Irving Cares

It’s not a hand out, it’s a hand up

If you need information or referrals, please call us at (972) 721-9181, or come by 440 S. Nursery Road, Suite 101, in the Irving Human Services Building.

Spanish Case Manager is available Monday through Friday, from     9 AM—3:30 PM.  Spanish speaking Volunteers are always needed.

We offer the following programs:

Food Pantry

Financial Assistance

Patient Transportation

Employment Services Program

Medical Prescriptions & More

Clients can receive emergency food assistance under many circumstances. We ask that they bring proof of Irving residency, a current photo ID, and social security card. Clients must complete an information form and meet with a Case Manager.

Food Pantry volunteers pack and distribute more than 570 emergency food orders each month. In FY 2008/2009 Irving Cares supplied groceries to 9,331 individuals. Your nonperishable grocery donations are always appreciated.

BACK TO PAGE TOP

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Irving Cares has funding available to assist Irving residents experiencing a temporary financial crisis. Clients who need help with rent, mortgage, or utility payments must pre-qualify by phoning (972) 721-9181. Our receptionist will gather relevant information pertaining to the client's debt, including the amount and account number(s), and will contact the utility company or landlord/mortgage company. It will be necessary for clients to attend a Money Management class when receiving rent/mortgage or utility financial assistance.

For the Case Manager appointment, clients are asked to bring their original utility bill or lease/mortgage, proof of Irving residency, a current photo ID, their social security card, and verification of their income. Clients who do not have any source of income are not eligible for the financial assistance program, and we will refer them to another agency with different eligibility guidelines. Together, the Case Manager and client will determine what percentage of the debt each will pay based on the client's current financial circumstances. We can generally assist a client only once with either a rent or utility payment. In FY 2008/2009, Irving Cares assisted 1,396 families.

BACK TO PAGE TOP

PATIENT TRANSPORTATION

For qualified Irving residents, the Irving Cares van offers rides to medical appointments between 8 AM and 2PM every Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and the 1^st and 3^rd Thursday each month. Clients can ride to Baylor Medical Center-Irving or Coppell, Irving Dialysis Center, the Irving Health Center, the Dallas County Hospital System including Parkland, Children's, St. Paul, Scottish Rite, and other clinics in the county system. Our driver can deliver prescriptions from Parkland’s Prescription Center to client homes.

Call (972) 721-9181 ext. 206 to register for the program.

In 2008/2009, Irving Cares made 1,079 trips to deliver clients to medical appointments, and delivered 626 prescriptions to client homes.

BACK TO PAGE TOP

PSYCHOTHERAPY COUNSELING

The counseling program was discontinued effective June 1, 2008.  For counseling needs, contact the Community Help Line by calling 211 for an agency referral, or call the Irving Family Advocacy Center at (972) 721-6521 for assistance.

BACK TO PAGE TOP

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

The Employment Services Program promotes self-sufficiency in Irving residents by helping them find and maintain stable employment. Clients are invited to attend a Job Search Seminar each Wednesday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, to learn interview skills, how to prepare a resume, and get referral sources for a successful job search. Our Case Manager is available to assist clients in identifying and overcoming barriers to employment like transportation, childcare expenses, education level, job skills, uniforms, and work wardrobe. Irving Cares partners with the Education Opportunity Center in an effort to provide additional job referrals to clients and to help with scholarships for college. In 2008/2009, this program served 747 individuals.

BACK TO PAGE TOP

MEDICAL PRESCRIPTIONS, BUS PASSES, GASOLINE VOUCHERS & MORE

Clients can call (972) 721-9181 or come to our offices for these types of financial assistance. It is our policy to partner with clients by providing a percentage of financial requests. Generally, Irving Cares will pay 75% of the client’s medical prescriptions(s) and the client will pay 25%. Gasoline vouchers and DART bus passes can be provided to clients who need to travel to job interviews or medical appointments, and there is also limited funding available to partner with clients who need to travel outside the DFW area (for example, for help purchasing Greyhound bus tickets).

BACK TO PAGE TOP