City Missions volunteers fill bags with necessities to distribute directly to homeless individuals in Plano and surrounding cities. Courtesy City Missions

Serving the community for more than five years, City Missions continues to provide essentials to individuals experiencing homelessness and is working toward developing a resource center. 

City Missions currently serves Collin County and the surrounding area through its mobile outreach unit. During Saturday Outreach opportunities, volunteers distribute necessities such as socks and hygiene items directly to individuals in need and build relationships in the process. 

“Our outreach team visits general areas where we have built trusted relationships with friends experiencing homelessness, while remaining flexible as needs and locations change,” Cherie Privett, founder and executive director, said. 

Part of City Missions’ values is maintaining dignity and connecting individuals with resources to guide them toward stability. Resources include medical care, identification cards, showers through Street Side Showers, recovery programs and housing solutions. The organization also has a mobile closet open twice a month near downtown Plano. A current need is men’s clothing. 

“About 80% of the Friends we serve are men, yet most of the clothing donations we receive are for women,” Privett said.  

Individuals, local churches, faith-based organizations and businesses support City Missions’ efforts.

Recently, two Wylie schools also helped their community through donations to City Missions. Students at Harrison Intermediate collected hygiene products and other items during last semester. The Burnett Junior High PTA selected City Missions to receive a grant that was presented in May. 

“City Missions was co-founded by my husband, Kevin Privett, who also works for Wylie ISD,” Privett said. “It has been meaningful to see local schools come alongside this mission in such a tangible way.” 

New donors and existing partnerships are important to City Missions as needs change with each season. 

Privett said one of the best ways to get involved is by supporting the organization’s future resource center. 

“We are still actively working toward funding a resource center with plans for it to be located in Plano,” Privett said. “This space would allow us to expand what we’re already doing and create a consistent place where individuals can come for support, resources and community.”

For ways to donate and volunteer, visit citymissions.org. Donations of clothing for adults and travel-size toiletries may be dropped off at A1 Affordable Garage Door Services in Plano from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to  The Murphy Monitor

By Allison LaBrot | [email protected]