By Terri Jo Ryan

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Times are tough all over, and nobody knows that better than Waco’s myriad nonprofit agencies.

Local charities tasked with helping their neighbors weather a stormy economy have seen a surge in demand for their services, just when the organizations themselves are having a more difficult time providing for those in need.

This midyear “wish list” for the nonprofit organizations is a timely reminder that need knows no season.

Emergency aid

Family Abuse Center, P.O. Box 20395, Waco, 76702; 772-8999; FamilyAbuseCenter.org

Linens/bedding, pillows, etc.

School uniforms

Household items (pots and pans, dishes, cups, silverware, etc.)

Closet shelving/organizers for clients’ rooms

New air conditioner

Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children, 2323 Columbus Ave., Waco, 76701; 752-9330; AdvocacyCntr.org

New laptops with Microsoft Office

Office furniture (desk, file cabinet, chairs)

Art therapy materials (blank journals, crayons and markers, coloring books)

Non-perishable snacks and beverages for child and adult sexual assault survivors at the hospital

New clothing for child and adult sexual assault survivors at the hospital (T-shirts, light weight sweat pants, boy’s and men’s underwear, men’s socks, sports bras) 

Compassion Ministries of Waco, 1421 Austin Ave., Waco, 76701; 755-7640, www.geocities.com/compassionministriesofwaco/

Diapers (especially sizes 3, 4, 5, 6) and baby wipes

Over-the-counter medication (children & adults)

Batteries (AAA, AA, D, 9 Volt)

Children’s school backpacks

Basketballs

Red Door Project, 1601 Clay Ave., Waco, 76707; 752-5531, centexmcc@earthlink.net

925 square feet of laminate floor tiling

Gas-range oven

Storage cabinets with adjustable shelves and doors

40 white 3-ring binders

Copy paper

The Salvation Army, 300 Webster Ave., Waco, 76701; 756-7271, SalvationArmyWaco.org

Non-perishable food

Travel-sized personal care items (shampoo, soap, shaving kits, etc.)

Towels and washcloths

Twin-size bed linens

Baby items (diapers, formula, food)

Caritas of Waco Inc., 300 S. 15th St., Waco, 76701; 753-4593, caritas@grandecom.net

Walk-in cooler for pantry

Color printer

Riding lawn mower

Child and adult chairs for waiting area

Carpet or vinyl tile floor for waiting area

McLennan County Hunger Coalition, HELPINGS: Food Stamp Outreach, 300 S. 15th St., Waco, 76701; 753-3545

HP color printer and supplies

Digital camera (for outreach events)

Heavy-duty stapler

Mission Waco, 1315 N. 15th St., Waco, 76707; 753-4900, MissionWaco.org

Hygiene items 

Bus passes — for homeless walk-in center

Men’s foot ware (new or gently worn)

15-passenger van in good condition

Carpet and blinds for social services offices

Miscellaneous services

Friends for Life, 5000 Lakewood Drive, Waco, 76710; 772-7600, FriendsForLife.org

New computer

Printing calculator

Postage stamps

Copy paper

Prepaid gasoline/grocery cards

Central Texas Sickle Cell Anemia Association, 121 Dallas St., Waco, 76703; 752-3441, CenTexSickleCell@aol.com

Two printers for computers

Copy machine

General office supplies (paper clips, pens, tape, folders, plain envelopes, copy/printer paper; HP black and color ink cartridges. Call for specifics).

World Hunger Relief Inc., 356 Spring Lake Road, Waco, 76705; 799-5611; WorldHungerRelief.org

Gardening equipment: trash cans, water hoses, leaf rakes, yardsticks, work gloves

Workshop tools: hammers, tape measures, wrenches, drills, 55-gallon barrels

Kitchen equipment: microwave, food processor, blender, large pots and pans

Office tools: paper shredder, two-line phones, large paper cutter, large Rubbermaid totes

Outdoor equipment: working lawnmowers, wheelbarrows, wagons/carts

The Freeman Center, 1401 Columbus Ave., Waco, 76701; 753-8251; TheFreemanCenter.org

Pillows

Twin-size bed linens

Baby bed sheets

Toddler bed comforters

Towels and washcloths

Heart of Texas Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, 900 Austin Ave., No. 801, Waco, 76701; 753-7320, htexascouncil@hot.rr.com

20 stackable chairs for reception area

School supplies and promotional items for youth participants

Wireless Internet service

Heart of Texas Region Mental Health Mental Retardation Center, 110 S. 12th St., Waco, 76703; 297-7026; Janet.Kettler@hotrmhmr.org

Basic household furniture and appliances

Large-screen televisions 

Wii consoles 

Bus passes 

Movie tickets 

Meals On Wheels, 501 W. Waco Drive, Waco, 76707; 752-0316, SeniorMinistry.org

Laminator

Vacuum cleaner

Photo printer

Igloo coolers

Gas gift cards

Christian Women’s Job Corps of McLennan County, 1111 Herring Ave. Waco, 76702; 757-0416; CWJCwaco.org

Bottled water and drink mixes

Address labels (1-inch by 2 5/8-inch)

No. 10 envelopes

Manilla file folders, letter sized

Care Net Pregnancy Center of Central Texas, 4700 W. Waco Drive, Waco, 76710; 772-8270, ext. 22 (call for details on these items); CarenetOfCentralTexas.org 

Standard curved floor display-mural center kit

Fold ‘N’ Go table-top full-color display kit 

Show ‘N’ View table-top retractor kit 

Outdoor banner

Table runner 30-inches

Central Texas Community Development Corporation, 2025 Columbus Ave., Waco, 76701; 756-0179; ctcdclight@sbcglobal.net

Shuttle bus, 25- or 33-passenger

Trailer (enclosed preferred)

Laptop computer

Projector that plugs into computer for presentations

Potter’s Vessel Ministries, 1300 Austin Ave., Waco, 76701; 757-3633; PottersVessel.org

Medical supply storage space downtown

Metal storage shelving

Desktop computer

3 office chairs

Planned Parenthood of Central Texas, 1121 Ross Ave., Waco, 76706; 492-1783, twoodson@ppwaco.org

8 (2-drawer) file cabinets

Microscope

Animal-related causes

Fuzzy Friends Rescue, 6321 Airport Road, Waco, 76708; 754-9444, FuzzyFriendsRescue.com

Washer/dryer set

Refrigerator

Liquid laundry detergent

Scoopable cat litter

Pedigree or Purina dog/puppy chow (small crunchy bites)

Animal Birth Control Clinic, 1531 Wooded Acres Drive, Waco, 76710; 751-7796, AnimalBirthControl.org 

Cleaning supplies (laundry soap, paper towels, gently used towels)

Office supplies (copier/fax machine, AAA batteries, large button hand-held calculators)

Heating pads

“Hav-A-Heart” live traps, large

Child-related causes

Talitha Koum Institute, 1311 Clay Ave., Waco, 76706; 753-1144, TalithaKoum.org

Toys (Push-and-pull toys, multi-ethnic dolls, board books, bags or purses, riding toys, toddler sensory table, toddler-sized art easel, dump trucks, plastic animals, pretend tools and tool box, pretend vacuum cleaner, pretend ironing boards and irons, colorful scarves and hats, tinker toys or other building type blocks, toy cars, sports balls, computer games and books for pre-kindergarteners, playground equipment)

Mobiles for cribs

Laundry needs (washcloths, washing powder and fabric softener). 

Security camera for playground

Rapoport Academy Public School, 1020 Elm Ave., Waco, 76704; 754-8000, RapoportAcademy.com

Ice machine

Washer and dryer

Refrigerators, dorm size or larger

Bookshelves, all sizes

Gardening supplies (tiller, shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, etc.)

The Arc of McLennan County, 1825 Morrow Ave., Waco, 76707; 756-7491, ovida@wacoarc.org

Computer with Windows XP

Acrobat software

Copier paper

Professional cleaning for carpets

Children’s computer games

Mexia State School, 600 Highway 171, Mexia, 76667; (254) 562-1301, cheryl.cockrell@dads.state.tx.us

Older model Suburban or sports utility vehicle

Straw hats and sunglasses 

Seasonal and home decorations.

Generations Adoptions, 400 Schroeder, Waco, 76710; 741-1633, GenerationsAdoptions.org

Laptop

Gas cards

Heavy-duty shredder

Digital photo frame

Legal-size, locking file cabinet

Lake Shore Baptist Children’s Center, 5801 Bishop Drive, Waco, 76710; 772-6459, emilywgist@gmail.com

Nonfiction children’s books

Games for toddlers and preschoolers

Computers for classrooms

Refrigerator

Washing machine and dryer

Reicher Catholic High School, 2102 N. 23rd St., Waco TX 76708; 752-8349, Reicher.org

Midsize bus

Computer tables

Portable automatic external defibrillator

LCD projector

Kitchen equipment for stadium concession stand

Camp Hope Texas, 1007 Camp Road, McGregor, 76657; (254) 848-4745, CampHopeTexas.org

Railroad ties (to restore outdoor chapel)

8-foot round tables with folding chairs for dining hall

Swings for playground 

More aerial stations for Challenge Course

Paved road to the dining hall

Waco Montessori School, 1920 Columbus Ave., Waco, 76701; 754-3966, WacoMontessoriSchool.org

Portable automatic external defibrillator

LCD projector (aka digital multimedia projector)

Living Word Christian Academy, 1824 J.J. Flewellen Road, Waco, 76704; 799-4488, livingword2005@sbcglobal.net

10 computers

5 printers

Camp Fire USA Tejas Council, 321 N. 30th St., Waco, 76710; 709-1855, CampFireTejas.org

LCD projector

Laptop computer

Nonperishable snack foods

Gardening supplies

Art and craft supplies

Greater Waco Youth Law Advocacy Project, 602 James Ave., Waco, 76706; 715-0894, WacoYouthLaw.com

Desktop copier/scanner

Color laser printer

Legal software for family law and/or probate

Digital camera

AT&T cell phone with Bluetooth

Viento Fuerte Centro de Adoracion and New Corazon Kids Initiative (mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents); 8726 La Village Ave., Waco, 76712; 405-3747, vientofuerte.org

15-passenger van or bus

Video projector

2 TVs for children’s rooms

Chairs and tables

Book shelves

Youth Connection Inc., P.O. Box 20984, Waco, 76702; 202-8480, Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, Hillcrest.net

Office paper shredder

Four-drawer lateral file cabinet

Five-shelf bookcase

Office supplies

HP 45 black inkjet cartridge

MCC’s Family Literacy Class; (210) 362-0310, Mighty Wind Worship Center, 1100 Washington Ave.; Franks76710@aol.com

Copy paper

HP 56 black and HP 57 color inkjet cartridges

Preschool children’s art supplies

Nap mats for children

Sturdy five-shelf bookcase

The Klaras Center for Families, 110 S. 12th St., Waco, 76701; 752-3451, Billie.Preston@hotrmhmr.org

A pool table (used one that’s not too old and could be refurbished)

Klaras Children’s Center ECI, 110 S. 12th St., Waco, 76701; 297-7085; Pamela.Marcum@hotrmhmr.org

Infant- and toddler-age toys (puzzles, shape sorters, stack rings and board books.)

Arts organizations

Art Center Waco, 1300 College Drive, Waco, 76708; 752-4371, ArtCenterWaco.org

Digital camera

Copier machine and paper

Projector

Rubber flooring for classrooms

6-foot adjustable rectangle tables

Waco Cultural Arts Fest, 4209 W. Waco Drive, Waco, 76710; 772-7637, WacoArtsFest.org 

Free office space 

Laptop computer

Windows XP

Art supplies

Brushes for paper arts

Waco Civic Theatre, 1517 Lake Air Drive, Waco, 76710; 776-1591, WacoCivicTheatre.org

Electric stove

Gift certificates to Sam’s, Office Max or Office Depot

Tools, such as screwdrivers and battery-powered implements

Large, fire-resistant, lockable storage cabinet for all power tools

Churches

Mighty Wind Worship Center, 1100 Washington Ave., Waco, 76703; 752-6711, MightyWindWorship.com

Energy-efficient roof 

New elevator 

Funding for youth pastor’s at-risk community service programming

Professional tree trimming

Professional power washing and sealing of cracks on facility exterior  

Church of the Open Door, 900 N. Loop 340, Waco, 76705; 799-2656, OpenDoorWaco.org

Children’s backpacks

School supplies

Yarn, for Prayer Shawl Ministry

GodZone Ministry, godzone123@hotmail.com

3 cameras (Sony HVR-A1U),

Lighting gear

A van or bus.

Second Missionary Baptist Church, 2001 Dallas St., Waco, 76712; 799-6300

Wireless-accessible laptop computer

Copier paper 

Playground set for nursery-aged children

Emergency room stretcher 

Well-equipped first aid kit