This is part of a continuing series on helpful resources available to county residents. Below are some of the other resources available.

The Greater East Texas Community Action

Program

GETCAP services Wood County in several ways. They offer an energy assistance program, wherein the organizations presents qualifying individuals with a “one-time” payment to help with utility, energy and water bills. According to their website, the elderly, disabled, working and low-income families, and those with children under 6 years old are targeted for service.

GETCAP also offers Wood County residents a weatherization service, where a team will caulk, re-insulate attics or weatherstrip to help keep homes “more comfortable” and to help conserve energy.

They also have a program to help assist residents in emergency circumstances.

Although they are headquartered in Nacogdoches, GETCAP has an office in Quitman, where they can be reached by calling 903-763-4511. 

Workforce Solutions East Texas

This organization provides many resources for low-income residents in the East Texas area. Among these services is a childcare assistance program. ETWS helps qualifying households to pay for childcare “so (caregivers) can work and attend school or training.” Visit their website for eligibility requirements and an application:

easttexasworkforce.org.

Broad Street Church of Christ Ramp Ministry

Broad Street Church of Christ, located in Mineola, has a ministry to “(build) wheelchair ramps for those in need around our community.” The ministry is funded by a “group of men who devote their time” to the projects and all that is involved. They are a branch of the Texas Ramps Project and service those in Wood and Rains Counties.

“We would love for you to join our group and bring freedom to those trapped by their disabilities,” says their website.

For more information or to see if you qualify, call team leader Mike Noell at 559-783-3319.

Housing Authority

There are several Housing Authority offices located within Wood County. These offices help low-income residents apply for low-rent housing. Most cities or towns within the county have an office; contact your local Housing Authority Office for more information.

Alcoholics Anonymous

AA meets at the Mineola Senior Citizens Center on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays at 7 p.m. or Fridays at 8 p.m., according to tyler-aa.com. Their website says that this meeting is open, meaning that it is “available to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous’ program of recovery from alcoholism.” They also noted that “nonalcoholics may attend open meetings as observers.”

They also meet at Hawkins First United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and 6 p.m. on Wednesdays for a “closed” meeting. This denotes that the meetings here are for “A.A. members only, or for those who have a drinking problem and ‘have a desire to stop drinking.’”

The Rock Building is the host for the AA meetings in Winnsboro, which are open, wheelchair accessible meetings. They come together on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays at 7 p.m., according to tyler-aa.com.

Quitman’s AA meetings are also open. They meet at 502 Lane St. in Quitman, which is a “house next door to First Methodist Church.” Their meeting times are Wednesday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Wood County Little Ways of Charity

This unique organization is not actually an organization, but rather a Facebook group. Comprised of local neighbors, the Wood County Little Ways of Charity Facebook group exists to “(help) people in need within Wood county and (bordering) areas to find clothes, food, house hold items and other items free of charge.” 

Their group description asks that anyone who has found an item they need offer something else to the group in order to “pay the blessing forward.” Whether as a donor or as someone who is in need of an item, you might want to give this group a try.

Catholic Charities

of East Texas

Although this charity is based in Tyler, the CCETX services all those in East Texas. They offer many services, including hunger relief, disaster relief, immigration legal services, GED classes, and more – all at no cost or low cost to patrons. They also give free infant car seats and/or cribettes to qualifying families.

“Every person has basic rights and is entitled to have basic needs met including food, shelter, clothing, education and health care. No one should have to put a child to bed hungry or be forced to choose between food, medicine, housing or utilities,” says their website.

Visit them at ccetx.org.