Some come to the Wilkinson Center because they need food for their families. Others come because they need shoes for school. Many have nowhere else to turn.
One Native American woman came for “cross-training” after injuring her back hauling freight in a warehouse. Sande Wilkinson, a full-time volunteer for the Wilkinson Center, helped her find a new job.
“We provided clothing, makeup, and hair styling – the whole nine yards,” Wilkinson says. “We sent her to an interview for a secretarial position at a hospital, and she came back ecstatic. She made it!”
Helping people “make it” is what the Wilkinson Center has been doing for the past 10 years. Born out of a pastor’s closet in 1982, the Center has been mushroomed to serve 32,000 people in 1991.
The Wilkinson Center is an affiliate of the East Dallas Cooperative Parish, serving the needy and the homeless of Dallas. Two thirds of the clients are Hispanics from the East Dallas neighborhood where the Center is located.
The non-profit agency provides emergency food, clothing and financial assistance. A Job Bank program matches skill of individuals with available jobs. Clients are interviewed, their skill are assessed, and then they are sent to appropriate employers for interviews.
Wilkinson wears numerous hats at the Center, volunteering six hours daily. She interviews clients for the Job Bank program, writes grant applications and produces the agency’s newsletter. She also serves as chairman of the Center’s board.
Wilkinson began volunteering for the Center five years ago, when she and her husband returned to Dallas. The Center is named for her mother-in-law, Ruby Wilkinson, whose estate helped fund the agency.
“Once I got in there, I was hooked,” Wilkinson says. “These people have low self-esteem and need an encouraging word. It feels good to help them get started.”
The Center employs one paid staffer, relying on volunteers to maintain operations. Volunteers work in the food pantry and the clothing room, sorting and distributing supplies. Volunteers also help interview clients and assess needs.
Ongoing needs include tennis shoes, blue jeans, blankets and coats. Donations may be taken to the Center, located at Munger at Live Oak.
Volunteer Opportunities
READING, WRITING, AND ARITHMETIC: Volunteers are needed to tutor children at the Juliette Fowler Homes. These emotionally disturbed youths have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. If you can offer one hour weekly, you can make a difference in the lives of these children. Call the Volunteer Center (a United Way Agency) at 826-6767 for more information.
