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Farmers Branch residents are turning to local nonprofit partners for a wider range of help, from food and rent assistance to health care, workforce support and senior services.
Leaders from Metrocrest Services and Woven Health Clinic told the Farmers Branch City Council at its June 2 meeting that both organizations are expanding services for residents who need more than short-term assistance.
Gabrielle “Gabe” Madison, CEO of Metrocrest Services, said the organization served almost 29,000 people in 2025 across its service area. In Farmers Branch, the number of residents served is projected to decline slightly from the previous fiscal year.
But Madison said that does not mean the need is going away.
“We’re going deeper than we ever have with the services,” Madison said.
Metrocrest provided 19,322 services to 4,805 Farmers Branch residents in fiscal year 2025. Madison said the organization expects Farmers Branch residents to use more than 19,000 services again this year.
She said Farmers Branch residents are engaging with Metrocrest at rates higher than the agencywide average. She attributed that to proximity, the organization’s roots in Farmers Branch and referrals from city employees, emergency responders and others who connect residents to services.
Metrocrest is best known for its food pantry. Madison said she wants residents and city leaders to think of the organization as a resource for job placement, education, financial well-being, senior support and temporary assistance.
In the first six months of its current reporting period, Metrocrest provided rent and utility assistance to 56 Farmers Branch households, totaling about $55,000. It also provided food assistance to 3,346 Farmers Branch residents, representing about 436,000 pounds of food and 366,000 meals.
Metrocrest also served 537 Farmers Branch seniors, delivered 232 hot meals to homebound seniors and provided workforce development services to 56 residents.
Madison said the organization has 38 partner organizations that come to its location regularly. Its goal is to reach 60 partners by summer 2027 and 100 by 2029.
The goal is not only to refer people elsewhere, but to help them navigate services, Madison said.
“We’re walking with them throughout that time,” Madison said. “We’re not allowing them to just go there. We are walking them through that actual opportunity for more access.”
Metrocrest is also expanding programs focused on nutrition, chronic disease prevention, senior support and parenting education. Madison said its FoodRX and nutrition education programs have drawn strong interest from residents trying to manage conditions such as diabetes and heart disease through food choices.
“I love you have so much to offer, not just a food pantry,” council member Lupe Gonzalez said.
Madison also described My Path, a relationship-based effort to provide wraparound support. Residents often come to Metrocrest with one immediate need, she said. Staff members then work to build trust and identify other challenges.
“People come to us with one need, but we all know that there’s more,” Madison said.
Woven Health Clinic reported a similar expansion.
Sheridan Robinson, executive director of Woven Health Clinic, said the organization is expanding services for Farmers Branch residents, particularly those who are uninsured or underinsured.
Robinson, who said she has been in the role for about five months, said Woven operates locations in Farmers Branch and Carrollton. The clinic provides primary care, women’s health, men’s health, behavioral health and nutrition counseling.
The clinic saw 413 unique patients from January through April, including 155 patients specifically in Farmers Branch. Robinson said Woven is working to grow its Farmers Branch presence.
The clinic is also expanding mental health and nutrition services, along with services for men.
“We’re looking to expand our services to be able to get more men inside of our health clinic,” Robinson said.
Woven reported a 66.5% average remission rate for patients receiving mental health services through its Mind Matters Wellness Program. The clinic also completed 11 pop-up clinics with Metrocrest Services, serving 63 patients through those events.
Robinson highlighted Woven’s direct primary care program, a subscription-based model for people who cannot obtain insurance. For $80 a month, she said, patients can access primary care, therapy, nutrition help and other services.
“Primary care is expensive,” Robinson said.
Robinson said Woven is working to expand into pediatrics and Medicaid services. She said the credentialing process could take about six months. The clinic is also looking to add at least two family nurse practitioners and may expand its Farmers Branch office space.
In other business, the council appointed David Reid as mayor pro tem and Roger Neal as deputy mayor pro tem for the period from June 2026 through May 2027.
The council is scheduled to meet again June 16.
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