By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
In June, the Agape Way Foundation cut the ribbon on its new location.
Less than three months later, the organization is already bursting at the seams and preparing to move into a larger home where it can expand its addiction recovery services.
Agape Way will hold a chicken plate fundraiser and Family Community Day on Saturday at the Whitehead Memorial Museum.
The free event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. and will feature community resource tables, children’s activities, a cakewalk and a silent auction.
Chicken plates will be available for $10 each, with proceeds helping Agape Way furnish its new program building and continue expanding its recovery resources.
Janelle Vera, Agape Way’s program director, said the event has a twofold purpose.
“We need to raise the money to get into our new building, but we also want to strengthen the addiction recovery community,” Vera said. “That community can include someone who is in the midst of addiction, someone in recovery, a family member or someone who simply wants to support that community.”
She added, “We are trying to introduce ourselves to the community and bring together some community resources.”
Vera said the growth that has driven the move has been breathtaking.
“It’s nothing that we’ve done,” she said. “We’re just honored that God is using us and that the community sees the need for addiction resources and is supporting us. It seems like every day someone is bringing stuff by for us to sell, saying, ‘I need help,’ or telling us, ‘I know someone who needs help.’”
Agape Way is inviting nonprofits, churches and organizations that provide free community resources to set up information tables during the event. Groups interested in reserving a table may contact Vera at 830-453-0182.
The silent auction is expected to include donated leather handbags, crystal vases, gift baskets and other items. Desserts and pastries will also be available for the cakewalk, with proceeds supporting the organization’s work.
Vera said Agape Way hopes to move into the new space within the next 30 days. The building will provide more room to serve people and a larger sales area for the thrift store, which generates much of the money used to support the recovery program.
“So much of what we do is driven by the thrift store, and when people use the thrift store, they’re enabling us to help more people,” Vera said.
The organization’s larger goal is to create a sense of community for people affected by addiction and provide support when they are ready to seek help.
“We really just want to be a voice for people who want help when they’re ready,” Vera said.
Agape Way also wants to provide a welcoming environment for people regardless of where they are in their recovery journey.
“We want it to be a safe space,” Vera said. “We want to meet people where they are in their life, assess their needs and see how we can get them to where they want to be. Whatever they envision for their life, how can we help them get there?”
Vera thanked the Whitehead Memorial Museum and Michael Diaz for helping make the event possible. She also thanked Juan Garza of Cornerstone Caregiving for donating the chicken plates and arranging for Barton’s Homestyle and Backyard BBQ to prepare the meals, as well as Pepsi for donating drinks.
Plates may be purchased at the event or in advance at the Agape Way Foundation, 513 N. Bedell Ave. Payments may also be made through Venmo at @Agapewaydr or Cash App at $agapethriftstore. Purchasers should include their name and the number of plates in the payment note.
For questions or tickets, call 830-453-0182.
