For residents of the Presbyterian Village North assisted-living facility in Dallas, the joy of helping others extends well beyond the holiday season. Every week, residents team up to support the Wilkinson Center, a local nonprofit that helps clients move out of poverty toward self-sufficiency and fuller lives. 

The program, Cut Ups, began eight years ago when resident Marion Goodrich saw an opportunity to serve her Dallas neighbors. 

“My church received a letter from the Wilkinson Center asking for donations of unused coupons to help support their growing needs,” Goodrich says. “I began saving and clipping coupons on my own and asked church members to do the same. The program was slow-going at first but has really snowballed and taken off since I moved to Presbyterian Village North four years ago.” 

Today, more than 30 residents and their families clip coupons each week as part of Cut Ups. “We enjoy the time we get to spend doing something together and love that we’re able to help our community at the same time,” Goodrich says. “Many of the individuals served by the Wilkinson Center are working more than one job and just trying to get by. Cutting these coupons and making them available to low-income families helps them save time and money.” 

Residents and staff at Presbyterian Village North also gather monthly donations of food, toiletries, clothing, shoes and accessories for the Stewpot, which assists people who are homeless or otherwise at risk. In 2014, residents also collected more than $2,500 in monetary donations, which was used to fund programs and to purchase goods needed by Stewpot clients. The previous year, more than $4,000 was collected for the organization. 

“The residents at Presbyterian Village North have huge hearts,” says Rev. Brent Ashby, the facility’s associate minister of spiritual life, noting that residents are involved in various other forms of service, from serving lunch once a month at a homeless shelter to youth mentoring and tutoring programs. “Our residents maintain a focus on giving back to the community and to those in need. And that’s so much fun to be a part of.” 

Read more about Presbyterian Village North and its commitment to service.