Community Volunteer Opportunities Houston

Excitement is building as we head toward March Madness and Houston prepares to host the NCAA Final Four Tournament!  Not only will there be lots of memorable, action-filled college basketball, but also special outreaches to those in our community who are less fortunate…..and the kick-off is at Star of Hope!

Feed the Hungry will distribute food to 1,750 Houston-area families during tournament week and donate 250 boxes of food to Star of Hope Mission. A tractor trailer will roll into our Storehouse on March 14^th, loaded down with boxes and pallets of food. We need 20 volunteers, age 18 or older, each day on Tuesday & Wednesday, March 15^th & 16^th, from 9 AM – 3 PM for to assemble and fill 750 boxes.

Through a partnership with Samaritan’s Feet, the tournament will give away 2011 pairs of shoes…..and the first 300 pairs will be given to clients at the Star of Hope Women & Family Emergency Shelter. What an awesome experience as volunteers wash and put a clean pair of socks on the feet of each client before they are fitted with new shoes and receive a care pack filled with toiletry items. Through these gestures of kindness and compassion, our clients will learn about their value and worth as individuals; that others care about them; and that better days are ahead. We need more than 80 volunteers, age 21 or older, working shifts from Noon – 7 PM on Monday, March 28^th, to unload and set-up, wash feet, change water, greet, clean-up, and be runners. 

Don’t miss out on this tremendous opportunity to participate in the 2011 NCAA Final Four Tournament! All volunteers will receive a commemorative 2011 NCAA Final Four t-shirt.

Sign-up today by contacting Elizabeth Hatler at ehatler@sohmission.org or 713-440-5322. 

Find other ways to get involved and help Houston's homeless with Star of Hope today at Volunteer Opportunities Houston.

Why do people throughout our community volunteer at Star of Hope? Just ask Ann, a retired social worker, about the benefits of volunteering. 

Ann began volunteering in the Computer Learning Center at our Transitional Living Center in 2005. Although she loved helping clients who were eager to learn new computer skills, the timing just didn’t fit with Ann’s busy schedule. She moved to our Women & Family Emergency Shelter where she has been assisting with intake and referrals for our overnight guests ever since. Here’s an e-mail she sent to Latasha Smith, the CLC instructor with whom she worked:

Hi Latasha,

Those lessons you taught me in Excel have come in handy. I am using Excel for a project that I am helping with at the Women & Family Emergency Shelter. Thanks for showing me how to do that! I guess you can count me as another Excel success!  I would not know what to do at all without the lessons you gave me.

Blessings,
Ann

A flexible schedule and the opportunity to learn new skills are only two of the benefits that volunteering at Star of Hope can add to your life as you partner with us to serve Houston’s homeless men, women and children.

Learn more at Community Service Houston

“Volunteering at Star of Hope is a demonstration of my faith in the LORD,” is how Gregg Lattier explains his ongoing commitment to serve Houston’s homeless men, women and children through his partnership with our mission. Gregg attended one of the first orientation classes I held for perspective new volunteers almost 13 years ago - and he enthusiastically continues to touch hundreds of lives by sharing his compassionate wisdom and love for Jesus Christ.

Most Friday mornings, Gregg teaches stress management to clients in the Personal Development program at Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center.  Several clients describe his class this way:

·         “Dr. Gregg Lattier really inspired me when he taught the class on values.  He provide me with information that I have had never heard before.”

·         “Dr. Gregg Lattier has made me think, learn and laugh during his classes….I wish that more teachers were like him!”

·         “What a great stress management instructor!  Mr. Lattier gave us great methods on how to live life stress-less rather than stressful. He teaches people the true meaning of laughter out loud!  He showed me how to embrace what others might think is impossible.”

Although Gregg is at home in the classroom, he loves to travel around the globe.  Christmas break found him in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Cameroon and he plans to visit Asia during spring break.  While traveling, Gregg, who teaches business classes at Lee College and is a member of the United States Coast Guard Reserves, has the opportunity to build relationships and share the Gospel while living off of the local economy. He travels light with only a backpack!

When the Houston Texans beat the Jaguars during their last home game on January 2^nd, Gregg was backpacking somewhere through Africa. However, during the game he was recognized as a recipient of the Houston Texans 2010 Community Quarterback Award and Star of Hope will receive a generous donation in his honor.

Congratulations on this prestigious award, Gregg, and thank you for your many years of dedicated service to our mission! We are grateful to you and the many other faithful volunteers God sends through our doors.

Read more about Gregg and how you, too, can help the homeless in the Star of Hope's January Newsletter, The Light.

Community Service Houston

Recently, while running errands, my husband pulled the car into a Chevron station. As he filled up the tank, my attention focused on the poster hanging beside each pump, which showcased the many ways Chevron volunteers contribute “human energy” to make our community a better place. Not only was I delighted that local Chevron volunteers were recognized, but also thrilled that Star of Hope was included – both the top, left- and right-hand photos were taken during Star of Hope projects. 

We first worked with Chevron volunteers during their 2009 Humankind Week, and thus, a wonderful, new partnership was born. Throughout 2010, volunteers from Chevron’s Black Employee Network assisted in many areas, such as the kitchens at all three facilities and the Christmas Workshop. 

During the sizzling-hot, triple-digit, Houston summer, it was a funny sight when several Chevron volunteers arrived for work all bundled up in heavy jackets, knit hats and gloves! But they came prepared to clean the walk-in freezer at our Women & Family Emergency Shelter. While they cleaned the freezer and others assisted with lunch preparations, several more volunteers baked a scrumptious treat. You can imagine the eager anticipation of shelter clients as the aroma of mouth-watering fudge brownies wafted through the air!

In the fall of 2010, Chevron groups celebrated their Humankind Week by working on major projects at Star of Hope. Volunteers at the Women & Family Emergency Shelter painted several atrium spaces and cleaned out storage areas. Working in shifts over two days, another Chevron group prepped and painted the iron fence surrounding the perimeter of the Men’s Development Center. Thanks to the generosity of Chevron and the hard work of their dedicated volunteers, we will spend less on facility maintenance and have many more dollars to directly help Houston’s homeless men, women and children!

We look forward to additional opportunities to partner with Chevron and the many other volunteers in our community who have a heart for the homeless. 2011 will be an amazing year as together we serve those in need.

Learn how you can help Houston's homeless with Star of Hope. Visit Community Service Volunteers Houston.

For the last 20 years, the Hard Rock Cafe has closed its doors on Thanksgiving Day. Although this popular downtown Houston eatery is closed to the public, the kitchen and waitstaff are quite busy. Instead of celebrating Thanksgiving with their own families, everyone at the Hard Rock volunteers on their day off to host a gourmet dinner for clients at Star of Hope’s Women & Family Emergency Shelter and the Transitional Living Center. This year, the Hard Rock team was joined by another very special team – Head Coach James Dickey brought the University of Houston Men’s Basketball team to help. The UH players, still in their warm-ups after an exhausting practice session, autographed posters and visited with our families before heading inside to wait tables. 

The UH basketball coaches and players weren’t the only Cougars waiting tables for Star of Hope clients during the holidays. UH athletic director Mack Rhoades was joined by his family as they helped serve Christmas dinner at the Men’s Development Center. Rhoades and his family set out desserts and filled drink glasses as they helped make special Christmas memories for men who are often forgotten. 

"It's a very humbling experience," said Rhoades.  "It makes you realize what you have and it's a blessing to be part of this."

Thanks to the UH Athletic Department for reaching out to Houston’s homeless men, women and children during the holidays! Merry Christmas and Go Coogs!

Get involved with Star of Hope and help homeless men, women and families in our community. Find opportunities of interest to you at Community Service Volunteers Houston.

Merry Christmas from the Star of Hope Christmas Workshop! As volunteers get Christmas gifts ready for the many homeless men, women and children who come through our doors, it’s like having the North Pole right here in Houston, Texas!   Thanks to our good friends at ProLogis, we have an awesome space that has become Santa’s Workshop! Volunteers are busy sorting donated gifts, selecting something special for each client, wrapping the presents and grouping family gifts. When finished, several thousand Christmas gifts will be delivered to Star of Hope programs just in time for Christmas Day!

This is a huge undertaking that could never be accomplished without the help of many special volunteers:

 “It makes me feel thankful for what I have.”   Kylie

“It’s a good way for me to get into the spirit of Christmas.”   Kendall

“I like it because it’s faith- based.”   Allyn

“Giving and volunteering were traditions growing up in our house. We didn’t really know any different. There were always extra stockings and gifts for those less fortunate. So now, it’s a tradition my husband and I have tried to pass along to our kids.”   Joni

“It means a lot to help people who might not otherwise have a very nice Christmas.”    Taylor

“We’ve been doing this for about 10 years and it gives you the opportunity to see what God intended Christmas to be.”    Chuck

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and volunteers, the gifts are a tangible reminder to our clients of their value and worth; that others really do care; and that better days are ahead. For what is wrapped in bright red and green paper and tied up with bows is the very best, most precious gift of all – and that is new hope through Jesus Christ!

Learn how your group or company can get involved with Star of Hope and help Houston's homeless. Visit Community Service Volunteers Houston.

1.     Organize a drive for Christmas Gifts. Items are needed by December 10.
    
2.     Donate online to provide Christmas Gifts. Visit Star of Hope’s Christmas Gift Catalog.
    
3.     Create We Care Houston Packages and give them to homeless men and women you see on the streets.
    
4.     Give $10 by texting “SOH” to 20222. Encourage your friends to do it too!
    
5.     Provide warm and nutritious meals for only $1.63 each.
    
6.     Volunteer to serve a meal at one of Star of Hope’s facilities. We serve 3 meals a day, 365 days a year.
    
7.     Host a drive and a contest...Pillow Fight: Who can gather the most new pillows and pillow cases?
    
8.     TP the Mission: What?... Host a drive for toilet paper.
    
9.     Use your professional skills to help the homeless.
    
10.     Undies for Change: We always need NEW socks and underwear for men and women.
     
11.     Pray for our homeless veterans who are living on the streets.
     
12.     Provide a day of care… food, clothing, shelter and more.
     
13.     Home and Dry: Collect new linens and blankets for twin beds. Make Star of Hope feel more like home.
     
14.     Tell your friends why you care for the homeless and why you support Star of Hope.
     
15.     Pray with and for homeless children who are praying for a home.
     
16.     Pray for the men and women at Star of Hope who are on the road to recovery and a new life.
     
17.     Could you commit to working one shift a week? Become a High Impact Volunteer.
     
18.     Share your support for Star of Hope on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. We appreciate it!
     
19.     Like working with kids? You and your group can host a children’s activity at Star of Hope.
     
20.     A volunteer opportunity for the whole family… Cookies and Good Night.
     
21.     The donated clothing we receive needs to be sorted. Come serve in our Storehouse.
     
22.     We answer a lot of phone calls! Volunteer in our Call Center.
     
23.     Looking for a last minute Christmas Gift. Help the homeless and send your friends Christmas eCards.
     
24.     Get Up and Go: Host a drive for job-interview-worthy women’s clothing size 22 and up.
     
25.     It’s not too late to give a year-end gift. Donate online and help Houston’s homeless.

Homeless Vets celebrated everyday at Star of Hope Men’s Development Center

Today is Veteran’s Day, and as I’m writing this blog, I’m reminded of the long heritage Star of Hope Mission has had in serving our Veterans who become homeless.  Way back in 1945-1946, Star of Hope was serving hundreds of Veterans each month, coming through Houston with no place to stay. Ever since then, Star of Hope has proudly served Vets who have become homeless and need help in re-establishing their lives, after their service to our country. 
 
Today, we are serving 100-150 Veterans per day, from the Vietnam, Korean, Desert Storm, and Afghanistan wars, with recovery programs and life changing help for a better life.  In our VIP Program, we serve 150-200 per year, in partnership with Houston’s Veteran’s Administration to help with their physical and mental health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and addiction recovery needs.  Our men in the PTSD group meet twice each week, offered at Star of Hope in partnership with Military Ministries, an arm of PTSD Foundation of America.

When I attend any Veteran’s program at church or in our community, my eyes well up with tears, as I think of the many men I’ve met here, who, without the Star of Hope, would be on the streets of Houston today.  They are not forgotten!  And they feel God’s love everyday they are with us.  Star of Hope is “Home to the Brave”…and my hat is off to the great staff of men and women at our Men’s Development Center in Downtown Houston who faithfully serve these who have sacrificially served all of us in defending our country.

If you’ve never been to any of Star of Hope’s mission locations, I invite you to come and tour, get involved and volunteer!  You can help Veterans and many others with your talents to have a better life, renew their faith and strength, and once again, stand tall as Americans.  Come and join us, you’ll be glad you did!

Learn more about star of Hope at Mens Shelter Donation Houston and Houston Volunteer Opportunities.
 

Each year at the NBTA trade show, Joe Carino, owner of CARINO Hotels & Resorts, raises money for a charity by holding a raffle. The prizes are awesome – weekend stays at one of his breathtaking resorts and destination airline tickets – and the raffle tickets are modestly priced.   This year, Mr. Carino joined forces with NBTA and selected Star of Hope as his beneficiary.

Several staff members and volunteers were invited to the exposition during peak traffic hours over several days to talk about Star of Hope, answer questions and sell tickets. Not only did we have another opportunity to visit with NBTA members who participated in the volunteer project, we were able to share our mission with people from around the world. 

As the convention & exposition ended Wednesday noon, NBTA further blessed us with a large financial gift. The check presentation was made on the trade show floor as Star of Hope President & CEO, Hank Rush, formally thanked NBTA members for their overwhelming generosity. 

But it doesn’t end there. After the convention, Preferred Corporate Housing made a sizable donation of urgently needed items such as sheets, towels and flatware. UPS and FedEx continued to deliver boxes filled with school supplies and toiletry care packs. And NBTA members continue to use social networks to share Star of Hope with an even broader audience. 

National Business Travel Association project day finally arrived. However, before a single NBTA volunteer reached Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center, another group of volunteers was already onsite making final preparations. These special folks are Volunteer Hosts.

No two of our Volunteer Hosts are exactly alike – they come from many different backgrounds and career paths. But they definitely have several traits in common. Their positive, winning personalities are infectious and bubble over to all those around them. They are high energy, display exceptional professionalism and their hearts are filled with compassion. Most important, they love Star of Hope and want to share this passion with all those who come through our doors.

Volunteer Hosts are a vital extension of the Volunteer Services team and often create a new volunteer’s first impression of our mission. After special training, they help welcome volunteers, give tours, solve problems, provide valuable feedback and ensure those who give the gift of time know what a blessing their service is to our mission. 

When NBTA volunteers boarded the buses at the George R. Brown Convention Center for their trip to Star of Hope, Volunteer Hosts were on each bus to give an overview and streamline the sign-in process. 

Once NBTA volunteers arrived, Volunteer Hosts directed them to the bag check area, which was also staffed by Volunteer Hosts, and the various project areas.  Volunteer Hosts stayed with the NBTA volunteers at each work site to answer questions, keep volunteers hydrated and check-on supply levels. Thanks to the tremendous support of our Volunteer Hosts, we were able to maximize the time and NBTA volunteers accomplished even more than anticipated.

We are grateful for our Volunteer Hosts and the important role they play in ministering to other volunteers throughout the year. Volunteer Hosts allow us to do more, better so that our clients, staff, volunteers and community are blessed and God gets the glory.

Learn more about Community Volunteer Opportunities Houston

It’s been a year since I received the first e-mail from Jeannie Eisenhart.  Jeannie works for Crowley Maritime in Florida and is on the Board of the National Business Travel Association. 

NBTA members include airlines, hotels and resorts, travel agents and corporate travel departments, food service companies and temporary corporate apartment homes – just to name a few. Their 2010 international convention & exposition was scheduled for Houston, and for the first time ever, NBTA wanted the agenda to include a community service project. After the Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau recommended Star of Hope and NBTA executives from Washington, D.C. toured our facilities, an amazing partnership was born!

NBTA featured Star of Hope on their website and urged each member’s support. Without a track record, NBTA did not know what the response would be. But they wanted to provide members with a variety of ways to help Houston’s homeless men, women and children:

·         * As members completed the convention registration form, they were asked to make a $10 donation to Star of Hope.

·         * NBTA members were given a list of needed items – such as toiletries, towels, sheets, clothing and canned goods – and asked to make an in-kind donation.

·         * And members were asked to sign-up for a project at our Transitional Living Center – painting client apartments and other living areas, writing notes of encouragement for client mailboxes and assisting in the kitchen.

Deliveries arrived from across the country – large and small boxes of donated items. As our Women & Family Emergency Shelter slept a growing number of adults and children in overflow during the dangerous summer heat, these donations were a special blessing.

We worked with the incredible NBTA staff for almost a year, planning for every detail. And there was a lot of work happening behind the scenes. NBTA secured cash donations from ADTRAV and Continental Airlines. Someone from Lowe’s contacted Werner & Co. on behalf of NBTA. Werner generously donated more than 50 ladders for the painting project. And Aramark donated drinks and snacks for NBTA volunteers. 

After such a tremendous team effort, I was eager to meet all of the people from across the country who worked so tirelessly to bless Star of Hope. I wanted to put faces with the names and personally thank each one of our new friends. Project day could not arrive soon enough!

Make plans to serve Houston’s homeless men, women and children.

Call 713-440-5322 or 713-440-5301 to discuss volunteer project options for your group.
Community Volunteer Opportunities Houston

• Donation Drive Coordinator: Organize a drive for needed items at your work, school, church, organization or in your neighborhood.
• Team for Hope: Be a friend on Social Media and help us share stories and needs.
• Prayer Partners: Pray, pray, pray. Enough said!

The personal and career development programs at our Transitional Living Center help clients learn to shine when they interview for jobs. We want our clients to be so polished, poised and professional that they have a variety of job offers from which to pick. But for many clients, job interviews are very difficult and create enormous anxiety. Baggage from the past - such as an unstable work history, gaps in employment, a felony conviction or poor references – can cause wary potential employers to ask tough questions.   Through lots of practice and role playing, clients learn what to expect in interview situations and how to honestly present themselves in the best possible light. This helps calm the jitters and reduce stress.

Although it’s helpful for clients to practice interview situations with the Star of Hope staff, it is even more helpful when they can practice and receive feedback from the corporate community. Last week, a group of caring, dynamic volunteers from the finance and accounting departments of BMC Software were onsite to work with clients who are beginning their job searches. Teams from BMC conducted mock interviews and provided each client with individual feedback; discussed job search skills and time management; and helped clients hone their computer skills. Our clients took this opportunity seriously by dressing and acting as if they were interviewing for “real” jobs. 

The BMC Software team was only onsite for a few hours, but the impact they made will be far-reaching as our clients do well in interviews and begin successful new careers. Here are just a few comments made by clients about the time they spent with the BMC volunteers:

• -"BMC Software, thank you for coming to the Star of Hope. I learned new tools for interviewing and how to approach people when networking for employment."
• -"I really enjoyed the career workshop.  It was very knowledgeable and I would recommend it to others."
• -"Titus was very professional.  He showed interest in his topic and was very helpful in teaching me how to succeed in the interview."
• -"I learned some exceptional new ideas, which I plan to implement into my new career. The workshop was very refreshing and uplifting. I feel empowered after the information I have received."

Learn how your corporate group can get involved and like BMC Software help our clients achieve success at Community Volunteer Opportunities Houston. 

It’s probably been a year since we first met perky art consultant, Sheri Hammonds. A dynamic MBA with a gentle, compassionate spirit, Sheri contacted Star of Hope about teaching art classes for our adult clients. Sheri described how she loves “to move paint” and how this creative outlet might help our clients express feelings for which they have no words. 

Since that first meeting, Sheri’s dedication to this project never wavered. When others might have become overwhelmed by the ever-present challenges of a start-up program, Sheri met with artists and recruited volunteers to assist with the classes. Along with her team, Sheri attended workshops on teaching art, as well as our required volunteer orientation. She developed a 7-week curriculum for the classes, located funding sources for art supplies and got a large quantity of supplies donated. And she worked tirelessly with all of us at Star of Hope to ensure each detail was carefully attended. It wasn’t an easy process, but Sheri was committed to the project God placed on her heart. 

Yesterday afternoon, finally, Sheri held her first class for 10 ladies at our Transitional Living Center! Sheri was joined by three more volunteer teachers – Paula, Carol and Lucy. At first, some of the clients were a little anxious and hesitant to try something so new. But Sheri worked beside them, reassuring and encouraging all of the ladies. Soon, everyone was filling large sheets of paper with beautiful colors and sharing moments of fun, laughter and relaxation – as well as a few artistic tips.

Sheri said, “I was particularly moved by one student’s explanation of her drawing, which was a road leading to various paths in her life and stops in her truck.  I also had a great conversation with one student about her heroes in her life. She told me about three people she’d like to have dinner with if she ever had the chance.  This was a wonderful group and they were so glad to be creating and relaxing.”

Like Sheri, you can make a real difference in the lives of Houston’s homeless men, women and children.  Register today to become a Star of Hope volunteer at Community Service Volunteers Houston.

Although others might disagree, I truly believe the Volunteer Services team has the best jobs at Star of Hope! Every single day, Julie, Billie and I have the privilege of working with people who come to Star of Hope simply because they have a heart to serve. They come as partners in our mission – not wanting anything in return. These amazing people are Star of Hope volunteers!

Our volunteers bring an enormous variety of talents, abilities and skills to the table. Their generous gifts of time, energy, compassion and leadership have touched the lives of Houston’s homeless men, women and children in countless way! As they share special moments of God’s love with our clients, our volunteers are beautiful examples of a servant’s heart and outstanding role models in our community. The difference they make today will continue to impact tomorrow’s history and our world is a much better place because of each volunteer who walks through our doors.

Albert Schweitzer once said, “Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light.”

For many of our clients, the light was extinguished long ago as they struggled through pain, addictions, tragic circumstances, and sometimes, bad choices. Their world was pretty dark, bleak and hopeless and they often felt invisible.  But at Star of Hope, clients discover they were created for a unique purpose by a loving Heavenly Father, and as a child of the King, their lives have value and worth. As volunteers partner in our ministry, they help rekindle the light in another human being. Lights that have gone out are blown into flame by their love and compassion.

This is National Volunteer Week and a time to pay special tribute to all of our volunteers. The national theme, Celebrating People in Action, exemplifies the enthusiastic response of our volunteers as they have eagerly reached out to help those in need for more than 100 years.

On behalf of Star of Hope’s Board of Trustees, staff and clients, I would like to express our deepest thanks and gratitude to each of our volunteers. What you do matters and makes a lasting difference in the lives of others – you rekindle the light, touch hearts and inspire our clients to become successful members of our community. Thank you for all of the many ways you bless all of us. We pray God will richly bless your participation in this ministry today and always.
 

Get involved. Visit Houston Volunteer Opportunities.