Charitable Donations Houston

Things We’re Thankful For

Friday, October 21, 2011 by Hank Rush

Thanksgiving is a time we all count our blessings, and I want you to know that hundreds of Star of Hope’s residents and graduates are thanking God for you!

In our special Thanksgiving edition of The Light, we’ve included some heartfelt thank-yous from three ladies whose lives were completely transformed by the food, shelter, spiritual support and long-term care you help provide . . . like Michelle.

Michelle arrived at Star of Hope in deep grief after the loss of her mother. For a while, she’d tried to “medicate” that grief with addiction, but she knew that could only lead to more heartbreak, so she humbly asked for help at our Women & Family Emergency Shelter downtown.

With homelessness on the rise among Houston families, we didn’t have a room for her right away, but Michelle was grateful just to sleep on a clean “overflow” mat for a few days. She knew it was the first step to stability. You won’t want to miss her inspiring words about her journey . . . or the other stories and photos of lives you’ve changed.

Thank you for being part of stories like Michelle’s through your ongoing support and prayers. These are difficult days for many in our city, and your help really matters!

Read Star of Hope's October edition of The Light and share it with your friends!

Discover ways to give with Star of Hope Mission.
Visit Donating to Charitable Organizations Houston.

Helping Houston's Homeless with Social Media

Friday, September 16, 2011 by Andrew Holmes

I just left the Houston Online Marketing Summit with lots of information on how the Star of Hope web team can continue to build and utilize the social media world to get our message out to the city of Houston and beyond. The conference, which is comprised of multiple sessions on various social media topics such as SEO and Performance Metrics offers sessions by online marketing leaders for very large international brands. These sessions are of course focused on best practices for business. Several times during the different sessions I attended I heard “remember, it’s all about the sale” and “it’s not about relationships, it’s about marketing”.

For the Star of Hope this is absolutely not true, yes, we do have a message to get across and yes we do need financial support to execute our mission but ultimately, it’s about the people in our community that do not have anywhere to lay their heads tonight, it’s about people who need compassion from their neighbors and it's about sharing Christ with someone you may not know by reaching out a hand.

Our online strategy will be centered on the stories of the countless people that come to our mission for refuge and rebuilding and how your support makes it happen. More importantly, If we can inspire anyone on Facebook or Twitter (and beyond ) to engage in acts of volunteerism , giving , loving and praying for the person without a home in their communities across the globe then we have utilized these wonderful tools for the ultimate good.

Discover ways to give and help Houston's homeless with Star of Hope.
Visit Donating to Charitable Organizations Houston.

Hopeful Rainy Day Saturday Ideas

Monday, August 1, 2011 by Katelyn Oliver

Since we are expecting some rain this weekend and we could be couped in the house all day I thought I could share some rainy day Saturday ideas that could bring hope to the homeless in your community!

1. Write Camp Notes to Star of Hope teens who will be going to camp, so that they can experience a week of being a carefree kid! You will absolutely make their day.

2. Clean out your couch, collect your change, and on a dry day drop it by one of our missions. (Or give the exact amount online). After-all, it only takes $1.60 to provide a meal for the hungry at one of our shelters!

3. Get together all your clothes you haven't worn in a year+, put them in a bag, and drop them off at any of our locations!

4. Share information like this post on your favorite social media site like Facebook, Twitter or google plus -- to spread the news on how to help the homeless from your home!

5. Of course, shelters like ours rely on prayers! So, please keep Houston's Homeless in your prayers. Pray they will find the financial and emotional help they need at shelter's like ours!

Discover more ways to give. Visit Star of Hope Mission - Donating to Charitable Organizations Houston

SummerOfHopeHouston.org

Do You Hear The Sound Of Happy Feet?

Tuesday, July 26, 2011 by Marilyn Fountain

Donate new and gently used shoes to Houston's homeless with Sun and Ski and Star of Hope

Forget the sound of music, we’re listening for the sound of happy feet, and there will be lots of it at Star of Hope in the coming weeks. Very soon, Sun & Ski Sports will arrive at Star of Hope with all the shoes it has collected for our kiddos, via its Back-To-School Shoe Drive.

The drive is scheduled to run from August 1 through August 15th. So folks, if you have new or gently worn shoes-- that is… GENTLY WORN SHOES-- that you would like to donate on behalf of the hundreds of precious children living at our family shelters, bring them to any Sun & Ski location around the city and drop them in the collection boxes. When you do that, you will also receive a gift certificate worth $5 off a pair of TOMS shoes. Talk about happy feet! These are the number 1 selling sport shoe in Texas.

Search you closets and shoe racks. Look under your bed and behind the sofa. Check the trunk of your car and entreat your friends. And don’t forget to keep your ear to the ground.

For more ways to give, visit Donating To Charitable Organizations Houston

SummerOfHopeHouston.org

Charlotte’s Lemonade feeds a Homeless Houstonian for Two Weeks!

Thursday, May 12, 2011 by Hank Rush

Charlotte raised money to feed the homeless by selling lemonade

Last week on “National Lemonade Day”, 8 year old Charlotte diligently prepared her lemonade stand for the day, as did so many other children around the country. But Charlotte’s motive was not just about learning to run her business and make a profit, it was much bigger than that. You see, Charlotte was determined to help the homeless in our city with her profits. And she donated not just some, but ALL she made to charity... $65 to the Star of Hope. This will feed one person for two weeks!

All of us who have children, or work with children, know how pure their hearts can be, and how clearly they see the right thing to do so many times. You see, for some time now, Charlotte has seen the same homeless man on the streets, caring for his two dogs…Applejacks and a companion stray. “She does not understand how someone who cares so much for these two animals, does not receive the same care for other people”, her mom said. So she decided to do something about it, on Lemonade Day!

God’s Word tells us in Matthew 18: 3-4: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Are you touched by Charlotte’s wreckless abandon to help someone God loves just as much as he loves us? I am. And if you are, I encourage you to give a gift right now….a gift of $65.00…..and MATCH CHARLOTTE’S wholehearted, all out gift, to help the homeless men, women & children in our city today.

It won’t be nearly as painful for us to give of our resources, as it was for Charlotte to work an entire day and even more, and give it ALL. But if enough of us MATCH HER GIFT, we can make this a Summer of Hope for Houston’s Homeless to find a new life, like never before!

Better yet, feed one person all summer long, $1.60 per meal for 4 months, for just $520. I hope you will give wholeheartedly today, as you are led!

Donate to Charitable Organizations Houston - Star of Hope Mission:
FeedHomelessHouston.org

Rapping up Haute for Hope

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 by Marilyn Fountain

Butch Alsandor/Deborah Ducan – Channel 11 (STP Images)

The spot lights are out, the stage is down, and the audience has gone the way of all audiences, when the show is over. It will be a year before the Star of Hope Haute for Hope luncheon and fashion show comes around again. But, hey, it’s only time, and time flies when you’re having fun, right? Well, guess what? We’ve had a ball over the past 13 years since the show first opened, and we have the wonderful memories of Houston’s top news and broadcast personalities strutting their stuff on the catwalk, to bring the gift of hope to thousands of homeless children.

Shern-Min Chow – Channel 11 (STP Images)

So we do not lament the end of this year’s show. We celebrate what’s been accomplished and look forward to next year, when we will do it all over again, for the children, absolutely, and for the fun that comes in the doing.

We are grateful to Dana Tyson, SUNNY 99.1 Morning Show host and Jose’ Grinan, Morning News Anchor for Fox 26. They were the dynamic duo at the mikes, as their media colleagues took over the runway to the music of famed vibraharpist, Harry Sheppard.

Art Rascon/Gina Gaston – Chanel 13 (STP Images)

Many thanks to all of you who supported the show, whether you bought a table or a seat, contributed auction items or ambiance, as did A Touch of Elegance and River Oaks Flower House. We are forever thankful. TribeDesign, you make the most gorgeous invitations.

To Todd Ramos, who always does a bang-up job producing the show, muchas gracias amigo! To the media models who make Haute for Hope hot, we are grateful beyond words. And what’s a fashion show without fashions? Thank you BB1 Classic, Elizabeth Anthony Esther Wolf, and Lucho. Also, a special shout out to Solution for volunteering every year to put the final, beautifying touches on our models. Speaking of volunteers—Star of Hope staff, you are AWESOME! Thank you. See you next year.

Discover ways to help Houston's homeless with Star of Hope Mission.
Visit Donating to Charitable Organizations Houston.

Young Adults Serving with Star of Hope

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 by Katelyn Oliver

I am very confident in saying that 90% of the world’s most passionate and hopeful people are 25 years and younger. Look at college campuses during a presidential election year or the energy of a high school pep-rally. Revolutions are started by young people who have heard their parents talk about tyranny for a life time and have the hope and courage to start change. Here, at Star of Hope young adults are leading the way in fighting against poverty, abuse, addiction and homelessness with Star of Hope.

If your cynical side is throwing thoughts around your brain like young adults haven’t become jaded from world experiences or they are too naïve to realize the world is unchangeable, silence it. “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa. Wake up Houston and do a small thing with great love. Follow the example of the teens across Houston.

Here are a couple of examples:

Boy Scout Troop 924’s David Reeves delivered with his father, Rick Reeves, 11 well crafted, handmade benches. David had independently contacted a representative at Star of Hope about a service project, he then independently arranged for a group of Boy Scouts to construct the benches and he then personally delivered them. These benches will serve as a great resting spot for mothers and fathers to sit as their kids take advantage of the spring sunshine.

Every Wednesday from 11:30 – 12:45 Heidi Hartung, Chloe Espenan, Anna Buvens, Sahar Yazdanfard and Katy Wefelmeyer from Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart walk into Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Shelter as if they are employees. They go straight to the kitchen was their hands, put on their apron and hairnets, and start serving lunch to the Star of Hope clients. After volunteering once a week for almost 8 months they practically are employees.

These young adults are doing what they can passionately and are making a difference by helping non profit organizations in Houston. On behalf of Star of Hope I would like to thank them for their passion and hope that blesses and inspires their community!

If you are interested in donating time or money to charitable organizations Houston, Star of Hope Mission has many opportunities!

One Month Isn't Enough Time to Thank Volunteers

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 by Scott Arthur

Volunteers from First Baptist of Manvel with Beverly, SOH Cook

At Star of Hope, we celebrate volunteers every day. April has been National Volunteer Month. Thirty days that have passed so quickly - yet each of those days were filled with Houstonians giving their time and talents to reach out to our city's homeless men, women and children.

Last year, 8.774 men, women and families served 31,892 hours. 128 individuals donated 13,601 hours of specialized skills - and that saved Star of Hope $466,000!

Volunteers are part of our foundation. They save us time and money and set good examples and create good will. From individuals to church projects and corporate outreaches, we are blessed with people who are in the habit of donating to charitable organizations. If you are one of them - on behalf of 200 employees and thousands of homeless men, women and children, thank you.

If you've never volunteered, there's no better time like the present. The very fact that you thought about helping your fellow man makes you qualified. Contact us at 713-748-0700 and we'll show you the way. And - thanks in advance.

For more information on helping the homeless with Star of Hope Mission go to
Supporting Homeless Shelters Houston.

Summer of Hope Plans Will Soon Spring to Life

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 by Scott Arthur

Make this summer a Summer of Hope with Star of Hope

Last year, actually last summer, we became aware of a staggering statistic. The number of Homeless Families in Houston has almost DOUBLED in the last year. We were dealing with Families in Crisis. During the summer of 2010, Star of Hope saw more homeless at our doorsteps than ever before. Ever ....since 1907! In order to take care of God's broken children and catch those who have fallen through life's cracks, we needed funding, in kind donations, volunteers ...and prayers. The 2010 summer was indeed filled with Hope, Hope we were able to give to our clients because YOU were very generous to our Charity Houston.

Things haven't changed in almost a year. Most folks don't realize that we have more of a need in the Summer than we have during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays.

So we're creating new "Cab Back" advertising and radio ads to remind a busy, vacationing city that there is a real need for continued hope and continued support during the summer months. Homelessness is NOT seasonal. A bad economy, bad choices and bad luck don't take time off. May. With your help June, July and August will be a meaningful Summer of Hope.

In the next few months as you make plans to leave your home for a while to enjoy a well deserved vacation - just give a few moments of thought to a family that left their home a long time ago - with little hope of returning.

Learn more about Star of Hope Mission and Donating To Charitable Organizations Houston

Star of Hope Featured in Local "Secret Millionaire" Taping

Tuesday, March 8, 2011 by Scott Arthur

Popular radio personality Dana Tyson (Sunny 99.1) was asked by the ABC network to produce a "local" version of the new national reality TV hit Secret Millionaire. The national version features a millionaire who goes undercover doing homeless volunteer work in a charitable institution. At the end of the show - the "volunteer", moved by the charity and love that he is surrounded with - reveals himself and announces that he is donating to charitable organizations. He then writes a stunned staff a large check.

In the local version, Dana and her camera crew went to a Houston Emergency Shelter - the Star of Hope Women & Family Emergency Shelter. Under the guise of taping a program called "a day in the life of a DJ" Dana joined volunteers preparing and serving lunch for about 100 homeless women and children. A few hours later - as the staff was cleaning up - Dana announced that she was so taken by the hard work and dedication of the volunteers that she felt compelled to help out financially as well. She then presented Star of Hope with a $2500 check from the ABC Network.

Watch the "final cut' of this great video:

Learn more about Star of Hope Mission and Homeless Services Houston

Looking Forward to Another Year of Ministry Together in 2011

Wednesday, December 29, 2010 by Hank Rush

In just two days, we’ll be closing out 2010 and celebrating the arrival of a new year, 2011!

As I reflect on 2010, my thoughts crystallize on God’s amazing blessings to THEM, through YOU. YOU have enabled the GIFT OF HOPE to be shared with THEM…the thousands of Houstonians, who in 2010 have found themselves in the unique life situation of being homeless, and have turned to Star of Hope for life-transforming help. And I am profoundly thankful, this 29th day of December 2010, for your sharing of this journey with us, as YOU help restore these precious lives.

THANK YOU SO MUCH…for your gifts, time, thoughts, and prayers! All of us at STAR OF HOPE appreciate your help and partnership in this incredible ministry of life changing hope, healing and restoration for all who come seeking it. This has been A YEAR OF MIRACLES, and 2011 promises to be also!

If you are contemplating any final year-end giving of your resources before December 31st, just click to give online and help us serve the many who will come in need of our help tomorrow at Star of Hope. Not just a "hot and cot" or a "soup kitchen," but so much more (watch the video below)…food for the mind, rest and revelation for the soul, and most importantly…the healing for the heart through this amazing ministry, Star of Hope.

We love our partnership with you, and look forward to another amazing year of ministry together in 2011!

Blessings and best wishes to you and yours for a rich and fulfilling New Year as we journey together.

Give hope to Houston's homeless men, women and children with your year-end gift. Give online today at Donating To Charitable Organizations Houston.

Helping Homeless Families in Houston

Tuesday, December 28, 2010 by John Mills

I am in early this morning to attend to the last details for our year-end. As I enter my office I see the wonderful picture of Ava, the three year old of a homeless family, on my office wall. Her sweet image gives me purpose and reason for my presence here this morning.

You and all those wonderful folks who partner with us at Star of Hope, help provide hope and emergency comfort, resources and safety for those who stay with us in our Women & Family Emergency Shelter and our Transitional Living Center. I see the benefits first hand, to the parents…but I see much more. I am here to help provide hope to the children, those who are not yet really sure why they are here.

By the way, Ava’s image, with her big beautiful eyes and her full, stringy brown hair reminds me of my own grand daughter. We all need help sometime! May God richly bless you as we seek the wonder of a New Year!

This morning we are within 5% of making the much needed budget to finish 2010. There is still time for you to make a difference! May God richly bless you as you seek His perfect will and possibly to make a small difference in the lives of those in need!

Join Star of Hope in helping families in crisis. Visit Donating To Charitable Organizations Houston.

The Greatest Miracle of Christmas?

Thursday, December 23, 2010 by Hank Rush

Well, Christmas is just around the corner, just a few days away. Our blogging team has been posting amazing stories for the past 25 days, of changed lives and personal miracles, here at the Star of Hope. Take a look at our other "25 Days of Christmas Miracles" Updates. It gives me chill bumps to think about all that God does through you, who help and serve here at Christmas, as He uses this sacred time of year to touch unusually open hearts with His Love.

Just in the past 25 days, we’ve seen two sisters, who are teenagers in a family served by Star of Hope for several years now and who are seniors in High School, both accepted to attend college next fall. Both will be attending The University of Texas, one in Austin and the other in Odessa! What a huge blessing for any family, especially one which has had to overcome great difficulties.

We have seen five, 9-10 year old Cub Scouts raise enough money to provide 2,000 Christmas meals here at Star of Hope. See their story in our Star of Hope News Room. The meaning of Christmas to them?...helping others!

At our Women & Family Emergency Shelter and our Transitional Living Center Tree Lightings, we witnessed a chorus of families, recovering from homelessness, sing Christmas songs with great joy and thanksgiving. And our Men’s Development Center Christmas Commencement will be filled with the voices of men singing of God’s love for us through Christmas later this week.

Volunteers have filled our Christmas Workshop and carefully wrapped presents for our Clients, and donors are bringing blankets, clothes food and financial gifts. Parties and gift cards for our teens have been given. Pajamas and books for every 6-12 year old, carefully purchased and prepared by a local company.

Volunteers at Star of Hope's Christmas Workshop

I could go on and on. But what do you think is the greatest Christmas miracle of all? I believe it’s the way God chose to reveal himself to us…through a baby, His only Son…so simple, so heartfelt…everyone who chooses to believe in Him, can receive God’s love and forgiveness, a home in Heaven, and a purpose for their life here on earth. That’s it….God provided for us through His Love.

Thank you each and every one for your help, love and prayers for our homeless families this year. It has been another record breaking year of services in Houston with the economy the way it is. And we have gladly served, with your amazing help, through these times!

If you would like to help us financially, we’re still working to raise the final $1 million of our December goal, so we can continue to provide and serve in 2011. You can click on this link right now and make your donation safely and conveniently.

Blessings to you and your family this Christmas…may you personally feel God’s amazing love, forgiveness, and peace in your life this Christmas!

Help Houston's homeless men, women and families with Star of Hope now, by
Donating To Charitable Organizations Houston.

Coats, Jackets, Sweaters...Just In Time

Thursday, December 23, 2010 by Scott McKinley

A few weeks ago I was sitting at my desk when I saw a tweet from Susan Leining (@sleining). Susan is a soccer coach in Santa Fe, Texas and one of her players was organizing a coat drive for Star of Hope. Mary Hunt set a goal for collecting 250 coats for Houston's homeless.

Mary exceeded her goal and yesterday, along with her dad and Susan, delivered over 300 coats, jackets and sweaters to Star of Hope! I'm glad that I was able to be a small part of this effort... seeing Mary's and Susan's updates on Twitter, and helping to coordinate the delivery.

Way to go Mary! Thanks Susan and everyone in Santa Fe who donated. You have helped make this Christmas warmer for Houston's homeless men, women and families.

Follow Star of Hope on Twitter: @StarOfHope

Organize a drive at your school or in your neighborhood. Get our needs list at Donating To Charitable Organizations Houston

Adopt-A-Family - 25 Days of Christmas Miracles

Thursday, December 16, 2010 by Erika Wise

There are miracles all around...if you just look. Many miracles are answered prayers; and that is what I want to share today.

Many people want to donate to Charitable Organizations Houston during the Christmas Season. Donating To Charitable Organizations is the stuff holidays are made of. Among other Shelters Houston Texas, Star of Hope is the recipient of many of these charitable callers. Many want to help in any way they can...one way we offer is the "Adopt-A-Family" Christmas Program.

Serving graduates of our programs--Men's Development Center; Transitional Living Center; and, New Horizons--the "Adopt-a-Family" Christmas Program matches donors with needy families/individuals to ensure they get gifts and other blessings for Christmas. This economy has been rough on many people--but the calls from donors wanting to help flows strongly!!

In the midst of a staff change, it was my pleasure to oversee the "Adopt-a-Family" Christmas Program--fielding the calls from donors, entering client data into the computer, and, matching donors with those in need. Many matches were made before the Thanksgiving Holiday and donors were asked to contact their families/individuals by 12/15/10 to establish rapport and begin communicating.

Well, there was a family who received NO contact. Christmas was just eleven days away and she was concerned that her son was not going to have Christmas. How was she going to make ends meet AND get Christmas gifts for her son; "He is so deserving," she said. "He made great grades and deserves to have a good Christmas even if I can't give it to him myself."

I emailed and called the donor several times--no answer, no contact. I was sitting at my desk THIS AFTERNOON praying to God to have the donor call me. What was I going to do if this little family did not have a match??!! The phone rang...

"Hi, my name is Denise, and me and my husband would like to help a family for Christmas if you have something we could help with."

God had provided for the family (a donor calling to be matched), and for me--I did not have to worry that this little family would be forgotten for Christmas!! A Christmas Miracle--YES; and, I got to be a part of it!!!

The best gift of all... "While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:6-7

Good Orderly Direction

Thursday, December 16, 2010 by Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger: Brian Kolb

I’ve been a supporter of SOH (Star of Hope) for a few years now. The extent of my support historically has begun and ended with my checkbook. Until recently.

My family had an opportunity to serve "Cookies and Goodnight" at the Women & Family Emergency Shelter where we engaged 300 residents with homemade cookies, juice and smiles.

It was the single biggest impact my family has experienced in service work.

As we were going to the shelter, I thought I’d hand deliver my check in an envelope. My 8 year old daughter, Peyton saw me doing this the day before we left, asked what the money would do and how it would help SOH. Peyton said she’d like to give some money to help for Christmas and began to consider what she’d give. I wanted to tell her that it wasn’t necessary but I needed to let her decide. To my amazement, the next day she told us that she wanted to give $20 to SOH. She said that she felt good about that but when she considered less, it didn’t feel so good.

Peyton reminded me that we are to give joyfully.

2 Corinthians 9:7 says “Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver”.

Even though all that I had done for years was write a check, Peyton was able to see that act, understand it’s meaning and see the joy and blessing it brings our house. She understands that we are blessed to be a blessing. What an exciting opportunity!

Good Orderly Direction

I’m a slow learner and as such I have to simplify my relationship with God. For me, God is Good Orderly Direction. When I choose to listen to those that I respect and admire, when I emulate what they do and when I trust God, knowing that he is faithful even I am not, my life improves exponentially, my relationships are healthy and my peace of mind is of the charts.

Brian

Learn more about how you can get involved with Star of Hope by visiting Donating To Charitable Organizations Houston and Community Service Volunteers Houston.

New Horizons... Getting Ready for Christmas

Thursday, December 9, 2010 by Scott McKinley

This morning Star of Hope's IT department delivered a Christmas Tree for formerly-homeless families and individuals in our New Horizons ministry:

"New Horizons is the future made possible in the present for qualifying clients who need a bridge from transitional living to total self-sufficiency. The first of its kind in Houston, New Horizons is the road to permanent housing in a mainstream setting for formerly homeless individuals and families re-entering society after leaving Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Programs."

What a great joy to do it. Happy Christmas to everyone at New Horizons!

Learn more about Star of Hope's New Horizons by visiting www.sohmission.org or reading
Hope Floats Up -- a blog written by Erika Wise, the program's director.

Charitable Donations Houston

Heading Hopeward

Thursday, December 9, 2010 by Marilyn Fountain

2000 years ago, three men set out on a journey in search of the one who would make a difference in the world and change things for the better. It was a long, probably uncomfortable trip. They were not cruising on a high-speed road in a luxury sedan, or listening to their favorite tunes through surround sound. They were lumbering along for hours on the hard backs of camels.

But they were determined to find what they were seeking. So they followed a bright, eastern star. For them, it was a star of hope.

Every time I think about the trip they made to see Jesus, I am so grateful to be living today. Just think about it….you and I don’t have to travel to find Jesus. He is Emanuel—God with us! No matter where we are, he is there, too. Our hope for today and all our tomorrows is woven into that fact, and his promise to never leave us or forsake us. This, I believe, is the true joy of Christmas.

In Jeremiah 29:11 the Lord says, “I know the plans I have for you…, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future?" Is there anyone in reach of this blog who doesn’t need hope and a future? I know I need this promise more than my morning jog, and I have to have my morning jog.

Though troubles come and go, we must always take time to reflect on how easy our Father has made it for us to receive this promise. He has given it to us freely, through the finished work of Jesus Christ, and the word of his testimony, spoken through scripture throughout the pages of our Bibles.

We also have a legacy in the experience of the three wise men, because it was the bright star that led them to the hope that is in Christ Jesus. And for those of us who work or reside at Star of Hope Mission it is the name Star of Hope that reminds us everyday that we, too, have been led to a place where Emanuel is found. He is available, loving, and willing to change things for the better. In this we join the men of old, having also received the great and amazing gift of hope: Jesus Christ

I would like to leave you with Isaiah 40:31

Those who hope in the Lord
Will renew their strength,
They will soar on wings like eagles,
They will run and not grow weary
They will walk and not be faint

Have a blessed Christmas and precious time with our Lord.

Learn more about Star of Hope and Supporting Houston Ministries.
Give online today at Charitable Donations Houston.

"Mom's Story Paints Picture of Homeless Families"

Thursday, December 9, 2010 by Scott McKinley

Nearly 21% of people staying in homeless shelters in Houston are families. If you missed it the other night on Fox 26 Houston, Kristine Galvan interviewed a mother at Star of Hope's Women & Family Emergency Shelter:

Looking for a way to give back and help those less fortunate this Christmas? Please consider a gift today for Star of Hope. Donate online at Charitable Donations Houston.

Helping Houston’s Homeless Find The Brightest Light

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 by John Mills

During my eight years working for Star of Hope Mission, I have watched over and over as homeless clients move from virtually “no hope” with total dependence, to beginning their independent walk in a new life. Star of Hope is not just a Soup Kitchen in Houston! We offer Christian Ministries with such services as drug rehabilitation, emergency homeless services, parenting classes, career building classes, for homeless persons and for battered women, men and for families. We offer care for men, single women and for families at our three homeless shelters and transitional living centers.

Last week I got to meet a young woman who lived here at Star of Hope twelve years ago. When she came here, she was 4 years old, and she got into a ballet dance program offered by a volunteer. Her family got back on their feet and now she is married and has three beautiful children. She was present at the opening of our newly decorated Intake area at Star of Hope’s Women & Family Emergency Shelter. It was a real blessing to visit and to see how well she is doing now. She and her family had received a chance to get back on their feet, and they had taken it!

I hope that you weren’t ever homeless! But if you had been, wouldn’t it be great to know that there was a place, where people would listen to you, pray with you, cry with you, and try to meet your every need! Star of Hope is such a place!

Would you consider partnering with us, through offering a prayer for the less fortunate, and through making a contribution? You can go to Charitable Donations Houston to make a contribution.