So they say! And at ACO, that sentiment has never rung truer. Over the years, we have worked diligently to grow and expand our programs and services while operating within very real resource constraints. It’s not always easy—but meaningful work rarely is.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” That may well be our motto for 2026 as we continue making thoughtful facility improvements and operational changes to better serve our community.

’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the towns,

Not a child went hungry, not a face wore a frown;

For stockings were brimming with new toys and delight,

Thanks to the ACO North Pole Elves that worked magic each night.

Today in our communities, parents are quietly skipping meals so their children can eat. Worse are the children who go to bed hungry. Seniors are sitting alone in dark homes because they can’t afford both groceries and electricity. Families are sleeping in their cars, unsure where they’ll go tomorrow. Yes, this is in Collin County. Every day.

It is hard to imagine in our affluent area that there are so many families struggling to survive. Yet, they live next door, go to school with our children, and pass us each day. These are single parents, large extended families, grandparents raising their grandchildren and lonely seniors in dire situations who have nowhere to turn to for emergency assistance, compassion and hope. And during the holidays, their struggles are even greater.