BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas — The Brazos Valley already has almost 200 non-profits, but a new group is focusing on a unique mission.
Esther Miranda, the creator of Sweet Oak Collaborative, says many are unaware of the struggles faced by their own neighbors.
“It was not until I began entering the homes of people as a case worker that I saw the depth of poverty in our cities," Miranda said. "Holes in the window where there should be an air conditioner, a family of 10 living on the floor, you know, grandma's got an IV in her arm, there are children below one year old, dirty diapers mixed with laundry mixed with food.”
According to Feeding America, in 2021, more than 32,000 residents in Brazos County were facing food insecurity, but Sweet Oak says those numbers don’t reflect the actual needs within the community.
“There are 50-60 households that are on a waiting list for food delivery until July 2024," Miranda explained. "To me, that was unconscionable. I don’t just stop at just hearing the number. I will call the food bank. I'll call Meals on Wheels, 'Tell me why you can’t deliver'.”
Instead of duplicating the services already offered by organizations that address food insecurity, Sweet Oak Collaborative is working to connect the dots between agencies to work together to uplift existing nonprofits and give families the solutions they need.
“Centralizing the help and the care is good because there’s so many places to get help and no one really knows about it," Veteran advocate, Mike Southerland said.
Collaborative Case management is one of the initiatives that Sweet Oak is bringing to families in need.
“You call MHMR, they spend 45 minutes on intake. You call Salvation Army, they spend 45 minutes, but if we share and we farm that information out to every agency that can help, so the people who can help with clothing they jump in,” Miranda said.
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