Serve Lewisville: New facility offers access to multiple nonprofits

Lewisville, Texas - In a pioneering move designed to streamline access to social aid, the city of Lewisville in is orchestrating an impressive alliance of nonprofit organizations, converging them under a single roof for greater accessibility. Set to inaugurate its services to the public on July 10, "Serve Lewisville" marks a significant stride towards simplifying residents' ability to utilize such essential services.

Ashleigh Feryan, the Neighborhood Services Manager for the City of Lewisville, encapsulates the initiative's impact:

"Being able to have a resident come in the door, that's maybe only two minutes from their home, instead of having to drive across the lake, that's going to be helpful for them," said Ashleigh Feryan.

The diverse and spread out nature of these services has often posed challenges for the intended beneficiaries. The constraints of work, arranging transportation, and coordinating childcare can frequently complicate appointments and deter utilization.

"They're in Denton or in other cities, so they provide services to Lewisville residents, but they are not officed here," Feryan said.

Uniting these entities within one central edifice located in the heart of Lewisville promises to dismantle many of the obstacles inhibiting access to assistance. The streamlined approach offers the public an integrated platform for mental health services, fresh food, and youth support under a single roof.

A constellation of six nonprofits is poised to relocate to the Serve Lewisville building, comprising the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County, Mission Market Food Pantry, MHMR of Tarrant County, Denton County MHMR, and the Lewisville CoCare Team.

"Opening this office is an incredible opportunity for us because we can extend our reach into a new community and really increase our capacity to serve more kids and teens at Boys and Girls Club," said Daphne Barlow Stigliano, CEO & president of Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County.

Serve Lewisville's operational design draws inspiration from Serve Denton, a successful model that boasts a five-acre campus hosting a network of 22 nonprofits.

"Last year, they served over 31,000 people, just at our Serve Denton site," said Kristen Gramling, who works as the director of operations for both Serve Denton and Serve Lewisville.

The unique initiative has piqued the interest of other North Texas cities. The communal space is a windfall for the participating organizations, offering below-market rent and less overhead costs.

"What's been most helpful or beneficial is with the money saved by our partner agencies, that they're to hire more staff to provide more services, they're able to put more money towards their services to help more people in need," Gramling said.

Marking a significant milestone in the initiative, Serve Lewisville will be hosting a public ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. on July 20.

Phase one of the project anticipates reaching full occupancy within months of opening, once all current nonprofit partners have relocated. A second phase envisions the construction of a new, adjacent two-story facility.

"We want this to be a respectful, safe place for everybody that comes," Gramling said. "We just ultimately want it to be in service to those in need."

Content credit: City of Lewisville, Serve Lewisville, CBS NEWS Texas, Dallas Metro News