Common Ground Ministries has been a safe haven for at-risk children in East Waxahachie since 1991. That is over 33 years of showing up every single afternoon for kids who need us most.
Most of our students come from low-income, single-parent households. They arrive after school to a warm meal, a caring staff member, and a place where they are seen, celebrated, and pushed to be their very best. For just $50 per child per semester, we provide after-school transportation, a healthy daily meal, snack sacks for Friday afternoons, homework tutoring, supervised recreation, Biblical teaching, and character development. Everything a child needs to thrive.
Our students don't just survive. They graduate. The majority of CGM kids earn their high school diplomas. Many go on to college through the Danny Hill Scholarship Fund, which we award to CGM alumni pursuing higher education or technical training.
We also run a four-week summer program with field trips to parks, museums, and local eateries. Our annual Christmas with Dignity event provides families the dignity of celebrating the holiday season with brand-new gifts at little to no cost. Programs like Shoe Buddy, Career Day, and cooking lessons round out a year of enrichment that changes the trajectory of a child's life.
Right now we serve 30 students, and we always have a waiting list. We are in the middle of a $500,000 Building Campaign to construct a permanent facility that will allow us to serve more children, more families, and more of the community that has trusted us for three decades.
We believe every child deserves a safe, structured, spirit-led place to grow. That belief has not changed since day one.
Common Ground Ministries exists to provide a safe, structured, and spirit-led environment that meets the emotional, physical, and academic needs of at-risk children and youth in East Waxahachie, Texas. We believe every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves a place where they are known, loved, and equipped to reach their full God-given potential.
1. Staff Salaries. Our Most Critical Need.
Our two full-time and two part-time staff members are the heartbeat of CGM. Monthly salary expenses average $6,370. Without our staff, there is no program. Donations that fund salaries directly keep our doors open every afternoon.
2. Daily Meals and Snack Sacks
Every child receives a healthy meal when they arrive and a snack sack to take home on Fridays. Food security changes everything. We see it in their grades, their focus, and their confidence. Grocery funding is essential every single month.
3. Technology and Learning Tools
Each 5th-grade student is given a tablet they keep when they graduate our program, helping them compete academically with their peers. Annual technology funding ensures every child has access to the tools they need.
4. Building Campaign. Our Big Dream.
For over 30 years, our children have met in a donated portable building that is more than 30 years old. We are raising $500,000 to build a permanent, safe, and dignified facility that will allow us to serve significantly more children and families in East Waxahachie. We have raised $10,000 so far, and every gift brings us closer.
5. Program and Activity Funding
Summer camp field trips, Christmas with Dignity gifts, Shoe Buddy supplies, Career Day events, and arts and crafts materials keep our programming vibrant and our students engaged year-round.
Organization name
Common Ground Ministries
other names
CGM
Tax id (EIN)
75-2416743
Causes
Education - Early Childhood
Operating Budget
$100,000 - $249,999
Counties Served
Ellis
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American
Address
P. O. Box 444