The Mosaic Center in Lufkin has secured a $5,000 grant from Angelina County to fully fund five women through its free 12-week job and life skills program, the nonprofit told KTRE on Saturday. The grant comes from Texas Opioid Abatement Fund dollars that Angelina County distributes to recovery and self-sufficiency programs across East Texas.

The Mosaic Center has served women in the 936 area since 2005 and says more than 400 graduates have moved through its 12-week curriculum, which pairs career readiness with money management, parenting skills, boundaries and communication. The organization describes its program as a bridge from dependency to economic self-sufficiency.

Executive Director Rebecca Reid, who has led the center for seven years, said the organization spends about $1,000 per student when classes, materials, mentoring and local referrals are counted. The $5,000 Angelina County grant covers five of those seats outright. Reid said the center’s motto is “we give them a hand up and not a hand out.”

The Mosaic Center runs on grants, donations and volunteers, and the organization said it continues to accept student applications and community support.

Sources: KTRE