United Way of Waco highlights community initiatives and local resources during court presentation

The McLennan County Commissioners' Court convened on April 15, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including a presentation from the United Way of Waco and McLennan County, and to discuss various community initiatives.

The meeting began with a brief introduction from a representative of Dave Dawson Engineers, who expressed interest in opening a new office in Waco, highlighting the company's statewide presence and full-service capabilities in engineering and development.

Following this, the court moved to the consent agenda, where several items were approved after a motion and second, despite a few items being pulled for further discussion.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the presentation by Wendy Ellis, CEO of United Way of Waco and McLennan County. She introduced her team and outlined the organization's mission to support local families, particularly focusing on children and those living in poverty. Ellis emphasized the importance of their McLennan County Child Well-being initiative, which aims to address the needs of families struggling to meet basic requirements.

Ellis provided statistics indicating that 17% of families in McLennan County live below the poverty line, with an additional 26% classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). She noted that many of these families are working but still face challenges in achieving financial stability. The United Way supports over 40 local service agencies across four focus areas: financial stability, health, safety net services, and education.

The presentation highlighted the impact of food insecurity on children in the county, with nearly one-quarter of children aged 0 to 18 affected. Ellis discussed the organization's efforts to mobilize resources and improve access to services, including a new communications campaign aimed at raising awareness of available resources.

Ellis also addressed the issue of service duplication among local organizations, suggesting that while some overlap exists, many agencies serve different segments of the population. She proposed exploring cooperative grant applications to enhance collaboration among organizations.

The meeting concluded with discussions on the Heart of Texas Huddle, an initiative designed to foster networking among local agencies to improve resource sharing and collaboration. The court expressed appreciation for the United Way's efforts and the positive impact on the community.

Overall, the meeting underscored the ongoing commitment of McLennan County officials and local organizations to address the needs of vulnerable populations and enhance community well-being through collaborative efforts.