Falls Community ARC Coalition: Looking Forward
Falls Community ARC Coalition members are volunteers at every opportunity. Meeting on September 2, 2026, to coordinate existing service areas plus plan their next service in Falls County communities were Bettye Tarver, Derinda Austin, Olga Rosas, Rose Castillo, Jan Smith, Falls Community ARC Coalition Chair Letitia Estep, Myriam Virella, CCHW | (she/her/hers) | Program Coordinator II, REACHing Well - Family and Community Health, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and Rosandra Hartsfield, Family and Community Health-Extension Agent II, Prairie View A&M University- Extension. Their collective challenge is dedicated to helping people from all walks of life, listen with sensitivity, and think creatively. Members of the Falls Community ARC Coalition serve throughout the counties’ communities, providing personal time, talents, and treasures, and collectively practical, accessible solutions to everyday challenges. Volunteers will be present at the Faith, Hope and Charity Family Play Day on Saturday, September 27, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., at 405 E. First Street, Marlin. Come one, come all! There will be food distribution, drawings for gifts, free hot dogs, drink, and chips, a bouncy house, face-painting, and lots of games! Volunteers will be at the Falls County Junior Fair working in the Home Economics Division on September 10-12 at the Falls County Youth Fair Fairgrounds, Marlin. Volunteers at The Central Texas Mobile Pantry helped serve 168 families on August 26, 2025, at FBC Marlin.
Preparations are being made to assist other organizations in collecting food to support individuals and families in need of food between general delivery times.
The Falls Community ARC Coalition is more than a collection of people. Its spirit of volunteerism is an emotional force rooted in the feelings, thoughts and actions of all members with the common goal of achievement, sharing and mutual support. This team has created a healthy, dynamic affiliation, one in which everyone is simply” happy to serve” the Falls County community. In their service, they personally provide time, talents, and treasures, and collectively provide practical, accessible solutions to everyday challenges. Not pictured but remembered for their consistent commitment are Faith, Hope and Charity Director Shirley King Piper; FBC Marlin Pastor Chip Parmer; Chilton ISD Superintendent and Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Brandon Hubbard; and Greater Jude Tabernacle Pastor Robert Curtis and First Lady Donetta Curtis. The spirit of volunteerism/ of helping others fuels volunteers to become active participants in communities, leading to personal growth, increased well-being, and stronger societies.
The Falls Community ARC Coalition meets the first Tuesday of each month at 12:00 noon, at First Baptist Church Marlin.