Events

100 Men Who Give a Damn

On Tuesday, January 20, something simple—and powerful—played out at MSS (Midland Shared Spaces): a room full of men decided to “give a damn” about West Texas.

The concept is refreshingly straightforward. 100 Men Who Give a Damn – Midland gathers quarterly to hear short presentations from three local nonprofits. After the pitches, the men vote, and each participant gives $100 to the winning organization—turning one evening of attention into a meaningful, immediate gift.

One Accord for Kids was represented by Shauna Todd, the organization’s Director of Operations. Shauna is a long-time Midland resident whose career has been shaped by education, ministry, and a clear calling to strengthen support for vulnerable children and families in West Texas.

By the end of the night, Shauna’s pitch resonated most with the room, and One Accord for Kids was voted the winner—an encouraging reminder that when the community is invited into the story, people respond.

Events like this matter because they’re not just fundraising—they provide community momentum. They introduce neighbors to missions they may never have encountered, they build shared ownership around local problems, and they prove that collective generosity doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective.

If you’ve never attended a 100 Men Who Give a Damn – Midland, consider this your nudge: bring a friend, bring your $100, and come ready to be moved—then vote with confidence.

National Adoption Month – Adoption Resources, You are Not Alone

Curious about adoption but not sure you will have the support you need? In West Texas, you don’t have to do it alone. Here are trusted, local supports that make the journey doable—from first questions to first nights home.

The Attic Resource Center (TheAtticFN.org) is often the first call families make because it meets practical needs fast. Beds, cribs, mattresses, car seats, clothing, and hygiene items are available quickly so kids can stay close to home and caregivers aren’t stuck waiting on essentials. When parents need margin to rest or reconnect, Foster Parent Night Out (sometimes offered as a Day Out) provides safe, vetted childcare at a local church so families can recharge without worry.

For ongoing guidance, Family Help West Texas (FamilyHelpWTX.org) offers a zip code searchable database for free or reduced cost services. And don’t underestimate the steady help of your local church body. Pastors, small groups, and care teams can mobilize meal trains, mentoring, prayer, and practical service—becoming the circle that holds a family together when the pace gets intense.

If you’re sensing a nudge, take one simple step: get information. Clarity builds courage, and a child’s future may be on the other side of your “yes.”

Local Resources at a Glance

The Attic Resource Center — Fast access to beds, car seats, clothing, and essentials.
Foster Parent Night Out (or Day Out) — Trusted respite so caregivers can rest and reset.
Family Help West Texas — Coaching, classes, and connections to community support.
Your Local Church Body — Meal trains, mentors, prayer, and practical care teams.

Ready to explore adoption? Visit AdoptWestTexasKids.com to start the journey and get connected to people who will walk with you every step of the way.

National Adoption Month – Supporting Adoptions

Adoption is beautiful, brave, and—let’s be honest—stretching. New attachments take time, routines wobble, and paperwork never seems to end. Most adoptive parents won’t raise a hand and ask for help, but they exhale when community shows up unprompted with practical, steady care. If you’ve ever thought, “I want to help, but I’m not sure what would actually make a difference,” this list is for you. Pick one, put a date on it, and repeat. Small, consistent actions create a big safety net for the whole family.

Deliver meals with margin
Organize a four-to-six-week meal train. Include easy breakfasts and snacks, and use disposable containers to cut cleanup.
Take a recurring task
Own a day for rides, tutoring, or grocery pickup: “Wednesdays are mine.” Predictable help lowers daily stress.
Give flexible resources
Gift cards for groceries, gas, or kids’ clothing let parents meet changing needs without another errand or budget squeeze.
Learn trauma-informed basics
Spend an hour on TBRI/trauma-aware care. When you understand regulation and connection, your support lands with compassion, not critique.
Create respite that’s reliable
Become an approved sitter or trusted helper. Two hours every other week can reset the household’s pace and patience.
Champion siblings
Invite resident siblings for one-on-one fun or homework help. Protecting their time strengthens belonging and reduces resentment.
Pray—and keep praying
Pray specifically for attachment, restful sleep, wise decisions, and joyful moments. Send short check-ins: “Praying for bedtime tonight,” “Asking God to bring peace to appointments.” Your faithful intercession is a gift they can feel on the hardest days.

Adoptive families don’t need perfection; they need people who keep showing up. Choose one action today and let them know, “We’re with you.”

Superhero Run Volunteer Gives Back

Every successful event is powered by the dedicated volunteers—and our recent Superhero Run was no exception. From the earliest moments of setup to the final stages of tear down, our volunteers were the true heroes behind the scenes, ensuring every runner had a memorable experience.

Whether it was directing runners along the course, handing out water, or simply offering a smile and encouragement, their efforts made all the difference. We are deeply grateful for the many individuals and organizations that stepped up to help us. Their willingness to give their time and energy is what made this event possible.

Among these incredible volunteers, one story stands out. Maria, a volunteer on the route, is an adoptive mother who once received support from The Attic Resource Center during her adoption journey. Now, having come full circle, she returned to serve as a volunteer, giving back to the same community that once supported her.

Maria’s creativity shone on race day. With her daughter dressed as Mario, they encouraged runners with a “Tap Here to Power Up” sign. Runners loved tapping the sign as they passed, receiving both a boost of encouragement and a smile. It was a joyful touch that lit up the course.

Maria didn’t come alone—she brought her running crew, the SoleSisters, who handed out candy and cheered on participants at other locations, adding even more energy to the day.

We can’t thank our volunteers enough. They are the heartbeat of the Superhero Run, and we are forever grateful for their support.

To find out more about adoption go to AdoptWestTexasKids.com

To find out how to volunteer with One Accord for Kids go to https://oneaccordtx.org/get-involved/

Why a SuperHero Run?

When a family in our community is struggling, it takes a team of heroes to surround them with care and hope. At One Accord for Kids, we believe the best outcomes for children happen when families—biological, foster, adoptive, and kinship—are supported, not sidelined.

That’s why we created The Attic SuperHero Run. This fun, family-friendly event celebrates the everyday superheroes who step in to help—parents working hard to reunify, foster families opening their homes, caseworkers guiding the process, volunteers delivering supplies, and churches offering love and meals. It takes all of us.

The race is also a powerful way to raise funds for The Attic Resource Center, which provides essential goods and services to children and families involved in the child welfare system. Whether it’s a crib for a newborn or a backpack for a school-age child, The Attic helps meet basic needs that can keep families together and children safe.

Last year, we watched our community show up in full costume and full force—families walking together, kids racing in capes, and neighbors cheering each other on. It was a joyful display of what happens when we all do our part.

Not everyone can foster or adopt, but everyone can do something. And that something might start with running (or walking!) for a cause that changes lives.

🎯 Join us for the Attic SuperHero Run and help build a stronger safety net for kids and families in West Texas.
Register today at www.TheAtticSuperHeroRun.com

Become a Cornerstone in a Child’s Story

In the heart of the Permian Basin, The Attic Resource Center has become a cornerstone of child welfare—a place where dignity meets need, and where vulnerable children and families are met with compassion and care.

The Attic Resource Center, a core program of One Accord for Kids, exists to meet children and foster families in that first critical moment. With clean clothes, beds, car seats, stuffed animals, and more, The Attic brings a sense of calm to what can be a frightening transition. It sends a clear message: you are not alone.

That’s where The Attic steps in.

In order to perform this essential work, we need help from a community of month donors we call Cornerstone Partners. By joining this community of generous donors you will make it possible to keep The Attic Resource Center stocked and ready. With a gift of just $50 a month, you can help ensure that children entering care have immediate access to what they need. Your support allows One Accord to restock supplies quickly, respond to emergencies, and care for families with consistency and compassion.

We’re inviting you to become part of that community as a Cornerstone Partner—a monthly donor who makes it possible for The Attic Resource Center to stay stocked, responsive, and ready. A gift of just $50 a month helps meet urgent needs and brings hope and stability into moments of deep uncertainty.

Cornerstone Partners are more than donors. They are a movement of compassionate neighbors committed cultivating belonging and stability for children entering foster care and easing the pressure on fmailes that setup up to care for them.

Not everyone can be a foster parent. But everyone can be a part of the story.

By becoming a Cornerstone Partner, you become one of those helpers. With your support, a different story gets written. A story where a child feels seen, supported, and safe from the very beginning.

To join this community of consistent givers, visit bit.ly/become-a-cornerstone-partner. One-time gifts are also welcome and deeply appreciated. Your generosity makes a difference. It brings stability to those who need it most, and it makes sure that when a child enters care, they are met with kindness, dignity, and love.

Join us. Be a Cornerstone Partner. Donate today.

June is National Reunification Month – What is Reunification?

For more than a decade, June has been designated National Reunification Month. The month celebrates and brings awareness to the most desirable and positive legal permanency option for children in foster care. Follow along this month in our limited blog series as we explore family reunification.

Let’s start at the beginning. Why are children removed from their parents and what happens to them?

The decisions by Child Protective Services (CPS) to remove a child from their home is never made lightly. In West Texas and across the state, the primary reasons for removal include neglectful supervision, substance abuse, and domestic violence—situations that often stem from poverty, trauma, or lack of support rather than intentional harm. It’s important to understand that, with rare exceptions, all parents who have their children removed love their children deeply but may be facing overwhelming circumstances and in some cases are the product of the foster care and child welfare system themselves.

When children are removed, CPS seeks the least disruptive but safest option possible. First, they look for kinship placements—relatives or close family friends who can provide stability. If that’s not possible, children may enter foster care or be temporarily housed in shelters until a longer-term plan is arranged.

At the heart of every case is a child longing for their family and parents trying to get their children back. This makes reunification the primary goal in every CPS removal. Viewing these families with compassion helps communities support healing and reunification.

Join us next week as we look at what the parents go through as they try to reunify with their kids.

To stay in the know about West Texas foster care and child welfare, sign up for our email updates and follow us on social media.

First Pres Midland VBS helping out The Attic

At the end of May, One Accord for Kids had the incredible opportunity to partner with First Presbyterian Church Midland’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) to benefit The Attic Resource Center. Throughout the week, the VBS kids showed what it means to care for others in meaningful and creative ways.

From kindergarten through 6th grade, students worked together to raise money for The Attic. They set up lemonade stands, asked neighbors and family for donations, and even sold artwork they created themselves—all to support children in foster care.

The Attic Resource Center team visited VBS one day to talk with the kindergarten through 4th graders about what foster care is, how it affects kids in our community, and how others can help. The students asked thoughtful questions and showed genuine compassion and curiosity.

Later that week, the 5th and 6th graders took their involvement a step further by volunteering in person. One team visited The Attic Resource Center to sort donations and assemble hygiene kits for foster youth. While another team cleaned and organized visitation rooms at the Midland CPS office. They truly made a hands-on difference.

We’re so grateful for the partnership with First Presbyterian Church Midland and the generosity of these young changemakers. Their kindness is already shaping a stronger, more compassionate community.