.org
Brother Bill’s Helping Hand
Brother Bill’s serves over 1300 households in West Dallas through its large food pantry, training classes (including job skills, ESL, and healthy living), Bible studies, and a clinic. Many weekday chances to volunteer and some weekend opportunities as well. Contact:cgammill723@aol.com
C. F. Carr Elementary
Carr is our public school partner in West Dallas, a community with great financial and educational challenges where most students do not finish high school. We have the chance to serve Carr’s administration, teachers, and students by tutoring, mentoring, providing staff lunches, preparing classrooms, and more. Contact: traceywbeckwith@gmail.com
Cornerstone Crossroads Academy
CCA is empowering at-risk kids to step beyond their past, graduate high school, and impact their communities for Christ. This small, inner-city Christian school offers a variety of great ways to serve the students and faculty – one time or all year long. Contact:kristilichtenberg@yahoo.com
Exodus Ministries
Exodus Ministries houses formerly incarcerated moms who have been reunited with their children, and helps them achieve a productive and fulfilling life through Christ. Volunteers can participate in mentoring, preparing apartments for residents, childcare, training classes, and more. Contact:exodus@watermark.org
Interfaith Housing Coalition
Provides transitional housing for homeless families and gives them training for vocational, spiritual, and family development. Volunteers can set up apartments for new families, mentor on budgeting or job issues, tutor, connect with kids, and more. Contact: watermarkIHC@gmail.com
Mercy Street
Mercy Street is developing the West Dallas community by impacting hundreds of its kids! You can join many other Watermark volunteers by directly mentoring a young kid – or make an impact by coaching, forming a “fan club” for sports teams with your community group, or helping with a Bible study. Contact:westdallas@watermark.org
Noteworthy
Encourages incarcerated men and women by pairing them with “pen pals.” Volunteers will be trained and have the chance to impact and disciple via letters and cards throughout the year. Contact: noteworthy@watermark.org
OurCalling
OurCalling builds relationships with homeless friends in order to provide real care and see lives change. Volunteers can help distribute resources to those who visit the center, mentor and disciple, help with recovery, or even help locate people on the streets of Dallas to pray with them and discern needs! Contact: ourcalling@watermark.org
QuestCare Clinic
Our clinic serves under-resourced community members and the city itself by offering urgent care near Skillman & LBJ. Alongside professional medical care, we get to build relationships and see lives change. Medical and non-medical volunteers can serve on weekdays in a variety of roles such as nursing, front desk, pastoral care, and translation. Contact:clinic@watermark.org
Readers 2 Leaders
R2L connects with elementary school students and their parents while building literacy in West Dallas. Volunteers can help with kids’ reading intervention and homework, train parents to improve their children’s literacy, or serve as a “Reading Buddy” in a West Dallas school. Contact:sschweinfurth@watermark.org
Reclaimed
Reclaimed is fighting both the roots and the symptoms of trafficking. Participants will learn about the underlying issues of this international – and local – problem. Then they’ll have the chance to connect with a local organization to bring justice and healing to those affected by this devastating industry. Contact:reclaimed@watermark.org
Restart 133
Restart 133 ministers to local inmates by providing biblical and life-skills training inside the jail. Volunteers share truth through a weekly foundational faith class (similar to Equipped Disciple) and regular health classes. The team also meets monthly for training and support. Contact:kathycates@hotmail.com
2ndSaturday
From their huge monthly home restoration efforts to social businesses that employ local residents, 2ndSaturday is reaching lives, restoring hope, and redeeming community in West and South Dallas. Volunteers can start with the big event (each second Saturday of the month) and then plug in further. Contact:serve@2ndSaturday.org
South Dallas Team
Our South Dallas Team connects volunteers with the Cornerstone Heights neighborhood just south of Downtown Dallas. In partnership with an inner-city church, volunteers feed and clothe neighbors, provide a women’s Bible study, connect with kids after school, or work on events during the year—and fall in love with the neighborhood and its great people in the process. Contact:servesouthdallas@gmail.com
Thrive Women’s Clinic
Thrive Women’s Clinic reaches out to women and men facing unplanned pregnancies to serve parents and help them choose life for their unborn children. Located in a few strategic Dallas locations, Thrive clinics provide medical information, mentor women and men, help prepare for parenthood, and help clients with material needs. Contact:pregnancyresource@watermark.org · when clicking on site, use supporters’ password: Isaiah44:4
Union Gospel Mission
Calls the homeless and under-resourced to Christ while providing ongoing shelter and opportunities to grow. Volunteers can take part by serving dinner and connecting with residents. Contact:UGM@watermark.org
Vickery Kids Club
Each week during the school year at Vickery Kids Club, a small, committed team of Watermark volunteers shares the love of God with inner-city and refugee kids in the Vickery Meadow neighborhood near Lake Highlands. Lead a group or simply sit in for a Bible study and crafts with the kids. Contact:cdixon@watermark.org
Watermark Justice
Offers opportunities to learn about and promote justice to legal professionals and others who are passionate about justice. Get on the mailing list to hear about regular Justice Lunches, justice initiatives locally and abroad, and ways to connect with ACT in West Dallas, ALARM in Africa, and International Justice Mission worldwide. Contact:watermarkjustice@watermark.org