White Rock Center of Hope. Photo by Rasy Ran
Crime has hit White Rock Center of Hope — a nonprofit operating in our neighborhood more than 30 years — and not for the first time in a year.
A violent attack last Monday afternoon left executive director Greg Smith badly beat up. A volunteer suffered minor injuries, and the whole team is dealing with the aftereffects of the incident, which happened in its administrative offices on Garland Road near Peavy in East Dallas.
White Rock Center of Hope offers goods and services — clothing, food, schools supplies, rent assistance, transportation payments and self-sufficiency programs — to people in East Dallas and Lake Highlands. WRCH’s resale shop suffered a burglary last December.
Smith says the man burst in and starting hitting him.
“He struck me with his fist multiple times in the head and chest,” Smith says. “As he fled, he encountered one of our volunteers, whom he pushed to the ground.”
Development director Kimberly Patterson, who was in her office at the time, heard yelling, opened her door and saw Smith and the volunteer on the ground. Another helper was yelling to lock the doors and call 911, Patterson recalls.
She says it took police about an hour to arrive.
Meanwhile another staffer drove Smith and the injured volunteer to White Rock Medical Center, Smith says. The volunteer was released but Smith’s injuries were more severe.
“They transferred me by ambulance to Parkland where I received comprehensive testing and treatment,” he says. “I have been at home recovering since late Monday evening.”
Patterson says no one got a very good description of the assailant, it happened so fast.
All they can say is it was a white male dressed in black. If anyone has any information about the incident, they should contact police, the staffers tell us.
Despite his injuries, Smith says he’ll return to work Monday in some capacity.
He’ll bring in a counselor to assist any volunteers or staff impacted by the incident.
The center has launched a campaign to fund security enhancements, and Smith says the first phase is already being implemented.
“We are a hope-filled people who seek to provide hope in tangible forms to those in need,” he says.
Be it caring conversation, nutritious groceries and hygiene items, clothing, financial assistance to prevent eviction, confidence building, job skills training — “hope happens each day as our staff and volunteers come alongside neighbors in need to address today’s challenges and pave the way for a better tomorrow,” Smith says.
According to the WRCH website, the Safekeeping Fund will enhance building security.
“100% of your donation to this fund will be used to improve the safety and security of our facility for the benefit of the entire community,” reads the webpage. “We need your help now to help create a safe and secure future for White Rock Center of Hope.”
To contribute, visit whiterockcenterofhope.org/safekeeping.
