Families to Freedom helps survivors escape abuse one ride at a time By Sonia Duggan Day in, day out for nearly a decade, volunteer drivers with Families to Freedom have shown up at hospitals, police stations and carefully arranged meeting spots to transport people escaping …
Local volunteer network supports first responders and families in crisis By Sonia Duggan When tragedy strikes — whether it’s a police shooting, a suicide, a mass casualty event or a devastating natural disaster — first responders rush toward the scene. But once the sirens fade …
Court Appointed Special Advocates Support Children in Crisis By Whitney Alswede When a child is removed from an unsafe home, they lose more than a place to live. They lose familiar routines, classrooms, friendships and, often, contact with siblings — all in a matter of …
Inside North Texas’ adult LEGO community — & why more grown-ups are clicking bricks again By Sonia Duggan A building toy invented nearly a century ago remains relevant today, having grown up alongside its users. LEGO, best known for its interlocking plastic bricks, is no …
A year in review of the nonprofits strengthening our communities By Sonia Duggan From the beginning, In & Around Magazine set out to do more than showcase destinations, events and lifestyle. It set out to tell the stories that anchor a community — the ones …
Community Quilters craft comfort for children and families in need By Sonia Duggan Each week, a community of quilters comes together with a shared purpose: creating new, handmade blankets that offer warmth, comfort and reassurance to children facing some of life’s hardest moments. These dedicated individuals …
Honor Flight DFW reconnects veterans with history, heroes and healing By Bob Wieland Two longtime friends and fellow members of American Legion Post 315 in Wylie recently shared a journey neither will ever forget. Vietnam veterans Don Bridges and Chuck Davis made a trip to …
Lakeside Ambucs — inspiring mobility and independence By Whitney Alswede You could say Ariyan Braddy is a celebrity at her Garland ISD elementary school. The 10-year-old’s genuine warmth and contagious spirit touch the lives of everyone she meets, her mother, Nicole Braddy, said. “She just …
Plano nonprofit gives injured, orphaned animals a second chance By Sonia Duggan A rotating cast of injured or orphaned wildlife — from baby opossums and raccoons to skunks, armadillos, rabbits, squirrels, birds and turtles — are given second chances every day because someone cared enough to …
This month, the city of Farmersville will commemorate two historic milestones during its annual Audie Murphy Day celebration, set for June 20–21: the 100th birthday of Audie Murphy and the 80th anniversary of his heroic homecoming. In the summer of 1942, at just 17 years …