MY TRUTH: Serving the Community

By Cheryl Smith

Whether it was because of the presence of Dr. S.M. Wright Sr. until his death in 1994, or his sons, Wright II and Calvin; the Wright name carries weight in Sunny South Dallas.

For more than a century the Wright’s have been firmly entrenched in the community and the S.M. Wright Foundation’s footprint in South Dallas is well-known. 

The legacy of service continues with the reopening of the newly-renovated South Dallas Community Clothing & Resource Center.

Located at 3203 Pine Street since its founding in 2005, the Center has been a source of support for thousands of families in need of resources and in recent years, it was in need of a facelift.

On Thursday at 9:30 a.m., the doors will open on a new and improved center and once again citizens will be able to “shop” and according to Rev. Wright, II, they will be impressed with what they see.

“The facility received a huge upgrade,” said Wright, II. “We totally renovated the Center from top to bottom, ensuring that the entire structure is more user-friendly with several upgrades, which is just what the community needed.”

Instead of finding and moving to another facility, which was an option, the Lincoln Humanities and Communications Magnet graduate said it was important to listen to South Dallas citizens who said, “please don’t go, we need you here.”

So instead of finding a place where many would have to travel to be served, the decision was made, with the help of generous donations, to deal with the structure on the corner of Pine Street and Electra Avenue.

Once again citizens, who have a median family income of less than $13,000 annually, will be able to secure everything from clothes and pampers, to kitchen appliances, household items and toiletries; thanks to generous benefactors, volunteers and donors, and at no charge to the needy.

For Wright, II the commitment to serving the South Dallas Community is completely in line with the work of his father, the late Dr. S.M. Wright, Sr., who pastored People’s Missionary Baptist Church and was well-known in numerous circles throughout Dallas.

If Wright Sr. were alive today and could see the work of the Foundation, his namesake says he would be proud.

“I can hear him saying, ‘go ahead on, son, go ahead.’”

And along with the feeling of pride with the thought that his father is smiling over everything the Foundation is doing, Wright, II is anxious for the staff and community to see the new facility Thursday.

“I’m so excited,” said the president of the S.M. Wright Foundation and current pastor of People’s Missionary Baptist Church. “We care about our community and this is a place where they can come and they will see how we care in the way we treat them with dignity and respect.”

Which brings me to my truth.

The Center is one of many ways the Foundation serves the residents of South Dallas. 

For Thursdays Community Day, volunteers distribute food, clothing and bed sets.  There’s also the Bed For Kids Drive Thru of Blessings, Foundation and Business Investment Club, South Dallas Education Center, South Dallas Community Food Center,  North Texas Furniture Bank and S.M. Wright Mattress Agency.

The Foundation is more commonly known for the two huge events held around Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The Thanksgiving Day Feast consists of hot meals, groceries and clothing presented to low-income and homeless families in South Dallas. Since it began in 1998, Christmas in the Park, held in Fair Park, and considered to be “Dallas’ largest holiday charity event,” has served as many as 50,000, in recent years.

To receive assistance, each family must provide proof of income and residence and a Social Security card and birth certificate for each family member. They must also meet the current Texas Commodity Assistance Program (TEXCAP) income requirements.

In addition to the naming of the Foundation in his memory and honor, in 1995, Gov. George W. Bush changed the name of Highway 175 to S.M. Wright Freeway. 

Service to mankind is a wonderful legacy to leave.