The young people of the neighborhood and law enforcement know it as “The Four Way”. The elderly that have been there since the ‘70’s call it the Alameda Addition. I know it as my neighborhood. The neighborhood I have been driving through for sixteen years to get back and forth to work. The area is west of the Winter’s Freeway to Ruidosa St. and from S.1st to S. 7th. You most recently heard of “our neighborhood” in the media when a 5 yr old boy was grazed by a bullet in a drive by shooting of his home. It is one of the highest crime areas in Abilene, Texas.
The Alameda Addition was built in the late 60’s & 70’s as a housing development that would be homes for many of the families serving at the brand new Dyess Airforce Base. Today there are elderly, former military people , that still live in the neighborhood. Their once thriving neighborhood is now host to run down rent houses, drug houses and they are trapped in their paid off homes.
Under the guidance of Connecting CaringCommunities ,Star Family of Dealerships is partnering with The Dyess We Care Team, New Haven Community Church, House of Faith and several neighbors to bring together “The Four Way Initiative”.
With The Four Way Initiative we hope to *Refurbish,*Revitalize*Restore*&*Rebuild the community spirit in the Alameda Addition. We will do this by uniting neighbors and connecting people through minor renovation projects on the houses of the elderly homeowners of this area. We most recently held a summer program for the youth of the area and gave away more than $1000 in youth scholarships.
Star Dodge and other area businesses have committed to provide the supplies and materials and the Dyess We Care Team will provide the leadership and labor for the projects. New Haven and House of Faith will help identify recipients and communicate dates and projects throughout the neighborhood.
The We Care Team will host a “Tax Free” weekend Car Wash at Red Robin on August 20th from 11AM-5PM to help raise funds (by donation) for The Four Way Initiative. September 17th is the tentative kickoff day for the We Care Team to begin their first project. For more information on the Four Way Initiative you may email Gordon Storey, Director of the Dyess We Care Team at thedyesswecareteam@yahoo.com.