My husband and I have been financial supporters of Star of Hope for many years. I have always been impressed with the strong Christian work that Star of Hope has provided to thousands of people in need. Once our youngest child received her driver’s license (lots of prayers said!), I felt it was time to donate my time to Star of Hope as well. I went to a volunteer orientation class and waited for... Read More »

Volunteering for Star of Hope has been a life altering experience for my whole family. We look forward to our time together and being able to serve the families at Star of Hope. It also has helped my children understand the importance of helping those that are less fortunate. Volunteering teaches kids to appreciate what they have and to realize that material things are not as important as love and... Read More »

I am currently a first year student in the Graduate College of Social Work at University of Houston. Initially I didn’t know what to expect coming to intern at Star of Hope's Transitional Living Center. All I really knew about Star of Hope was that it is a “homeless shelter”. Little did I know that it is so much more. From the first day I entered the building, I could feel the welcoming spirit... Read More »

I’ve been volunteering full-time at Star of Hope for over seven months now with a program called Mission Year. As we started working and learning the ins and outs of the Transitional Living Center, I never expected to be teaching one of the classes I observed during my first week here. But that’s exactly what happened. Earlier today the other two Mission Year girls (Abigail and Carole) and I... Read More »

Every Wednesday morning at Star of Hope’s Donation and Distribution Center is a scavenger hunt of sorts. With a list of specific client clothing needs in hand, Abigail, Kristin and I sift through boxes and bags of donations, searching for the right garments. We make a game out of locating and capturing these items - size 18 pants, women's socks, dresses with sleeves, any brand new business... Read More »

When I see a homeless person on the street I often think, there but for the grace of God go I. When I think of Star of Hope, I am reminded of the old adage that says “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you give him a fishing pole, you feed him for a lifetime.” The programs offered at Star of Hope that I have learned about in my four years of volunteering are comprehensive in... Read More »

Star of Hope is my Mission because we should help those in need by providing them with shelter, food, water and the tools to succeed. Star of Hope contributes towards helping those in need by providing them with all of these basic things and so much more. It is a great joy being able to contribute towards the mission of Star of Hope. It’s a beautiful feeling to see a child jump with joy when they... Read More »

Last June I heard Kelly share her testimony at a Star of Hopegraduation. She admitted with sadness in her eyes that in her 30 years of living, she had experienced alcohol and drug addiction, rape, violent relationships and brain damage. Thankfully, I knew that coming to the Star of Hope meant that Kelly had hope for a much brighter future. She was determined to take the necessary steps and live... Read More »

I have the privilege of working with the pre-school class at Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center for Women & Families. I love coming into the classroom where I am greeted with waving hands and smiling faces saying, "Hello, Miss Abigail.” Every morning is the same rhythm: eat snack, have the daily lesson, play at the educational centers in the classrooms, go outside, eat lunch and naptime.... Read More »

Wednesday’s are a day that I look forward to with much anticipation each week. When I enter the preschool classroom at Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center, I receive warm greetings of smiles and hugs by every three and four year old in the room. I must say it is quite an encouragement to feel so appreciated. A typical morning of volunteering includes reading stories, playing in centers and... Read More »

I have been a volunteer at Star of Hope's Women and Family Emergency Shelter since August 1, 2007. I work in the Family Supply Store every Wednesday. Doing this has touched my life in so many unexpected ways. I no longer take things for granted. I am grateful for every gift that God gives me. It has taught me to share those gifts with people who are not as fortunate. I bring hard candy every week... Read More »

When I was presented with the opportunity to volunteer at Star of Hope, I didn’t think twice about it and gladly signed up. My first volunteer experience with Star of Hope definitely impacted me in a great way. I volunteered alongside a group of people from my local church for Star of Hope’s Fall Harvest Festival. Throughout the evening, I was reminded of the immense and overwhelming need in our... Read More »

One day last fall, I was working with a group of students from Saint Cecilia who were creating door signs for clients living at the Transitional Living Center. I was impressed with the finished project - beautiful signs filled with promises from God, inspiration and encouragement. As we finished hanging the signs, a client waved us down and ran to catch up with us. With tears in her eyes and a... Read More »

I was going through a divorce and had had a nervous breakdown from years of abuse among other situations. I had come to the end of my rope, literally. I had enrolled in college courses at North Harris, Tomball to be a Chemical Dependency Counselor, but I had no where to live. I was told of Star of Hope's Transitional Living Center by someone at the Church that I was attending. I was accepted and... Read More »

The time I spend at Star of Hope is the highlight of my week. Being in the midst of a job search, it can be easy to become focused on me and on my problems. Being at Star of Hope each week helps me stay focused on God, and to experience the joy of seeing first-hand His grace at work. Through His people, Star of Hope is meeting the very real needs of Houston’s homeless. It is so wonderful to be... Read More »

I love my job, and I know that I am blessed beyond measure to actually get paid to do what I should already be doing as a follower of Christ: caring for others, and pointing them to the gospel. My clients constantly thank me and my co-workers for serving them each day, and we feel honored and undeserving to do so. As much as our clients know that we care about them and love what we’re doing, they... Read More »

Being homeless, I finally got tired of it and decided to come to Star of Hope and joined the Men at Work program. While in the program, I was taught several ways to find a job, interviewing skills and computer classes. After completing program requirements, I attempted several job searches and kept the faith by attending chapel service and prayer. One night while sleeping, one of the brothers woke... Read More »

Now that I have the desire to think about the ways and thoughts of God, I can consider the things that I want. Star of Hope greatly helped me to become aware of the things that I should ask for and want in life. As I replay the tape of my life I found that I have often wanted those things that were self- gratifying. Some examples are the cars, clothes, houses and other things that I thought... Read More »

I was reading the Bible last week and one scripture kept getting my attention. Matthew 5:25 states that we should “reach a settlement quickly with your adversary… or your adversary will hand you over to the judge.” Now that I am willing to truly have faith and believe in Jesus, more and more remembrances are coming to mind. One such issue that has been heavy on my mind for many years is the debts... Read More »

Ben, a 7 year old boy, was on his way home from an Astros game and saw a homeless man with his wheelchair bound daughter on the street asking for help. Ben was really surprised that children might not have a home or the help they need. We talked about it that evening and Ben decided that he really wanted to help. As a result, he saved his money all summer and planned a visit to Star of... Read More »