Campaign News

On Monday, August 1, 2022, before dawn, Metrocrest CEO Tracy Eubanks and COO Nicole Binkley stopped by the site of our new building to watch the slab being poured. In total, 500 cubic yards (52 truck loads) of concrete were poured in five hours.

NDBT’s collaboration with Metrocrest Services pays dividends for non-profit clientele as well as for employees of growing bank

The leadership and staff of North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. (NDBT) know how important solid footing is for people: For a community to thrive, people need to have security and stability in many different aspects of their lives. That’s one of the many reasons NDBT got involved with Metrocrest Services in a decades-long commitment to serve that has helped Metrocrest Services clients with financial literacy and food on the table, and a new facility that will help the non-profit serve its mission for many decades to come.

“It’s not just a Band-Aid: it’s helping the community get back on their feet, giving them all the tools so they can be independent,” Megly Wester, Addison banking center manager for NDBT, said of the many ways in which Metrocrest Services helps its clients. Wester and her team have been involved with Metrocrest Services for many years, following a lead set by Jay Henry, the NDBT market president who began volunteering for Metrocrest Services almost 30 years ago.

The team at NDBT feels so strongly about the positive results Metrocrest Services is able to achieve that the company recently made a significant investment in the Metrocrest Services Building Our Future capital campaign. The initiative will bring all of Metrocrest Services’ abilities under one roof in an efficient new home in the heart of need for the community.

Hands-on volunteering, teaching financial literacy classes, and contributing to the capital campaign are all ways in which NDBT has dedicated time, expertise and funding to Metrocrest Services. But the bank has found another way to leverage its deep experience to help the non-profit, too: “We’re helping them achieve favorable financing for the construction of the new facility,” Henry said. “That’s part of our heart and what we do here at NDBT for non-profits.”

The pandemic did not slow NDBT from meeting its mission of caring for the community: In 2021, the company’s non-profit initiative, NDBT Cares, recorded more than 130 service hours and $487,000 pledged to 80 organizations making change in the community, including Metrocrest Services.

“They give us the tools to serve our community; it’s amazing,” Wester said of NDBT Cares and the opportunities she has through her employment at NDBT.

The way in which the employees of NDBT interact with Metrocrest Services serves as a best-practice model for how other companies can get involved with non-profit organizations. The collaboration is meaningful for both the bank and the non-profit.

“They really have been the model of what we hope to achieve with the NDBT Cares program,” noted Lisa Rushing, director of community engagement for NDBT.

When asked how other businesses or individuals could create a meaningful relationship with a non-profit, the team at NDBT had a few tips:

Organize staff to volunteer their time together. “People react to experiences,” Henry said, “Being there, working in the food pantry or delivering a sack full of food to a family because their kids can’t get their food during summertime from school, is powerful. Experiences speak more to encourage people to get involved than anything else. Schedule a volunteer opportunity somewhere to get to know their mission.”

Get to know leadership at the non-profit. “Get to know the people who work there, and their leadership. Tracy [Eubanks] and Nicole [Binkley] at Metrocrest have servants’ hearts,” Henry said. Understanding how the non-profit is governed and how the mission is met is important, he emphasized.

Just start! “Sometimes, people spend a lot of time trying to figure something out,” Henry said. He recommended learning by volunteering. “You will not regret it, and I promise, you will come back for more,” he said. Service is one of the core values of NDBT, he explained: “A statement we use often at NDBT says it all: ‘Treat others the way you would want to be treated.’”

Wester has volunteered in many different capacities for Metrocrest Services. When she began, she thought she would just be called on to help teach the financial literacy class that Metrocrest offers to help clients understand budgeting and money management. The class is part of the “wrap-around” services that Metrocrest offers, including rent and utility assistance, job placement, transportation for seniors and many more, in addition to serving as a food pantry – but Wester has stepped up and served in many different parts of the organization, growing her commitment while sharpening her own skills.

“One thing that I really want is to be a change-maker and the way I can do that is by donating my time to share with everyone else what I know,” she said. “If that helps someone to get a job or be in a better place than they were before, then it’s all worth it.”

With summer coming, Henry and his team of NDBT volunteers expect to help with the Metrocrest Services Sack Summer Hunger program, which gets nutritious meals to children who might not otherwise have access to food because of school being out of session for the summer. There will also be work to do in the food pantry as the need continues to increase across North Texas. In addition to that, NDBT is excited to see the new home for Metrocrest Services rise from the ground.

Henry looks forward to the building’s opening. “I want to see a very busy facility, with a lot of activity coming in and out,” he said. “I want to see Metrocrest Services thrive in a building that’s larger with more square footage and more services than they have ever had before.”

“Seeing that building and knowing that it will be there for years and year to come, serving the community, and saying that we had a small part in it, will be incredible,” Rushing echoed.

“It is partnerships, such as the one with NDBT, that allows Metrocrest Services to achieve its objective of serving our neighbors with dignity and respect, and being able to say yes in their time of need,” said Tracy Eubanks, CEO of Metrocrest Services. “We applaud NDBT for its unwavering commitment to the communities it serves.”

Wester sums up why employees of NDBT feel strongly about working with Metrocrest Services: “The success of a community is measured by the compassion given by its members,” she said.

The date she began volunteering for Metrocrest Services escapes Judy Holleman.

“I can’t even remember when I started,” the retired resident of Carrollton said. “But it was in the ‘90s. I don’t know why, but I just signed up and said, ‘Hey, I’d like to do Home Delivered Meals.’”

What began as feeding a few senior citizens on her route on Saturdays has grown to a legacy of giving that has helped tens of thousands through her volunteerism and monetary support of Metrocrest Services.

“With Metrocrest Services, I just kind of got involved with donating to the food pantry,” she said. “Before the pandemic, I volunteered at the pantry and now I volunteer at the warehouse, sorting donations. Things have changed a lot over the years.” The need has grown exponentially for Metrocrest Services, as people struggle with everything from the effects of the pandemic to job loss, health crises, rent escalations, inflation and more.

“People don’t know all the things that Metrocrest does do, and can do,” Judy said. “So many people don’t have family and friends to take care of them. Metrocrest has the resources to offer them.”

Volunteering with Metrocrest Services offers Judy the chance to give back. Every Wednesday finds her at the Metrocrest Services warehouse, sorting donations alongside three other volunteers who have become close friends.

“They call us ‘The Fab Four,’” Judy laughed. “Vicky, Stella, Peggy and me – we work together and two of us go out to lunch after our shift. We’ve gotten to be real good friends.” None of the women knew each other before they began volunteering together, and now they’re fast friends who look forward to their Wednesdays together.

Judy also enjoys giving monetarily to Metrocrest Services, knowing from first-hand experience how the non-profit changes lives for the better. She is a supporter of the Metrocrest Services Building Our Future capital campaign, happily donating money to help the organization build a much-needed new headquarters facility.

“Those people at Metrocrest Services are super fantastic and they know where it needs to go!” Judy explained. “They’re in my will and everything else. I like to see the money working while I’m alive. And see the joy.”

In particular, Judy looks forward to the new food pantry and warehouse, both of which will be on-site at the new Metrocrest Services, a facility that will bring the many services the social services agency offers under one roof. She looks forward to seeing people shop for their own groceries and choosing from the fresh fruits and vegetables donated from the North Texas Food Bank and community gardens that support the pantry.

“I’m just so excited; I’ve seen all the plans!” Judy said. “Just the rendering of what the place is going to look like is so exciting.”

Now 79 years young, Judy counts her involvement with Metrocrest Services as one of the things that brings her the most joy. “I don’t have a lot of hobbies, and I don’t cook a lot and I don’t clean,” she joked. Judy also looks forward to her daily walks with rescue dogs at Operation Kindness, where she also spends time volunteering.

“Judy is just a one-of-a-kind volunteer who goes above and beyond to help her community,” Nicole Binkley, COO of Metrocrest Services, said. “She truly cares for people and is willing to invest her resources to show it. Her humor and kindness are unparalleled. Judy is beloved in our organization, and we are grateful for every act of kindness she gives.”

For others looking to get involved, Judy recommends talking to volunteer coordinators at Metrocrest Services to find a role that fits your lifestyle. “There are so many opportunities – just find the one you want to do. Someone I ran into a couple years ago helped Metrocrest Services in office work. I have another friend whose daughter wants to intern with them because they’re a great non-profit.

“I always just say, ‘Just give us a chance.’ There are so many avenues that I didn’t even know Metrocrest was involved in,” Judy said, “and I’m amazed at the things going to be in the new building. I always say, ‘We do that now?’ And I will find out we did already do that, but with this new building, we will offer it in a whole new way. Just get involved.”

Carrollton company helping fund construction of new Metrocrest Services facility. 

As employees of Western Extrusions gathered in person again for the quarterly luncheon, they had a few reasons to smile: Beautiful weather, a chance to gather in person again, fajitas served to them by leadership – and a special donation to an organization that means a lot to company employees. Western Extrusions presented Metrocrest Services with a check for $250,000, important support for the Metrocrest Services Building Our Future capital campaign that will build a stronger community by increasing the number of clients served and improve the quality and reach of Metrocrest’s services and programs.

“We are grateful for the work that Metrocrest Services does in this community and are honored to be able to support the building of their new headquarters,” said Bennett McEvoy, CEO of Western Extrusions.

Tracy Eubanks, CEO of Metrocrest Services, accepted the large check and expressed the organization’s appreciation for support from corporate partners like Western Extrusions.

“Western Extrusions has been a long-time supporter of the work of Metrocrest Services,” Eubanks noted. “Their employees have been here helping us in our food pantry, creating meals for our Sack Summer Hunger program, conducting toy and coat drives, and a multitude of other assistance. To have this company as a significant part of our capital campaign as we look to the future of Metrocrest Services is both fitting and heart-warming. Western Extrusions is a company that truly cares about its community and the people here.”

“I am very honored to work for a company that gives to an important organization such as Metrocrest Services,” said Edgar Melchor, lead recruiter at Western Extrusions. “I’ve volunteered at Metrocrest Services so I understand how important this donation is. It’s wonderful to work for a company that cares.”

Western Extrusions Corporation is a national leader in the manufacturing of extruded aluminum products.  Headquartered in Carrollton, Texas Western Extrusions manufactures quality products used in America’s critical infrastructure industries including but not limited to class 8 trucks, electric vehicles, truck trailers, utility scale solar power, electrical transmission, and numerous commercial construction products.

Metrocrest Services, a non-profit social services agency serving Carrollton, promotes well-being and independence through programs for individuals, families and seniors that lead to self-sufficiency and foster independence. Expected to open in the spring of 2023, the new home for Metrocrest Services will bring all of the organization’s services under one roof, creating convenient access for clients and volunteers alike with the largest expansion the non-profit has had in its 50-year history.

Thanks to donors including Western Extrusions, the new campus of Metrocrest Services will be located on 4.6 acres of property near the intersection of Josey Lane and Belt Line Road in Carrollton. A 48,000-square-foot facility will become a welcoming hub for all of the agency’s daily operations, including providing access to nutritious food, workforce development and financial literacy, rent and utility assistance, senior services and other programs for individuals, families and seniors that lead to self-sufficiency and foster independence. The campus will also include shared space for complementary service providers to support clients from one central location and a volunteer center for greater opportunities for community engagement. Bringing all Metrocrest Services programs under one roof, the new campus will allow for improved efficiency in all operations, and will house the expanded programs that the non-profit has launched to meet today’s elevated need while planning for the future.

Members of the community are encouraged to visit msbuildingourfuture.org to pledge their own support for the capital campaign and help Metrocrest Services meet the challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation by July 2022.  Every gift makes a difference and helps to create a place that serves Metrocrest neighbors in need with dignity and respect.

Metrocrest Services Breaks Ground at Epicenter of Need

‘Building Our Future’ campaign to increase capacity and improve services and programs through construction of new facility

Metrocrest Services is establishing a new campus at the epicenter of need in its service area on 4.6 acres of property at the intersection of Josey Lane and Belt Line Road in Carrollton. A new, 48,000-square-foot facility will become a welcoming hub for all of the agency’s daily operations, including providing access to nutritious food, workforce development and financial literacy, rent and utility assistance, senior services and other programs for individuals, families and seniors that lead to self-sufficiency and foster independence. The campus will also include shared space for complementary service providers to support clients from one central location and a volunteer center for greater opportunities for community engagement.

A ceremonial groundbreaking took place November 16 and construction has begun!

Anticipated to open in the spring of 2023, the new campus will provide ample space to combine all Metrocrest Services locations into one hub for more efficient operations. The non-profit has added staff and expanded programs to meet today’s elevated need and plan for the future. Metrocrest Services has continued operations at a capacity described as more than full well before the pandemic, and has persevered through the events of recent months despite the additional difficulty.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, prior to the deadly winter storm and the economic hardships many have endured, the Metrocrest community has experienced a staggering need for social services. To meet this need today and plan for the future, Metrocrest Services has announced its intent to raise $15.8 million through a capital campaign, “Building Our Future.”

“We desperately need additional space to not only offer our current programs but also grow to serve the increased need,” said Tracy Eubanks, CEO of Metrocrest Services, which address gaps in finances, employment and nutrition to help holistically end poverty and decrease inequities for residents of Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, Farmers Branch and the City of Dallas in Denton County. “We are humbled by the generous support of the community, which allows us to lift lives and create opportunities.”

“Metrocrest Services has built a very strong foundation for our friends and neighbors. This new facility will demonstrate in a tangible way how we care for all of our citizens together,” said Craig Woodfield, chair of the Building Our Future capital campaign. “I invite everyone to be a part of providing this home and hub of services that make a difference in people’s lives.”

Caring community members began stepping up to help by donating funds toward the capital campaign in August 2020, when fundraising began. To date, more than $10 million has been committed from more than 200 generous individuals, foundations, corporations and organizations, including a $2 million challenge grant from The Mabee Foundation to raise $10.4 million by July 2022.

“As a valued and long-time partner agency of the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), Metrocrest Services has shared in our dedication and passion in providing nourishment and hope for our neighbors experiencing hunger,” said Trisha Cunningham, president and CEO of NTFB. “Over the years, Metrocrest has expanded its scope and reach by providing a comprehensive approach to social services addressing gaps in finances, employment and nutrition to help end poverty and decrease inequities. Because Metrocrest Services understands that creating lasting change in the fight against hunger requires tackling the root causes of food insecurity, NTFB is proud to support their expansion campaign through a $1.5 million grant.”

Members of the community are encouraged to pledge their own support for the capital campaign and help Metrocrest Services meet the Mabee Foundation challenge grant by July 2022.  Every gift makes a difference and helps to create a place that serves Metrocrest neighbors in need with dignity and respect.