A Season of Giving Back Winter 2017

Hurricane Harney Walking Through Water

Happy Holidays from all of us at Dickerson Civic Center!

It is true that there is joy in giving back to others. We are happy to report another success!

With the support of a private donor, we were able to purchase and distribute twenty additional $50 Walmart gift cards to Hurricane Harvey evacuees who are having to resettle in Dallas after their former lives were upended by the devastating flood in Houston. A donation of clothing and toiletries was also given.

Working with our phenomenal partners at Catholic Charities of Dallas and with the support of their CEO, and John Machado, Director of Disaster Relief Services, twenty families were identified and received this much needed assistance.

We are able to help others because of you! Thank you!

May the blessing of Christmas be yours! Merry Christmas! And Happy New Year! May the new year be full of joy and gratitude!

We look forward to a successful year of service to our fellow citizens.

Fall Updates – October 2017

The Latest Fall News:

Thank You Donors for Your Support on North Texas Giving Day

North Texas Giving Day is an annual event sponsored by Communities Foundation of Texas. Supporters from all over North Texas were encouraged to take this day to donate to their favorite charities, and these donations can help raise funds to meet various community needs.

Thanks to all who donated! Your generous donations will be used to expand service-learning projects across southern Dallas County.

NTX Giving Day Dickerson Civic Center

Back to School!

School is well underway and Dickerson Civic Center is excited about all the projects we are planning, including a follow-up emergency gift-card giveaway to Hurricane Harvey evacuees.
Follow us here on the website, our newsletter, and on Facebook, to learn about all the upcoming news and events in the communities we serve, such as our volunteer day at the Paul Quinn College urban farm.

Helping Hurricane Harvey Evacuees! Campaign Success!

A huge THANKS to all who contributed to our Helping Hurricane Harvey Evacuees campaign! We raised $1500 and were able to donate thirty $50 dollar VISA gift cards to families in need!

Read More HERE

Urban Gardening

Dickerson Civic Center at Paul Quinn College We Over Me Urban Farm

Dickerson Civic Center at Paul Quinn College We Over Me Urban Farm

The perfect Autumn weather in Dallas was the ideal background for our Dickerson Civic Center outing to Paul Quinn College and their amazing “We over Me” organic, urban farm in the heart of southern Dallas!

Dickerson Civic Center founder Linda Lamar was able to volunteer alongside service-learning students from The Hockaday School, Southern Methodist University and others who showed up to participate on Second Saturday Volunteer Day (held every month).

October is planting and pruning time at the garden, pulling up the early season vegetation that has already produced and training the current crops like okra.

After meeting The Hockaday School service-learning coordinator, Laura Day, and their ten or more girls, Lamar was also able to meet with Paul Quinn volunteer-coordinator and Lead Farmer, Darcia Houston, about innovative ways Dickerson Civic Center and Paul Quinn College might collaborate.

Helping Our Community – Hurricane Harvey Support SUCCESS

Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

What happens after individuals have sheltered from the hurricane in another city and are now ready to return home to assess damages for the first time since evacuation? Early shelter, food, clothing and other necessities may have been met by various agencies and evacuees no doubt expected this would eventually come to an end. Being out of work for a couple of weeks means a dwindling bank account and when the bank account is checked, there is not enough money in the account to purchase a tank of gas to return home. Gas prices temporarily skyrocketed since Hurricane Harvey, so where does one turn for money for even a tank of gas? That’s where Dickerson Center for Civic Responsibility comes in. Donors were asked to support the purchase of VISA cards for as many individuals as possible to meet whatever necessities evacuees may have whether gasoline, food, diapers or other immediate needs.

“We recognize that it’s going to take a lot more than $50 to impact evacuees’ recovery,” said Linda Lamar, Dickerson Center CEO, “but $50 is a start.”

Dickerson Center reached out to the principal and counselor of an elementary school (Ruby Young, DeSoto) and requested students write notes to Hurricane Harvey evacuees sheltering in Dallas. A note from a student was enclosed with the gift card with hopes of encouraging the recipients’ hearts. Thirty (30) gift cards were donated to evacuees at the Kay Bailey Hutchison shelter in Dallas.

The focus of Dickerson Center’s mission is to inspire a service spirit in young people. We believe these students benefit from their act of service. We can all make a difference.

Congratulations Jala! Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to Jala Hall, Dickerson Center for Civic Responsibility scholarship recipient of our 2016 award, created in memory of Reverend Horace and Amy Dickerson.

The scholarship was established to recognize a college bound student who exhibits a “Spirit of Service to Community”.

Ms. Hall is currently enrolled at McNeese State University, majoring in criminal justice.

Jala Hall Scholarship Recipient