Jill McCall - Executive Director
Jill McCall is the Executive Director of Compassion Ministries. A native and life-long resident of Waco, she attended Baylor University, where she majored in education, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in 1975.
After graduation, she became a juvenile probation officer for McLennan County and worked there three years before retiring temporarily to rear her family in 1978. While "retired", she was active in many volunteer endeavors including, but not limited to the Junior League of Waco, Waco ISD School Board, Heart of Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the Waco Girls and Boys Club Foundation Board.
Her volunteer work has been recognized through such awards as Humanitarian of the Year - Greater Waco Interfaith Conference, Liberty Bell Award - Waco McLennan County Young Lawyers Association, Hometown Hero Award, 6 Who Care - KCEN TV and Good Neighbor Award - Neighborhood Housing Services of Waco.
Jill returned to McLennan County Juvenile Probation in 1993 and remained there until she was offered the position of Executive Director of Compassion in 1999. Under her leadership, Hope House became a reality in 2002, providing the only transitional housing facility in Central Texas for homeless families with children and single women.
Her hobbies include watching old movies, sudoku and spending time with her husband, Dick, and their children, Harvey and Laura.
Chelle Samaniego - Assistant Executive Director
Chelle Samaniego joined the team at Compassion Ministries as the Assistant Executive Director in May 2010. Her organizational skills, creativity, and true compassion for those in need prepared her for the requirements necessary for the job.
She has served as the Americorps VISTA Volunteer for the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition where she led capacity building efforts for the National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and the city's annual Project Homeless Connect.
Before moving back to her hometown of Hewitt in 2008, Chelle worked in the Dallas area as managing editor for a nationally recognized publishing company as well as content editor and trainer for a popular online travel website. Chelle now focuses on social service and is pleased to be serving God at Compassion Ministries.
Chelle and her husband Michael are both musicians and artists who are active members of their church. Chelle is also a multi-published author whose articles have appeared in Focus on the Family and Focus on the Family Single-Parenting Edition.
Barbara Bridgewater - Case Manager
Barbara Bridgewater has been working as a part-time case manager for Compassion Ministries since 2002. She came to Compassion from Ohio where she was working for a transitional program and emergency shelter for 6 years. Barbara has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Miami of Ohio University and a Master's Degree in Education, specializing in Bilingual Education from Ohio University. Because she speaks the language, Barbara works with our Spanish-speaking families as well as those residents who want to work on their GED while in our program. Barbara, who home schools her own two girls, is married to Phillip Bridgewater, a full-time employee of Habitat for Humanity. The whole family is very involved in Hope Fellowship, a neighborhood church ministry in Waco, as well as with Habitat and Compassion.
Lory Latimer - Case Manager
Lory has worked for Compassion since 1999. She grew up in Ohio and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio State University and a Masters in Education from the University of Houston. She moved to Texas in 1983.
Lory's employment history includes teaching special education in the public schools, working at state schools for the handicapped, and supervising the Independent Living Skills program for handicapped adults at MHMR.
Married for 25 years, Lory and her husband have two children who are now in college. Lory is a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Waco, where she has been involved as a Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible School teacher. Among her other volunteer activities are coaching for the Special Olympics and softball, working in the library, and serving in PTA.
Jackie Morris - Case Manager
Jackie Morris is a recent addition to the Compassion Ministries team, and started as a full time caseworker in May 2010. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Texas.
Jackie has 10 years of experience teaching high school science and many years of experience in the business world in a variety of capacities. Past occupations include everything from Production coordinator for a Software company in Houston, working in Land Administration for a large oil company in Dallas, to houseparent at a Youth Ranch for emotionally disturbed teenagers in Kerrville, Texas. She has been a volunteer at Compassion including serving on the Board of Directors for a brief period until accepting the caseworker position in May, 2010.
Jackie has a high interest in recovery from substance abuse and plans to begin her internship to obtain her LCDC license. She and her two children (Hunter and Marilyn) like to spend weekends going to Austin to explore the creeks and trails, attending football games, and participating in church and school activities.
