Homeless Shelter Volunteer Houston

Our Living a Better Story begins in July 2008. Judy and I were preparing to be on Kairos Prison Ministry Team #1 at Hightower State Prison Ministry in Dayton, Texas. I was the Weekend Leader and needed a few more team members, especially ordained clergy. Rev. Marc Donaldson met Rev. Troy Williams at TDCJ Volunteer Training and put me in touch with Troy who was on staff at Star of Hope Mission in downtown Houston. Troy joined our team and Judy and I became impressed with Troy’s passion and dedication for serving the homeless of our community.

Judy and I assisted Troy and Star of Hope Mission yearly with some of their fundraisers so we are on their mail and email list. We received several emails and mailings from Star of Hope Mission recently requesting financial assistance; the Houston economy was sluggish and their contributions were lagging by about $700,000 from last year.

This is when Judy and I received our Living a Better Story packets.  Judy had a $5 bill in her packet; I had a $20 bill. We prayed for three days for God to show us where He wanted our multiplied money to be used. Confirming circumstances and prayer convinced me that Star of Hope Mission was where God wanted me to invest my fishes and loaves. During our three days of prayer, we received another mailing from Star of Hope Mission requesting financial assistance in providing back to school supplies for the homeless children that live in their shelters. Judy is a retired Second Grade teacher with a heart for helping school children get their required school supplies and back packs; she knew that God wanted her fishes and loaves to go toward school supplies for the homeless children at Star of Hope Mission.

Judy and I decided to pool our $25 rather than doing our projects separately. We came up with a list of friends, co-workers and family members who are not members here at Christ Church. We contacted them, shared our vision and the need at Star of Hope Mission and asked them to participate with us in multiplying God’s money. I sent an email to Rev. Troy Williams to let him know of our fishes and loaves project. He was intrigued and eager to see how God would work for Star of Hope Mission. 

The response was overwhelming! After three weeks of receiving numerous small contributions, our $25 had been multiplied by God into $950.00 with more expected. Judy and I visited Star of Hope with God’s multiplied money. Troy showed Judy and me all three of their facilities in downtown Houston. There is one men’s facility, one short term facility for parents with children and a long term facility for parents with children. The three facilities provide food and shelter for about 1,000 homeless members of the Houston community. All are very clean, well supervised and the spirit of love and compassion was evident everywhere we visited.

We were truly blessed by God in being able to work with Him in providing much needed operating funds and school supplies for some very deserving brothers and sisters.

Thank you Stoney and Judy!

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
 

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.

Throughout the community, an exceptional group of young people are learning the skills needed to become our future leaders. These young men and women are part of the Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs. What an honor it is to work with Scouts who select Star of Hope as the site for their Eagle Scout and Girls Scout Gold Award projects!  

The project requirements are stringent. Scouts must submit a comprehensive plan - containing a detailed description of the project, the necessary supplies and materials, how the project will be funded and how the project will benefit Star of Hope - that goes through many levels of approval in the Scout organizations before work can begin. 

This month, Scouts Mark Camero and Kevin Sweat will complete the projects they first proposed last year. Mark designed and is coordinating a team to build shelving units for a storage area at Star of Hope’s Women & Family Emergency Shelter. Kevin designed and is coordinating a team to build a seating area and improve the area around a playground at our Transitional Living Center. Scout Brian Howell is working on a project that will include a new seating area and beautification of an area around Star of Hope’s administration building. From drawing plans to material take-offs, these young men have covered all the bases. Scouts Tyler Barron and Matthew Salazar recently hosted donation drives for pillows, towels, socks and underwear and collected several thousand items! As we work with these young men over many months, nothing is more awesome and inspiring than when the invitation arrives to their Court of Honor ceremonies! 

Girl Scouts Madeline Bowser and Kelsey Pearson developed Gold Award projects that enriched the lives of the elementary-school-age children at our Transitional Living Center. Madeline organized and hosted three fun-filled monthly theme parties and also collected children’s socks and underwear. Kelsey, who lived in China for several years, shared her love for international cultures by organizing and hosting three international festivals that included arts & crafts, food and games. Not only did our children benefit from these unique experiences, Madeline and Kelsey were excellent role models.

In addition to these wonderful young people, Boy Scout leader Shana Montgomery has been a special blessing. While working through the demanding Wood Badge program, which teaches advanced leadership skills, Shana selected Star of Hope for her community service project. She helped get our children ready for summer camp by collecting flip-flops in all colors and sizes. 

We are so proud of our Scouts and grateful for the many ways they bless our mission! Each Scout demonstrates a tremendous work ethic, dedication and compassion for those less fortunate. Their commitment and service truly gives Houston’s homeless men, women and children hope for a better tomorrow.

Summer has officially arrived for the families at Star of Hope’s Women & Family Emergency Shelter and the Transitional Living Center! Thanks to our amazing friends at Key Energy Services, Star of Hope families kicked off a “Summer of Hope” with a fun-packed fajita fiesta!  This was the 4^th year Key Energy has hosted the end-of-school celebration and no detail was overlooked!

This morning, both courtyards at the Transitional Living Center were filled with sombrero-topped smiles, giggles and laughter as our families played carnival games, posed at the photo booth, scored points at the huge, inflatable basketball throw and jumped in the always-popular moonwalk.   Popsicles of every flavor, buttered popcorn and luscious paper cones of pink and blue cotton candy were just a few of the delectable treats. Face painters created custom works of art as they created tigers, butterflies and superheros. Not only were there pony rides, but our families also visited the petting zoo with sheep, billygoats, a brown baby llama and a 45-year-old, 80+ pound box turtle.  

There was even a very special time of pampering and relaxation for our moms, including manicures and chair massages. Make-up artists from Macy’s at Baybrook Mall generously volunteered their time again this year to delight our moms with professional makeovers and goodie bags.

While everyone enjoyed the festivities, a team of Key Energy volunteers took charge of the kitchen to prepare a spectacular feast! At noon, volunteers served fajitas with all the trimmings along with ice cream bars for dessert. Muy delicioso!

We are grateful for the incredible generosity of Key Energy Services and the many hours of creative planning their volunteers spent to make this morning such a whopping success. It gave our families a time to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of the past school year as they shared some south-of-the-border fun. However, the importance and significance of this event reaches far beyond the few hours of today. Many families at Star of Hope don’t have those special, happy memories that bond your family and mine together. Often their lives are filled only with the memories of abuse, addiction, poverty and bad choices. But today that changed. Key Energy volunteers created fabulous memories that will forever bond Star of Hope families together, touch their hearts and give them hope for a better tomorrow! Today was truly a fiesta de esperanza – a Fiesta of Hope!

Give Houston's homeless families hope for a better tomorrow.
Check out our online Volunteer Photo Gallery
Charity Work Houston

This week we have all been bombarded with advertisements from greeting card companies, florists and jewelers enticing us to find the perfect gift for Mother’s Day.  We’ve seen images of adoring children gathered around mom, sharing moments of fun and laughter. But instead of those perfect family portraits captured by Kodak, just for a moment, imagine being a homeless mom with several small children. You don’t know how you’re going to feed your children or where you will find a safe place for them to curl up and sleep. Stressed and exhausted, you feel like a failure. You have little hope for a better tomorrow until, somehow, you arrive at the Star of Hope Women & Family Emergency Shelter. There, in the midst of your pain and struggles, you find people eager to help you and your children. Not only are needs of your family met, but there is a special Mother’s Day surprise just for you!

Last year, Sue Clark of Houston Gift Rep Group, wanted to honor the moms at our shelter with special Mother’s Day flowers. She found beautiful cream-colored vases trimmed in gold and ordered enough flowers to fill all the vases. Sue even found a florist who allowed her to use their workroom from 9 AM until noon on Saturday. Sue, along with helper Sharon Reese, a tiny lady with a Texas-size heart, worked at a feverish pace all morning. But at noon, there were still many arrangements to be made. It’s so amazing how God works! Business was so good the florist had to stay open. Throngs of customers kept coming until the last arrangement was assembled!

Sue delivered more than 200 beautiful, fragrant, ribbon-tied arrangements to the shelter for the staff to distribute Sunday morning. There were tears of joy and big, happy smiles from all the moms. Some of our moms had never before received flowers from anyone. This was their very first time! Here are some of the comments made by our moms:

·         This is so beautiful, I love it!”

·         “Oh, my, thank you so much!”

·         “Oooh!  You don’t know how much this means to me!  Thank you so much!”

·         “This is lovely, so I get to celebrate Mother’s Day!”

·         “Thank you for the flowers.”

·         “Thank you for making us feel special!”

However, this Mother’s Day story doesn’t end on Sunday. On Monday, a first-time mom came home from the hospital (to a homeless shelter) with precious newborn twins. She didn’t leave the hospital with carts full of flowers, balloon and the other special well wishes that make this time even more exciting. But when she arrived at the Women & Family Emergency Shelter, Sue’s flowers were there to celebrate the very special delivery and her first Mother’s Day!

This year, as an organization, Houston Gift Rep Group has followed Sue’s lead and will again provide Mother’s Day flowers for all of the shelter’s moms. Moms who are struggling through times of crisis will know they are loved, appreciated and valued – not only by their children, but by the One who created us all. And as our moms are surrounded by His love, their hearts will be touched and the lives of their families forever changed.   Happy Mother’s Day!

In the past, when people were homeless, or in an emergency situation such as domestic violence they would find their way to the doors of our shelters where they would be received by open arms and the services that would help improve their circumstances. Our staff were geared towards working those front doors, tending to the crowds in the intake centers and having face to face time with the people who have so many critical needs. These days, with the online world growing rapidly and electronic communication exploding, it seems that more people are calling in for help and/or using our web site to find services. In December of 2009 Star of Hope received 32,000 inbound phone calls. Many of these calls were volunteers and donors who were looking for information on how they could help but most were people seeking services for themselves or desperately seeking help for a loved one. We receive an increasing number emails daily from people who are trying to find help or seeking help for a family or friend.

Exciting news for us. We have been planning a Call Center for the past several months that will help us connect people seeking services with a live voice when they call. A voice that can get them the help they are seeking, someone who can minister to the needy, someone who will pray and guide.

Perhaps the most exciting news about this Call Center project is it will be staffed with volunteers! These volunteers will be trained thoroughly on how to connect our callers to the services they need. 

Please pray for this effort since it will take tremendous resources to be the high impact unit we expect it to be and if you would like to volunteer be on the look out for the posting at High Impact Volunteer Jobs Houston or email me at aholmes@sohmission.org.
 

Easter always brings back the memory of a time when I was a little girl, sitting in the church pew with my parents, listening to the choir perform songs about the risen Christ. But one man in particular, always had me riveted to my seat. His voice was so deep and rich that the lyrics seemed to swell over the organ, especially when he sang, Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Something about that song always went right through my small frame. It was my first recognition of the awful beauty of His gift.

All these years later, I recognize that beauty which comes from agony, again, in the faces of our clients, at Star of Hope, whether the Men's Development Center, the Women and Family Emergency Shelter, or the Transitional Living Center. They have endured painful—often terrible times, their losses are acute, and the harsh realities of their circumstances can be seen in their eyes. They have had to be courageous in ways most of us cannot imagine. But Easter comes for them just as it came for Jesus. In this Christ-centered community, the Lord extends His nail-pierced hands to help homeless men, women, and children rise up from the pain, the past and fear of the future, and walk in the hope that is blood-bought, indelible, and available. Through our wonderful donors, volunteers, and advocates, the gift of Christ is at work at Star of Hope in the programs offered and the extraordinary staff who love our clients unconditionally.  And it is beautiful to behold. 
 

Learn more about Star of Hope's life-changing ministries by visiting Supporting Houston Ministries

I remember Easter time when I was growing up here in Houston. My mom and grandmother would take me shopping for the perfect new dress, complete with all the matching accessories, to wear to church on Easter morning. Oh, my goodness! Dressing rooms filled with possibilities and girl-time I will never forget. But most of the moms who come to Star of Hope are worried about a safe place for their children to sleep and finding food to fill aching bellies. Their thoughts are not on a trip to the mall, but survival. 

So I can hardly wait for all of the little girls at our Women & Family Emergency Shelter and our Transitional Living Center to get home from school today! Thanks to our friends with Houston Gift Rep Group, there’s a very special surprise waiting for the little girls at both facilities – new Easter dresses!

Last year, Houston Gift Rep Group kicked-off a wonderful new partnership with Star of Hope by purchasing Easter dresses and hair accessories for the little girls at the Women & Family Emergency Shelter. When the girls saw all the dresses and tried on everything for the first time, there were lots of excited giggles, glowing smiles and twinkling eyes. Sunday morning, they left for church feeling very pretty and very special in their brand new outfits. Not only did they celebrate Resurrection Sunday at church, but each little girl personally experienced the outpouring of Christ’s love through this generous gesture. One of our staff members, Meka Thompson, remembers girls who wore their dresses for days after Easter, not wanting to take them off, not wanting the moment to end.

Houston Gift Rep Group members have hearts the size of Texas and this year asked to include the little girls at our Transitional Living Center. This morning, Sam Bowman and Brenda Purser delivered almost 100 dresses and hair accessories. Brenda said, “EVERY little girl should have a new dress for Easter!” 

So this afternoon will definitely be a time filled with wonder and excitement as our little girls see their new dresses and get ready for the most special Easter ever. And I continued to be grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who sends special friends, like Houston Gift Rep Group, our way.
 

Discover ways to get involved at Homeless Shelter Volunteer Houston

Saturday was a clear, sparkling, spring day! But the bright Houston sunshine did not compare with the generous, compassionate hearts of our volunteers or the big, beautiful smiles lighting up the faces of guests at Star of Hope's Women & Family Emergency Shelter. Our friends from Texon hosted their very special third annual Easter celebration, and amid all the fun and festivities, homeless men, women and children, whose lives are in crises, learned more about a Savior who loves them. 

Hundreds of colorful eggs, filled with goodies, were hidden in the shelter’s courtyard. Nothing was more fun than watching the excitement of our precious little ones as they discovered each hidden treasure. Our children, young and old, were captivated by the artistic designs of volunteer face painters and loved “modeling” their very own masterpieces. But the biggest draw was the photo booth. The photos taken of each family were transformed into keepsake portraits as technology set families in front of a gorgeous cathedral stained glass window. I wish I could describe the pride with which both adults and children showed off their family photos to other shelter guests, staff and volunteers. The photos captured a memory our guests will take with them for a lifetime!

The blessing didn’t stop there! Guests heard the Easter story – about Jesus dying on a cross and being resurrected so that we all can have eternal life – and were treated to a lunchtime concert by the Grand Parkway Baptist Church choir. Texon catered and served a delicious meal of grilled chicken Alfredo with mushrooms, peas and red peppers accompanied by French bread…..and dozens and dozens of chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. Volunteers iced cupcakes to order and topped them with rainbow sprinkles, colored sugar and mini-chocolate chips. Food for the body AND food for the spirit!

As I made my way to the exit, I spoke with a father/son volunteer team for just a few moments. The dad said, “It is a beautiful day outside. But being able to help people, it is even more beautiful right here, inside the shelter!” 

That is the heart of all of our volunteers and we are grateful for each of you!  Happy Easter!
 

Learn how you can get involved at Houston Volunteer Opportunities.

My  family and I had a great Spring Break this past week, so glad to have time together and no homework!  Have you ever wondered what Spring Break might be like for a homeless teenager living in a shelter?  Well, here’s what Star of Hope’s teenagers did last week.  Below is a short summary by Chad Smith, one of Star of Hope’s Teen Ministers, of the fun and educational week they had together with our “Stars of 2Morrow”:

“To summarize what we did for spring break, Tuesday morning we went to Carino’s Restaurant. One of the servers took them on a tour of a working restaurant. They were able to meet all of the staff of Carino’s and ask questions. After that, they went to the tables and made their own personal pizzas starting from the dough adding any topping they wanted. Then, of course, when they finished the pizzas, they baked them and ate them! It was a lot of fun."
 
"Wednesday morning we took them to the University of Houston and met up with the soccer team staff and a few of the players. They told us about the athletic department in the University of Houston and then they gave us a tour of the facilities where the athletes train and play. At the end of the tour, the staff answered more questions and then they gave us U of H t-shirts. On Wednesday evening, the teens went to the Rodeo. The seats were amazing and the food was incredible (hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fried steak). They were able to see the cowboys lasso the bulls and other typical rodeo events followed by the musical performance of Gary Allen. Overall the teens had an amazing day."

"The neat thing about Wednesday is I have a 13 year old girl who loves soccer and has wanted to do nothing this month but go to the rodeo. And she has diligently tried to go with family or friends, but with no success. And let’s just say Wednesday was a very special day for her. She was able to interact with the UofH soccer team and then head to Rodeo for an amazing evening! It was kind of a dream come true for her."

"Friday, we took the teens on a hiking trip. They love those trips and they are always so surprised the places you can get good exercise around the city."

"Saturday evening they went to a Hope for Youth event where they enjoyed barbecue and fellowship with other teens and volunteers from Second Baptist. So that was our eventful spring break."

We are very thankful for Chad and our Teen Team, and especially thank the very special sponsor organizations mentioned above, and so many of you in our community who offer your time and resources to positively impact the lives of our Clients!

A great way to help the homeless is by donating needed items to an emergency shelter or long-term program. Also, consider organizing a collection drive with your friends, church, colleagues, school or organization.

Star of Hope Mission's urgent needs for this week include:

• Women’s Deodorant
• Shaving Cream
• Razors
• Blue Label Similac
• Flashlights & Batteries
• Pull Ups (2t, 3t, 4t).

Thank you for helping!

Coordinate a drive for needed items: Volunteering Houston. View our current needs list: Donating To Charitable Organizations
 

Looking back on 2009 probably makes us all a little jittery, as we remember the uncertainty we have experienced individually and collectively, due to the economic downturn.  But I hope you feel the same satisfaction and excitement that I feel, knowing that, in spite of the difficulties, God moved in dramatic ways to touch and change the lives of thousands of homeless men, women, and children, living at Star of Hope.  It was a year of abundant blessing for our Clients, with new records of service being given through our ministries around town, resulting in many great outcomes.

Did you know we served a record 6,319 individual clients during 2009?  Among other new records are total meals served…668,385, up 24% from 2008, night stays at 295,921, up 9%, clients finding independent housing up 17%, adults enrolled off-site in school or job training at 815, up 19%, clients graduating from a Star of Hope program up 44%, and the list goes on!

THANK YOU HOUSTON, for your generous support: for volunteering and contributing your time, resources, and monetary gifts, on behalf of our brothers and sisters who were suffering.  THANK YOU for letting God use you to work in the lives of those whom He has brought our way.
 
Most importantly, that 6,319 number is not just a statistic, it’s people of all ages in our community who were in crisis and needed an intervention, immediate needs met, and a loving environment in which to plan a new future.  And along the way, Star of Hope saw a total of 5,332 of these precious ones surrender their lives to Christ, and commit to live for Him.

Every client has his or her own story, but I thought you might want to take a look at this one, because it is representative of so many stories, that sum up 2009….what it’s like to be homeless unexpectedly, and how it feels:


   
So as we begin 2010, please remember, whatever our own struggles, that God is doing great things at the Star of Hope, and YOU are needed to partner with us in His service here!
 

Learn more about giving your time by visiting Community Service Volunteers Houston or give an online gift today at Supporting Homeless Shelters Houston.

What an amazing week we just experienced here in Houston… with below freezing nights, stores out of stock of insulation and heating equipment… as everyone rushed to prepare their homes for the cold.

But warm hearts abounded, as hundreds of Houstonians felt touched to reach out and help our Homeless population find shelter and warmth. Star of Hope’s two emergency shelters ramped up to sleep hundreds more on the floor, safe and warm from the weather and streets. Houston’s media organizations spread the news of the need for more blankets, sleeping bags, gloves and socks… and our great city responded!

The individual stories abound… family after family, companies, individuals, deciding to make a difference, and bringing carloads of these items to the Star of Hope.  Some went to multiple retailers to find items when they encountered stores that were sold out. One donor who wanted to help was sick at home with the flu and just couldn’t get out, so he went online and made an emergency gift through our website to help the cause financially!
 
Our “Love in Action” van was out several times every day handing out blankets, sleeping bags, socks, sandwiches and drinks to those on the streets, and bringing in all who were willing to take shelter.  And though our rooms were all occupied, everything worked smoothly for the 100+ men, women, and children in overflow, sleeping on the floor each night on mats and sleeping bags so many of you brought. Once inside, they were fed hot meals, shown God’s love… and hopefully given new Hope!

One member of the media, Susan O’Donnell of KSBJ, spent Saturday afternoon touring Star of Hope facilities and riding in the Love In Action Van; and was profoundly moved.  She saw staffer Charles Williams "putting the gloves on Jesus’ hands." And she spoke frequently on the radio over the weekend and Monday about her experiences. After looking in their eyes and hearing their stories, she stated she’d never think of them the same again, when she encounters one of these precious ones on the streets. Ones whom our Lord loves, and asks us to serve!

Thank you Susan, and each and every one of you great Houston folks, members of the media, donors, volunteers, and prayer partners… your Warm Houston Hearts made a difference in the lives of so many this past week!

Want to know more about how you can help those you encounter on the streets?  Click on wecarehouston.org and see how you can help!
 

Catch up on other Star of Hope news in our News Room at Help The Homeless Houston.

 

This past week has been full of sweet treats and bittersweet realities. While most families in Houston gathered around a table adorned with food and relatives, thousands and thousands of men, women and children who only have the city streets to call home gathered at common areas to give thanks for a full meal.

For the 19th year in a row, the staff of the Houston Hard Rock Cafe gave up their home time to volunteer to cook and serve Thanksgiving Luncheon to about 250 residents of Star of Hope.  The meal came with smiles, music ....and Santa , who came bearing gifts.

For more information on Star of Hope and how to help, visit Homeless Shelter Donation Houston