Donation 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!

I am taking this moment to pause, reflect and be thankful. We have been blessed this year with not only an overwhelming quantity (52) computers,  but high quality of computers.
 
Earlier this year Friendswood Community Church donated $15k to our Men's Computer Learning Center which gave us the opportunity to create a modern business environment for guys that are in the program to learn business computing skills and locate jobs.  Harper Pearson, the prestigious accounting firm, donated 12 almost new computers to be used at our House of Hope computer lab which benefits the homeless children living at our Women and Family Center. The wonderful folks at Aaron's Rental  just delivered 21 excellent computers to replace all the computers at our Transitional Living Center which is used to serve our client population that are in the long term program.

Finding good quality computers to equip both our clients and staff is a difficult task. I am just thankful that our Heavenly Father stirs the hearts of generous people for the things we desperately need. It happens over and over and I am so thankful.

God Bless,
A

What would you say if you had the opportunity to share a few words of encouragement with a child receiving care at Star of Hope? This is an opportunity for you to do just that.

Next month children from Women & Family Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living Center and New Horizons will head back to school.  Thanks to the generous support of friends and donors, every one of these children will step onto the bus and into their classroom with everything they need to succeed. New school uniforms, new shoes and a backpack full of supplies!

You can add to their excitement and joy by writing a short note of encouragement for the school age children at Star of Hope. Please take a moment and “Leave a comment” on this blog. We will print your note, along with others we receive, and give them to the children before the first day of school.

Thanks for caring and making a difference in these children's lives!

School Donations Houston: Ways to get involved and help a child succeed:
- Send a note of encouragement to a child on this blog.
- If you receive our July Newsletter in the mail, write a note on the enclosed backpack tag and send it back to us.
- Donate financially to provide needed items and continued care throughout the school year.
- Coordinate a drive for school supplies or other urgent needs.
- Spread the word! Tell your friends about all of these opportunities to change a child’s life.
 

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to ride along with Charles Williams in Star of Hope’s Love In Action Van.  For several years Charles has been hitting the streets of Houston and inviting the homeless to “come inside” to find hope, shelter and an opportunity for a fresh start. It was amazing to see how many of the homeless men we talked with know him by name.  As we handed out water, over and over I heard the words, “Thank you, Charles.”

One man, a Veteran from San Antonio, had been in Houston for a couple of days. As we drove him to the Star of Hope Men’s Development Center he told us he was waiting for an apartment to open up and only needed help for a couple of weeks. Someone had recommended not going to Star of Hope, “They’ll just take your name and tell you to come back in three days.” He had been sleeping in a sleeping bag on a floor. That night he slept in a bed!

Many of those Charles invites to the shelter tell him the same thing, “I'll come in a couple of days” or “Maybe next week.”  He patiently keeps going out and continues to invite. “You never know,” he says, “Today may be the day they say ‘yes.’”

Currently, Charles is giving water donated by I AM Waters Foundation. Check them out at iamwaters.com. The foundation has pledged to donate 35,000 bottles of water to Star of Hope over the summer months.

Discover ways to make this summer a Summer of Hope for Houston’s homeless:
Houston Non Profit Donations and Volunteer Opportunities
 

Have you seen our new cab signs?  If you haven’t, be on the lookout, because they’re your invitation to participate in a Summer of Hope.   With the help of our buddies at Yellow Cab, Hope Floats all around the city, day and night, bringing the message that helping the homeless during these dog days of summer is as easy as texting “SOH” to 20222.  It’s that simple, and Star of Hope receives an immediate gift of $10.00 toward the care of our brothers and sisters who are down, for sure, but not out.

I know you have heard it before, but it’s true:  summer in Houston is the most dangerous time of year for the homeless, and it’s also the season when help for the homeless is at its lowest. However, if there is one thing we are certain of at Star of Hope, it’s that those we serve are not forsaken, even when donations are low and hands are few.  God has brought them to us to dwell in our shelters for a while, find relief from their struggles, protection from the elements and direction for their lives.  

From my perspective, that’s a win-win for everyone.  So not only am I privileged  to be a part of this amazing plan set forth by the Lord and executed by the fabulous client staff here, I am included in the invitation to the Summer of Hope. So here goes.  I’m going to let my fingers do the talking and donate $10 by texting “SOH” to 20222.  Will you join me?  But text safely.

Learn more about Summer Philanthropy Opportunities Houston at Star of Hope Mission
 

It was a typical Sunday afternoon. Everyone in my family-of-five had gone their own way after getting home from church and having lunch. I was in the living room, downloading a few songs from my laptop onto my iPod, when a loud pop came from somewhere outside. The power was instantly gone and the house filled with overwhelming quiet.  

This was the second time within a few weeks we found ourselves without electricity on a Sunday. As we gathered to discuss the unpleasant reality, we vividly remembered the 12+ hours it took to restore our power the previous Sunday. 

My youngest son, Josh, said if power was not back on by bedtime that he was going to sleep on our porcelain tile floor. The porcelain typically stays very cool, but the floor is extremely hard. The thought of Josh sleeping on a rock-hard floor to find a little relief in an otherwise sweltering night broke my heart. I thought about the many homeless mothers who struggle and anguish over the often dangerous, uncomfortable and dirty places their precious children will sleep. The thought brings tears to my eyes….and I can’t even begin to grasp the helplessness and hopelessness they must feel as they look into the questioning eyes of their little ones.

My family is very fortunate, very blessed indeed.  Although inconvenient, we had the means to find a comfortable waiting place and air conditioned cars to get there.   But what about the many homeless men, women and children in our city who live on the streets and don’t have those options? Where do they go to escape the treacherous, life-threatening heat that beats down on the sizzling pavement day after endless day?  There’s not even the relief that old, vacant buildings provide during the cold of winter. Stale, stagnant air scorches the lungs and sweat steadily drips from every pore until dehydration sets in.

I praise and thank God that long ago He made provision for a place called Star of Hope Mission. Today, Star of Hope reaches out to the homeless in our city with safe, welcoming shelter and so much more. Thanks to generous donors and volunteers, Houston’s homeless men, women and children find refuge from the blistering heat of the summer and meet a Savior who will provide for every need.

Learn how you can get involved. Visit Volunteer Jobs Houston to find an opportunity of interest to you.

Help make this a Summer of Hope for the homeless in our city.

Donate $10 by safely texting SOH to 20222.

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.

Wow, Sunday is Father’s Day! And once again, I have put off shopping. Not because I’ve been too busy or needed to wait for payday. I honestly don’t know what to buy. It seems the dads in my life already have everything they want and need. I can’t bring myself to buy more golf shirts, CD’s, gift cards or Astros tickets. If you’re like me, here’s a thought……

Many of the men who come to Star of Hope have little more than the shirts on their backs and an enormous sense of hopelessness. When a child is homeless, it is tragic. The child didn’t create, and cannot fix, the situation for him or herself. When a woman is homeless, there is understanding. She must have been in an abusive relationship….Her cheating man must have walked out on her….She was too busy taking care of her kids to get an education and now can’t support herself. But when a man is homeless, the story is very different. Men are supposed to be the providers and the breadwinners. There is precious little understanding and no one makes excuses. Homeless men are often looked at as lazy, uncaring and no good. 

But Hope is alive! As men walk into the Star of Hope Men’s Development Center, they learn about a Savior who loves them just as they are. They don’t have to get cleaned up before He extends His unconditional love to them. They no longer have to carry the burden and stigma of being homeless. When they accept Jesus has their Savior, they can place all their burdens on Him. What an awesome, amazing God we serve!

As the hands and feet of Christ, we, too, can reach out to help the down-trodden in a very practical way. Each month, the Men’s Center distributes about 1,000 t-shirts/undershirts, pairs of underwear and pairs of socks to Houston’s homeless men. There is a constant need for these items. So here’s an idea to make your Father’s Day shopping easy. In honor of the dads in your life, buy t-shirts, underwear and socks in sizes medium – 3XL. Put one of each item in a ziplock bag and mark the bag with the size it contains. (The t-shirt and underwear should be the same size.) When you’re finished, drop your donation off at any Star of Hope location. 

Just imagine the impact each ziplock bag will have on the life of a homeless man. It might be the very thing that God uses to touch his heart so that acceptance, healing and restoration can begin!

Find more urgent and ongoing needs at Philanthropy Opportunities Houston

I’ve often heard that for kids a week at summer camp is equal to a year’s worth of Christian education. Many dynamic Christians have shared testimonies of how Jesus first became real in their lives while attending camp. The children at Star of Hope are no different. Amidst horseback rides, canoeing and the many new challenges of the great outdoors, they learn about a Savior who loves them and will never leave them. There, around the glowing embers of the campfire, a yearning for His purpose in their lives is powerfully and forever ignited. So how awesome is it that Star of Hope sends about 120 children to summer camp each year?!?! 

Of course, the kids don’t simply hop on the bus and ride off to their cabins in a wooded paradise. Getting 120 children ready for camp is a HUGE job that could not be accomplished with the generosity of our donors and volunteers. Since most of our children do not have the essentials for a week at camp, we pack and send each camper with everything he or she needs – shorts, t-shirts, socks & underwear, swimsuits, tennis shoes, flip-flops, towels, toiletries, and most important, a Bible. 

This week, volunteers will be at our Women & Family Emergency Shelter to pack a duffel bag for each child.   This is not a fast job – packing must be done with care and an eye for detail. Not only is it important for campers to have the items they need, it is very important they have the right sizes. Volunteers from the Doubletree Hotel – Houston Downtown will kick-off the packing party and donate travel-size toiletries. Rick & Carole Wilcox, Harry Kirkpatrick, Melvin Jackson, Nellie Zarate, Durwood South and Vivian Busquet , along with a few more volunteers, will finish the job long before the first bus arrives. The ride to Camp Good News will be filled with joyful camp songs and happy hearts.

Please pray for our children and counselors as they travel to and from camp. And pray as our children experience God’s amazing creation in a new way, they will open their hearts to His love and accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior. As they come to know the boundless love of Christ, our children will truly experience a Summer of Hope!

Learn more about Houston Volunteer Opportunities and Donation Opportunities for Summer of Hope.

On Saturday, I was out in The Woodlands for my cousin, Jerry's, 60th birthday celebration.  Our dads are brothers.  I was the only one there from the Morrison side of the family, but there were lots of aunts, uncles and cousins from his mother's side.  It was my first time to meet some of them; others I hadn't seen since I was a kid.  Not only was it wonderful fun meeting and reconnecting, I also had the opportunity to talk about Star of Hope.

Jerry's cousin, Donnie Thomas, was tragically killed in an automobile accident about two years ago.  Donnie loved our mission, and in lieu of flowers, his family asked that donations be made in his memory to Star of Hope.  As one person after another shared with me about Donnie and their memorial gifts, I was completely humbled by the awesome responsibility with which I, and all those with whom I work, have been entrusted.  We are to continue Donnie's legacy - as well as the legacy of all those precious partners who labored with us in the past and have now gone home to be with the Lord - through our ministry to Houston's homeless men, women and children.  Never have I been more grateful to work for an organization that puts Jesus Christ at its center and whose core values are excellence, integrity and changing lives.

I hope it's of great comfort to Donnie's family - and to each person who makes a gift in memory of a loved one - to know God is doing some amazing things at Star of Hope.  Through His love, each day hearts are touched and lives are forever, eternally changed and restored.  I'm reminded of the chorus "When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!  When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory!"

Learn how you can give a tribute gift in honor of or in memory of someone special. Visit Philanthropy Opportunities Houston.

Friendswood Community Church has blessed our organization with 15,000 dollars to refurbish our Computer Learning Center at the Men's Development Center.   Today applications and tools are on the Internet so we are moving away from our old fat client desktop computer model that loaded down the desktop with applications like typing tutorials and Microsoft Office applications model to a web tools based model that will take advantage of free Google Applications such as Google Docs and Microsoft Office Live. The men will be taught how to find and leverage resources on the Internet to build resumes and find jobs. During the course of their stay they keep journals and document their life history all of which will be saved secure online so when they leave they will know how to access their data from any computer.  I was pleased to find out that the men that work in our labs are serious and dedicated to skills building and are committed to learning about computers and the Internet. Many of these men have never had the opportunity to own or even touch a computer and we all know that even basic jobs will leave these guys behind if they don't have this opportunity.

We are so thankful for the donation and we are going to use the opportunity to bring an experience to our clients that will continue to change their lives for the better.

Learn more about Star of Hope and how you can help by visiting Charitable Organizations Houston.

I met Wendi and her daughters in June 2008. This was around the time they first arrived at Star of Hope’s Women and Family Emergency Shelter. On this particular day volunteers from Westin Hotels catered a meal and threw a big party for the families at the shelter.

Wendi and her family soon moved from the Emergency Center and into the Star of Hope Transitional Living Center for Women and Families. Wendi received help for substance abuse and through our other programs learned to build a stronger family. Read Wendi’s story and watch a short video in our January Interactive Newsletter.

Offer support and hope to moms like Wendi. Donate Online at Donation Opportunities Houston.

Thanksgiving is coming in just a week… and if your family is anything like mine, you travel to be together and thank God for all His blessings. We always gather around a traditional Thanksgiving table, complete with family and friends, with a feast of turkey and all the trimmings, dressing and giblet gravy, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Remind you of your home at holiday time? It is also for hundreds and hundreds of homeless men, women, and children, here at Star of Hope. As soon as you step into the facilities, you are instantly aware that this is a day that the Lord has made! There is so much gladness and joy, as volunteers rush about hanging decorations around the dining rooms, and the cooks put their last minute touches on the sumptuous meal.

One of the most precious sights is found at the Women and Family Emergency Shelter. Every table has displayed on it hand-written notes from our clients themselves. Some of them are meaningful Scriptures, some personal thoughts… each are sweet words of gratitude for the blessings they have received. Our clients pause in the midst of their storms to acknowledge, just as we all do, the grace of God in our lives, and the many blessings we have received.

Perhaps you will join me this Thanksgiving in having family members make such a "Thanksgiving card" for the table, and read them to each other. And then, for just a moment, we can ask God’s special blessing for those at the Star of Hope, during our Thanksgiving prayer!

My family and I are thankful for every moment that we have been given to be part of this great ministry, and the opportunity to partner with so many of you in this work. It is by God’s grace and your generous gifts that we are able to serve so many of Houston’s homeless, give them rest from their struggles, a home for the holiday, and best of all, a day to just be thankful. I am truly thankful for you and wish each of you a Thanksgiving that is rich in HOPE!

Women's Shelter Donation Houston

Recently, CNN aired a touching story about an honor student whose ambition is to be a Harvard grad, with a Ph.D in medicine. It’s not the kind of story you expect to see making national headlines, except this student is poor, homeless, highly intelligent and living in a California shelter with his mother and sister.

I thought of Kelsey, one of our teens who lived at the Star of Hope Transitional Living Center with her mother and brother, before moving into our New Horizons community. When she first arrived at Star of Hope her morale was low. Homelessness is difficult for adolescents. The staff loved her through her distress, and the structure of our teen program bolstered her confidence and fueled her hope of going to college one day. Kelsey’s dream now is to study engineering and become an Air Force pilot!

Kelsey is a straight-A student and, recently, was nominated to attend the week-long National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. The NYLF is a prestigious program for helping exemplary students prepare for professional careers.

You can imagine her excitement when she was nominated, but immediately, her heart sank, because she knew she wouldn’t be able to afford to go. But after a little help from staff, she was astonished to learn that a generous donor made her dream-trip come true! This is what she wrote to her donor.
 

“Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be a part of what will be my future. It just brightened my Mother’s eyes when she found out that I would be able to go to Washington. She has always wanted the best for me and couldn't give it to me. This will never be forgotten."

Kelsey has just returned from this amazing experience… and her dream and HOPE are alive… in God’s grace and in her future! At Star of Hope, we want all our homeless kids to experience the fact that God has a great future planned for each of them!
 

Houston Non Profit Donations

I just spent the last week moving into a new home for my family. During these past few weeks as we have been finalizing and moving into our new home, my thoughts have especially been on what "home" means for our Star of Hope men, women and children.

Our clients have each lost it all… gone is their apartment or their home. They’ve worn out their welcome with friends where they can stay a while, family members willing to take them in. As I watched my daughter and son excitedly explore their new rooms and begin to unpack, I thought of a family at our Women & Family Emergency Shelter who won’t be returning to their home. Their daughter will not be safe and happy in her own room this Thanksgiving or Christmas. The loss of mom’s or dad’s job, or worse, alcoholism or abuse has forced them out to the streets and onto Star of Hope’s front doorsteps, seeking help.

Well, the good news is we’re here to catch them! Star of Hope is the temporary home, family, and community that will keep them safe, clothed and fed while they begin to rebuild. We’ll be the shelter that surrounds them with God’s love as they start their journey toward a new life. Our goal at Star of Hope is not only to lead God’s children to an apartment or house – but to a home, full of love and caring and a true joy in living that comes from our Lord.

Because of your generosity, Star of Hope continues daily to provide the tools for this family and many others to move on to their new future and their new home. The holidays are right around the corner – and “home for the holidays” sounds pretty good to me. I invite you to visit us at www.sohmission.org right now to discover ways to help us be “home” during the holidays. Thank you for giving your time, talents and gifts for so many through Star of Hope!
 

Donation Opportunities Houston    -    Volunteer Opportunities Houston