ABOUT US
 

About Panhandle Community Services

Panhandle Community Services is a non-profit, community-based organization offering various programs and services to assist low-income individuals and families. Our programs and services are designed and implemented to target specific poverty-related issues to bridge the gap between poverty and self-sufficiency. As a whole, PCS provides a broad base of support for all residents living in the top twenty-six counties of the Texas Panhandle.

What is Community Action?

In August 1964, President Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act creating the nationwide Community Action Network. President Kennedy's New Frontier inspired President Johnson’s sweeping plan to improve the lives of all Americans regardless of their circumstances. Johnson pledged to fulfill Kennedy’s promise of equal opportunity by enacting several sweeping changes within the federal government.

Community Action equips low-income citizens with the tools and potential for becoming self-sufficient. The program's structure is unique—federal dollars are used locally to offer specialized programming in communities. It is a coordinated effort to address the root effects of poverty and ultimately move families and individuals to self-sufficiency.

This work is not easy, and demand is constantly shifting and changing. Over the years, the federal government has changed as well. The funding is now part of the Block Grant System, which allows for the flexibility and specialization of unique programs. Poverty is viewed as a systemic problem, and Community Action is a systems approach to resolving that problem. There are over 1,000 Community Action Agencies throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

The Community Action Promise

Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.