Wilkinson Center

OUR MISSION:

The Wilkinson Center transforms the lives of Dallas families by providing pathways to self-sufficiency with dignity and respect.

OUR HISTORY:

After seeing a child dig in a dumpster for food, The Reverend Clayton Lewis (then pastor of Munger Place United Methodist Church) resolved that should never happen in Dallas. In 1982, he began programs to assist families with food and clothing. Through the shared vision of Reverend Lewis and members from the Highland Park United Methodist Church (Ruth Altshuler, Jim Francis, and Reverend Leighton Farrell); the East Dallas Cooperative Parish was formed to provide the churches with resources to become outposts of service for their neighborhoods in need.

From those humble beginnings, the Wilkinson Center (then the Munger Place Emergency Services Center) was formed. In 1985, when volunteer Ruby Wilkinson passed away and her family gave the Center a generous gift, the name was changed to the Wilkinson Center.

The Wilkinson Center transforms the lives of Dallas families by providing pathways to self-sufficiency with dignity and respect through Food & Emergency Services, our Adult Education classes and a GED Testing Center. We serve our clients at multiple locations throughout Dallas County. Our target population is individuals and families living below the federal poverty level, high school dropouts, unemployed and under-employed adults and non-English speaking residents. Our programs serve over 10,000 individuals and 2,200 families annually.

OUR VALUES:

COMPASSION - We maintain our clients' dignity by treating them with respect. Our compassionate staff works as partners with our clients. Through education and support we provide a pathway to self-sufficiency, breaking the cycle of poverty and allowing the clients to reclaim their lives.

COMMUNITY - Our clients' needs are best met when we work as a community. We derive our strength from our staff, volunteers, partners and donors who constantly search for ways to collaborate and consolidate efforts to achieve the highest impact.

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE - Serving the Dallas community for more than 30 years has earned us the reputation for excellent programming and diligent stewardship of donations of time, talent, and capital. We coordinate with other agencies, congregations, and nonprofits to provide the highest quality service.

FINANCIAL - At the Wilkinson Center, we feel it is important that we provide donors with the tools they need to make sound decisions about their charitable giving strategies. Our audited financial statements, budget, and IRS Form 990 are always available for review. You can view those items at www.guidestar.org (type in "Wilkinson Center" or our Employment Identification Number, 75-2712117, to retrieve our information) or our office.