The need to convert words into action prompted the recent formation of a new information and services referral mentoring foundation in Texarkana, Texas.
Recently, three local residents formed the Striving for Greatness Foundation, which held its first four-hour community meet-and-greet public event Saturday inside the Lawley business building near the 1100 block of Spruce Street-a building owned and operated by Pete Talbert, who hosted the event.
"Forming this new foundation is something that has been on our hearts for a long time," said TJ Gowans, one of the foundation's three primary organizers. "We decided it was time to stop talking and start doing something not only to help in mentoring young people, age 7 and up, but also work on different challenges in the community."
Gowans said that he, along with co-foundation organizers Gerod Ware and Kacy Harvey, agreed about two months ago to establish the organization and hold its first community event.
"We wanted to be more than just another mentoring organization," Gowans added. "We decided that we also wanted to be a resource program that will partner with others in the community to provide information and services aimed at addressing challenges in our communities."
The foundation would like to help young people and single parents with daycare programs, as well as learning financial responsibility. They also want to help both kids and young adults find training and jobs in trades such as in plumbing and heating along with air conditioning repair and installation.
"We also plan to reach out to the local public school districts so as to help them direct single parents and their kids to training and employment services," Ware said.
As for addressing challenges in the community, Ware said the foundation could help encourage volunteer work in neighborhood clean-up projects, which would include litter and weed eradication and trash pick-up organizing as well as public park upkeep, water drainage improvements and bug infestations elimination.
"We also want to make sure that these efforts won't just be a blast that fizzles down-but something that will give both our young men and women a continual positive spirit to strive for," Harvey said. "We want people to come out here and leave with a passion for service."