More than 300 community members gathered Thursday, June 25, to celebrate the official grand opening of Jericho Village, a milestone years in the making that city leaders and organizers say will provide not only affordable housing for the resident but also hope and long-term support.

Located at 511 W. Brown St., Jericho Village is Wylie’s first income-based urban housing village. The 38-unit development is a project of Plano-based Agape Resource & Assistance Center, founded by CEO Janet Collinsworth to help women and families transition from homelessness, domestic violence and human trafficking. The community offers studio to three-bedroom apartments, including ADA-accessible units, along with on-site education, counseling and other wraparound services that promote long-term stability.

The celebration featured food trucks, face painting, a Wylie Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from civic and community leaders marking the project’s significance.

Serving as master of ceremonies, Hope for the Cities Executive Director Jon Bailey praised the perseverance of Agape founder and CEO Janet Collinsworth, noting that many people in attendance had watched the vision evolve from an idea into reality.

“It has been such a privilege to have walked alongside her, to have prayed with her, to encourage, to be challenged and to be inspired,” Bailey said. “So many of you today are inspired by who she is and what she has been able to accomplish.”

Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter recalled one of his first meetings after taking office, when he was introduced to the Jericho Village concept.

Porter said the name of Agape immediately resonated with him because of a family heirloom bearing the same Greek word, which represents unconditional love.

“That is exactly what we are called to do as a community,” Porter said. “To take care of everyone, not just one specific type of person, not just one group of people that vote for you. You’re supposed to care for everyone within that community.”

He said Jericho Village represents more than affordable apartments because residents will receive services designed to help them build lasting stability.

“It means it’s not a Band-Aid solution of just a roof over the head for today with no thoughts for tomorrow,” Porter said. “Instead, those services provide a new opportunity for generational uplifting.”

A congressional recognition from Keith Self was presented during the ceremony, commending Collinsworth, along with those of Agape Resources, and the many community partners who helped bring the vision to life.

“Jericho Village stands as a powerful example of what can be accomplished when compassion is spirited action,” the inscription read. “The opportunities created through this community will strengthen families, foster independence and provide hope to those who need it.”

Taking the podium, Collinsworth thanked the hundreds of volunteers, donors, churches, board members and community partners who supported the project, but first directed the crowd’s attention elsewhere.

“Without God, we would not be here,” she said. “It was a calling for each and every one of us to serve our neighbors and to love our neighbors as ourselves.”

Collinsworth reminded attendees that they are part of the change, referring to Ghandi’s “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

“We collectively — all of us, each one of us here — we’re in the hope business,” she said. “We do that by standing in the gap for our friends and our neighbors that struggle each and every day just to have a roof.”

Agape Chief of Staff Christin Mixon reflected on watching the property transform from “a flat piece of ground” into a community made possible by volunteers, churches, businesses and civic organizations.

“What you see around you today is the result of prayer, generosity and partnerships,” Mixon said. “But today is not the finish line. In a lot of ways, today is the starting line. The opening of Jericho Village represents the beginning of a new chapter and a larger vision.”

Collinsworth emphasized that the housing itself is only one part of the organization’s mission.

“The secret to transforming lives is not a roof,” she said …“The secret sauce is really the wraparound services. It’s the love, it’s the prayer and hope. We are in the hope business.”

The same educational, counseling and empowerment services already offered through Agape will now be available on-site to Jericho Village residents, she said.

“It’s not just a roof, and it’s not just a key that we hand you to get into your door,” Collinsworth said. “We are your family. We are your village.”

Perhaps the day’s most emotional moment came when Collinsworth invited Jericho Village’s first resident, Keoni Hudson, to speak.

Hudson’s story reflects the vision behind Jericho Village. After escaping a domestic violence situation, she moved from Agape’s transitional housing into the village with her two children. Organizers said other women will follow the same path, creating space for new families entering Agape’s program while former residents continue building independent lives.

“I love Jericho,” Hudson said. “It’s more than just the roof. It’s the community. It’s the help that you get. It’s the services that you receive. It’s everything.”

She said paying an income-based rent has allowed her to support her children, pay for childcare and return to school without relying on government assistance.

“I’m able to enroll myself back in school,” Hudson said. “This has helped my family in so many ways.”

Asked why communities need places like Jericho Village, Hudson fought back tears.

“Nobody understands how hard it is for people to just be able to afford the basic things of life,” she said. “Just to be able to have someone that looks out for you and leaves you something left over so you can provide clothes and shoes for your kids — every community needs this. This is such a blessing.”

After the program, guests toured the apartments, playground, community center and garden, getting a firsthand look at what organizers hope will serve as a model for supportive housing across North Texas.

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

The state’s natural beauty and its history are a treasure waiting to be discovered in any of the 52 parks and museums in the Arkansas State Parks system, with seven National Park Service sites and three national forests covering more than 2.9 million acres of Arkansas, plus more than 200 campsites and recreational areas.

Crater of Diamonds State Park

Who doesn’t love diamonds and digging in the dirt? This park is an exercise in fun, being in the outdoors, and a good way to bond as a couple or as a family. At the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, visitors can dig for diamonds in a 37.5-acre plowed field, which in reality is the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic crater. The park is the eighth largest, diamond-bearing deposit in surface area in the world.

When you enter through the park’s Diamond Discovery Center on your way to the diamond search area, you’ll want to take a while to listen and read about the area. The interpretive center is engaging and serves as the gateway to the search area by offering an in-depth introduction to the unique adventure of searching for diamonds. Tour the exhibits and visit with the park staff. In the Center you will learn to recognize diamonds in the rough and the three different search methods used at the Crater of Diamonds. You will also have the opportunity to view the diamond hunters’ Hall of Fame, featuring photographs of the faces of successful diamond prospectors at the Crater of Diamonds.

After you’re finished digging, the kids will love the park’s mining-themed aquatic playground. Relax in the cool waters of the 4,166-square-foot wading pool featuring spray geysers, sprayers, water jets, animated waterspouts, cascades, two water slides, and waterfall hideaways. There’s plenty of room to relax on the deck that surrounds the pool.

The Crater of Diamonds State Park includes a tree-shaded campground featuring 47 Class AAA campsites (with water/electric/sewer hookups) The site states that most of the sites have tent pads. There are also five walk-in tent sites. The campground includes two modern bathhouses with hot showers; one bathhouse includes a laundry.

To learn more, visit craterofdiamondsstatepark.com

Queen Wilhelmina State Park 

With panoramic vistas, this beautiful park located in the Ouachita Mountains is a must-see destination in Eastern Arkansas. While the park offers all types of activities, it is well-known for its beautiful lodge known as Queen Wilhelmina State Park Lodge. The original lodge was known as the “Castle in the Sky” resort over 100 years ago. The new lodge today is a 40-room establishment with a restaurant and a gift shop, known for its treasure trove of trinkets.

If you don’t want to stay in the lodge, relaxing in a campsite on Arkansas’s second highest mountain is truly unique. The campground at Queen Wilhelmina State Park offers home-away-from-home amenities where you’ll find peace and quiet, fresh mountain air, and unforgettable natural beauty on the 2,681-foot Rich Mountain. In the summer, cool mountain breezes keep the heat at bay. In autumn, it is ablaze with fall colors and in the winter the snowfall transforms the mountain to a winter wonderland. Visitors can go swimming, picnicking, canoeing, hiking, fishing, bicycling, museums, and art galleries all within a two-hour drive from the park. There are no rivers or streams in the park, but a short distance away there are opportunities at Cossatot River State Park.

A few upcoming activities include the Queen Wilhelmina Rod Run held at the Queen Wilhelmina State Park. It is an antique car show held the third weekend of August. An event called Hamfest is held the weekend following Labor Day Weekend and the Polk County Fair is the last week of August. For a full list of activities, information is available at visitmena.com or queenwilhelmina.com.

Cossatot River State Park Natural Area

Not far away from Queen Wilhelmina State Park is the Cossatot River State Park Natural Area. This scenic State Park and river is located in Wickes, AR. The park-natural area stretches for 12 miles along the Cossatot River. The river is a great place to experience Arkansas’s premier whitewater and it is renowned as the best whitewater float stream in mid-America. Located in southwest Arkansas south of Mena, the Cossatot River forms Cossatot Falls, a rugged and rocky canyon that challenges the most experienced canoeists and kayakers with its Class IV and V rapids. The river is a watershed basin with flow levels dependent on rainfall. When the water is high, it is a premium place for paddlers, however, much of the river’s whitewater is not recommended for casual canoeists.

The park’s information site states that the Brushy Creek Recreation Area at the Highway 246 bridge offers day-use facilities including picnic sites, a nature trail, restrooms, and river access. A walkway high above the river provides barrier-free access on the west side.

For those who want to camp, there are tent sites at the Cossatot Falls area, the Sandbar Area, and the Ed Banks Area (one site). All of the sites are self-pay and first come, first serve. Undeveloped camping space is available at the U.S. 278 Area. Primitive group camping (tents only) is available at the park’s River Ridge Group Camp. Call ahead to make a reservation. 

For hiking enthusiasts, the park features the 14-mile River Corridor Trail and the 3.5-mile Harris Creek Trail.

The park includes a 15,000-square-foot $2.7 million facility visitor information/education center on U.S. 278 east of Wickes where the highway crosses the Cossatot. There is a large exhibit gallery, two classroom/lab rooms, a wildlife viewing area, gift shop, and park administrative offices. Make sure you take the opportunity to explore the interpretive exhibits of the story of “The Cossatot: A River for All Seasons.” Want more information about the area? There are three information kiosks that provide information about the Cossatot River, the park-natural area, and other parks and museums in Arkansas’s state park system.
Interpretive programs and workshops are offered in the park, teaching visitors about geology, flora, and fauna in the remote and protected river corridor. Special interpretive programs include guided kayak tours and snorkeling tours. 

Want more recreation camping opportunities in the “Natural State?” Visit arkansasstateparks.com.

Enjoying this column? Let us know. Support your local community newspaper — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

Hosted by the Juneteenth Organization of Wylie, the annual pageant is set for Friday, May 29, and Saturday, May 30, at Trinity Friendship Baptist Church, 840 E. Brown St. in Wylie.

Now in its sixth year, the program is open to girls from fourth grade through high school senior year and focuses on mentorship and personal growth in addition to competition.

“Our mission is to inspire, motivate, and uplift young women as they grow into independent, capable leaders who believe deeply in their ability to succeed,” said Courtney Manning, pageant director. “This pageant is more than a competition. It is a space to develop new skills, form lasting friendships, and gain experiences that extend far beyond pageant day.”

Manning said contestants participate in mentorship activities that include interview preparation, etiquette courses and peer engagement training.

Competition categories include interview, Afro-centric attire, talent, evening wear, photogenic and Miss Congeniality.

Friday evening’s activities will introduce contestants and the pageant’s Royal Court to the community, while participants will also compete in the Afro-centric attire category. Saturday’s events will feature talent and evening wear competitions, followed by the crowning ceremony.

Winners will serve as ambassadors for the city of Wylie throughout the year, participating in community events including Boo on Ballard, the Wylie Christmas Parade, library reading events and volunteer opportunities.

Manning said Trinity Friendship Baptist Church was selected as the venue because of its continued support of both the pageant and the Juneteenth Organization of Wylie.

The pageant also ties directly into the city’s Juneteenth celebration efforts, with winners speaking publicly about the holiday and helping represent the organization throughout the community.

Admission is $10 Friday and $15 Saturday at the door. Applications for this year’s pageant are closed, but sponsorship opportunities remain available. Organizers said all sponsorship proceeds go directly toward scholarship funding for participants.

Additional information, including donation opportunities, is available at the Miss Wylie Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant website or event.wyliejuneteenth.org.

Support your local community newspaper and stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

As communities across the country celebrate Small Business Week, local entrepreneurs are being recognized not just for opening their doors, but for the grit, risk and vision it takes to keep them open.

In Murphy, one such story is still fresh — and already gaining momentum.

Victory Paint, an independent Benjamin Moore retailer, is marking its first year in business with steady growth, deep community ties and plans for a second location in southeast Collin County.

Co-owner Carolyn Potter said the journey began with an unexpected opportunity — and a willingness to pivot.

Read the full story, stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to The Murphy Monitor.

That recurring theme of isolation — both in others and in his own life — became the foundation for his debut book, “Unknown.”

Spurgin, a communicator, leadership coach and founder of New Hope Church in Wylie, said he wrote the book for people who have tried to find community but never quite get there.

“One of the things I hear from them over and over again is how isolated they feel,” Spurgin said. “They have people but very little connection.”

The message also reflected his own experience.

Spurgin shares in the book a pivotal moment in his own life when his wife told him she felt as though he had “a mistress” — not in a literal sense, but in how his work and responsibilities had taken priority over their relationship.

“It rocked my world,” he said. “She didn’t mean it literally, but she did feel like my work, my people, my reputation and my calling had become more important than she was.”

The experience, he said, forced him to reevaluate and ultimately rebuild that connection.

“It took us several years to rediscover our footing, but I’m happy to report that we’ve been married 38 years and we are happier than ever,” Spurgin said. “It’s not perfect, but it is really good.”

The book, his first completed manuscript after starting several others, reflects what he calls the “heartbeat” of his life’s work — helping people build authentic relationships and healthy cultures.

Released earlier this year, “Unknown” quickly gained traction and landed on the USA Today Bestseller list in February.

Spurgin said he wrote the book for three primary audiences: individuals struggling to find genuine community, those who feel there is more but are still searching, and leaders seeking to build healthy teams and culture but struggling to get there.

“They start a relationship and feel like it is going well, but soon discover the other person isn’t as interested as they thought,” Spurgin said. “Broken relationships are painful because God designed us for something better.”

Balancing the writing process with leading both a church and a leadership organization proved challenging.

“Leading two organizations while writing a book is not something I would suggest to anyone,” Spurgin said.

Even so, revisiting difficult personal experiences — including strained relationships and friendships that ended without clear resolution — made the process especially emotional.

Reader response, he said, has been overwhelming.

Many have reached out to say the book reflects their own stories, while others have described it as life changing. In one instance, a radio host who interviewed Spurgin later confided in him about struggles in her marriage. After discussing principles from the book, he said she told him, “this is going to change my life.”

Looking ahead, Spurgin said he is considering future writing projects, potentially focused on leadership topics such as founder transitions — an area he notes often presents challenges for organizations. He is also planning to launch a podcast.

“Unknown” is published by Morgan James and is available through major retailers and online platforms. Spurgin is also offering a free digital copy through his website keithspurgin.net.

Stay informed and support your local community newspaper — subscribe to the Murphy Monitor.

A group of lions, tigers and lemurs are beginning a new chapter in Wylie — trading a private facility for spacious enclosures, regular veterinary care and a permanent home at In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Educational Center.

The Wylie-based nonprofit transported four lions — Kumba, Eli, Sabba and Sky — three tigers — Bunny, Raja and Shilo — and 10 lemurs from Amarillo to its sanctuary at 3430 Skyview Drive in a three-day effort involving staff and volunteers.

The transfer comes after more than a decade of communication between In-Sync and the Amarillo facility, including a previous rescue of a tiger about seven years ago. A volunteer who frequently traveled to Amarillo to visit family helped maintain that connection, regularly visiting one of the lions, Kumba, and staying in contact with the facility. In recent months, discussions between founder Vicky Keahey and the owner continued by phone and email, ultimately leading to the transfer.

To read the full story, stay informed and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to the Murphy Monitor.

Wylie pantry celebrates 20 years of feeding neighbors

What began in 2006 as a small community service effort has grown into a lifeline for thousands across Collin and Rockwall counties. 

Amazing Grace Food Pantry marked its 20th anniversary Friday, Feb. 27, celebrating two decades of service and a record-breaking year in which more than 3.3 million pounds of food — nearly 2.9 million meals — were distributed. 

The milestone was shared with volunteers, community leaders and supporters who have helped the north Wylie nonprofit grow from a small outreach effort into one of Collin County’s largest volunteer-run food distribution programs.

About 145 people attended the catered anniversary celebration held at the Commons at The Cross Church in Wylie. Among those present were founder Mike Ellis and his wife Karen, AGFP pantry director, along with Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter, Tracy Cline, executive director of the CUTX Charitable Foundation, board members, volunteers and community supporters.

Originally serving just eight families, the effort has grown dramatically over the past 20 years. In 2025 alone, Amazing Grace Food Pantry recorded 33,569 client visits, serving 4,273 families and providing food to more than 19,000 individuals. 

Karen Ellis said the pantry’s growth has been remarkable — something she never imagined when the pantry began.

“Honestly, it feels like three years, not twenty,” said Ellis. “Time moves quickly when you’re answering a calling. I’ve seen God work in ways I never could have planned or accomplished on my own. I stand amazed at the miracles we’ve witnessed over these two decades.”

The pantry’s main biweekly food distribution program now provides more than 700 families with over 100 pounds of food per visit. About 30% of the pantry’s distribution consists of fresh produce.

According to the North Texas Food Bank, AGFP is the second-largest food distributor among the 38 pantries operating in Collin County and the largest organization run entirely by volunteers. 

“I’m most proud of our volunteers,” Ellis said. “Their dedication never wavers, even on our busiest days. They care deeply about the people we serve and about one another. Over time those relationships have created something special.”

Additional programs extend the pantry’s reach throughout the community.

The Food 4 Kids program, led by Kim Johnson, packs and delivers 250 weekend backpacks of food to students across 21 Wylie schools each week, distributing about 25,000 bags annually.

The pantry also operates a People and Nutrition (PAN) program that provides supplemental food to qualified seniors monthly, the only program of its kind among Collin County pantries.

Through its Retail Rescue program, a team of eight drivers and helpers collect food from 12 grocery stores, recovering an average of 30,000 pounds of food each week that might otherwise go to waste. 

Home delivery services, in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul volunteers, also ensure that homebound residents receive needed food assistance.

Beyond its core programs, the pantry partners with local organizations to distribute produce, hygiene items and infant supplies, including diapers and formula for Hope Bridge Pregnancy Center and food support for other ministries and outreach groups.

Over the years, the organization has faced challenges along the way.

Ellis recalled one of the most difficult periods, between 2015 and 2018, when a church on the pantry property that served as its primary funding source burned down.

“Our pantry building survived, but the cleanup costs were quoted at $60,000 to $80,000, far beyond our reach,” she said. “My husband Mike, our founder, said, ‘Let’s keep giving out food until we run out.’ Within a year our community stepped in, and by 2018 we had built a new facility. What felt like the end became a new beginning.”

Today the pantry continues to expand its operations and modernize its facilities. Recent improvements include a new volunteer parking lot, upgraded technology systems for client tracking and staging, and monitoring systems for refrigeration and freezer units.

Looking ahead, pantry leaders are planning a new produce pavilion designed to double the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables distributed each month, increasing capacity from about 9,000 pounds to 18,000 pounds.

Ellis said the pantry’s future mission will continue to depend on volunteers and community support, especially as demand continues to grow.

“I’m concerned that more families will need assistance due to stagnant wages, job loss and the rising cost of living,” she said. “At the same time, donation levels have softened as many households feel financial pressure themselves.”

Even small contributions — $10 per month — can help feed a family, said Ellis.

“If every household in Collin and Rockwall counties gave just $1 a month, the impact would be transformational.”

“Amazing Grace isn’t just a distribution site. It’s a pantry family, built on relationships between volunteers and neighbors.”

Stay informed. Support your local community newspaper, subscribe to the Murphy Monitor.

For Michael Dikovitsky, a retired Dallas police officer and former federal agent who lives in Wylie, that realization became clear after he left law enforcement.

While conducting national security investigations, Dikovitsky said he encountered people in severe distress who had no trusted outlet for support, and some ultimately took their own lives. He came to believe there needed to be someone they felt safe enough to call — not to replace mental health care, which he said is vital, but to offer immediate, personal connection.

That conviction led him to form the Texas Emergency Crisis Response Team, or TECRT, in 2010, with a broad mix of professionals because “some people simply need someone to talk to.” 

To read the full story, stay informed and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to the Murphy Monitor.

An annual count aimed at measuring homelessness in Wylie and surrounding areas identified 15 people experiencing homelessness this year, an increase from the 10 counted during last year’s effort.

The Point-in-Time Homeless Census, commonly known as the PIT count, was conducted Thursday, Jan. 22 — one day before the weather event — with volunteers gathering at The Cross Church before deploying throughout the Wylie and Lavon Lake areas. 

The PIT count is conducted nationwide each January by Housing Forward, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s designated lead agency for Dallas and Collin counties, in collaboration with the All Neighbors Coalition.

Jon Bailey, executive director of Hope for the Cities and team leader for the Wylie area count, said the number reflects only those who could be identified on the night of the count and does not represent the full scope of homelessness in the community.

To read the full story, stay informed and support your community newspaper, subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

Since mid-November, Hope’s Door New Beginnings Center (HDNBC) has begun offering in-person services one day a week from the Hope for the Cities Resource Center in downtown Wylie, located inside The Cross Church Event Center.

Megan Valdez, CEO of HDNBC, is onsite Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., providing assistance to individuals and families impacted by domestic abuse, family violence and teen dating violence.

The move is part of an effort to reduce barriers survivors face when seeking help — particularly transportation challenges that disproportionately affect eastern Collin County communities.

“In the past, we’ve assisted about 45 individuals and families in Wylie, and around 140 in the surrounding area, including Lavon and Josephine,” Valdez said. “So, it makes sense to come over here and be present.”

Hope’s Door has been “building lives without violence” for more than 40 years, offering intervention, prevention and education services to individuals and families affected by intimate partner and family violence. The nonprofit operates shelters in Plano and Garland, offices in both cities and a resale store, following a 2016 merger between Hope’s Door and New Beginnings Center.

The Wylie presence is designed to complement those services rather than replace them. According to Valdez, nearly half of HDNBC’s outreach services — including counseling referrals, advocacy, case management, legal navigation and its Batterers Intervention and Prevention Program — are provided virtually, which allows survivors to connect when safety, work schedules or transportation limit in-person visits.

Still, physical proximity matters.

According to HDNBC, transportation is one of the biggest barriers survivors face when accessing help, which can lead to delayed counseling, missed legal support or staying in unsafe situations.

Eastern Collin County has little to no fixed-route public transportation, says HDNBC, which can leave survivors without options. By locating services in Wylie, the nonprofit aims to meet people closer to where they live, work and go to school.

Hope for the Cities Executive Director Jon Bailey said the downtown Wylie location was intentionally chosen to support that mission.

“We need this space used for the right reasons, with the right organizations,” Bailey said. “The strategic location of being downtown is so good.”

Bailey added the resource center offers private office space where clients can meet confidentially, with flexibility to expand services if demand grows.

“The goal is to start with once a week, which is what we’ve been doing,” Valdez said. “We did a soft announcement on social media, and in January we’ll add signage so people know we’re here.”

Hope’s Door serves survivors regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, disability, immigration status, primary language or sexual orientation. Multigenerational families, including children and older adults, are supported.

In addition to crisis support and advocacy, the nonprofit places a strong emphasis on prevention and education. Community educators provide training and presentations designed to help participants recognize unhealthy behaviors and build skills such as boundary-setting and resilience.

“We really try to focus on youth — not just talking about what violence is, because kids tune that out,” Valdez said. “We talk about how to prevent it from happening in the first place, whether that’s in friendships or dating relationships.”

While recent legislation has made it more challenging for outside organizations to enter schools regularly, Valdez said community-based education remains critical.

“Almost every time we do a presentation, at least one person comes up afterward and says, ‘I think I need help,’ or ‘I just left a relationship like this,’” she said.

Hope’s Door also frequently works with survivors whose experiences overlap with human trafficking, which Valdez noted is often intertwined with domestic abuse.

“Many people don’t identify as both,” she said. “Their trafficker may be a boyfriend or family member, and that abuse becomes normalized.”

Last fall, the Wylie City Council recognized Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a proclamation, highlighting the importance of continued awareness and access to resources.

For now, Valdez said the organization is focused on establishing a consistent presence in Wylie and evaluating community response.

“If we see a lot of people who want these services in person here, then we would talk about having someone in Wylie more regularly,” she said.

Anyone in need of immediate assistance can call Hope’s Door New Beginnings Center’s 24-hour hotline at 972-276-0057. Walk-in support is available Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hope for the Cities Resource Center, 200 N. Ballard Avenue in downtown Wylie.

For more stories about the Murphy community, see the next print or digital edition of the Murphy Monitor. Subscribe today and support local journalism.