Houston Non Profit Donations

The Blind Side Opened Houston's Eyes to Star of Hope

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 by Scott Arthur

It was a hot August night, but a breeze carried relief and a message of Hope to about 1500 Houstonians as they sat outside at Miller Outdoor Theatre and watched one of the best movies of 2009. Last Saturday, Star of Hope hosted a showing of The Blind Side - the feel good movie about NFL star Michael Oher and his tenure with the Touhy family. Sandra Bullock's performance won her the academy award and the story won the hearts of movie fans everywhere. Sean and Leigh Anne Touhy will be our guest speakers at the 2011 Star of Hope Banquet in February.

The event was billed as the Star of Hope "Can" Film Festival - inviting all to bring a donation of "Canned Goods" to help us feed the 1,000 homeless men, women and children we serve in our Shelters in Texas EVERYDAY.

You know how your favorite part of the movie used to be BEFORE the feature ...cartoons and stuff? (I know - I'm really dating myself). Well on Saturday night - I thought the show before the movie was great. Top rated Sunny 99.1 radio personality (and Star of Hope board member) Dana Tyson hosted the night and Houston's First Lady of TV - KHOU's Deborah Duncan sang The Star of Hope song - which she co-wrote. Then, the crowd was treated to a 4 minute tour of Star of Hope Shelters Houston Texas hosted by our President and CEO Hank Rush - big as life on the giant screen.

The audience was even given an opportunity to donate $10 by texting SOH to 20222. For a limited time - that donation will be matched by a generous donor. So if you are so inclined as to donate - now is a GREAT time to be supporting Houston Ministries, especially Star of Hope, one of the most effective non Profit Organizations Houston.

It was a magic night. For those of you who have trouble imagining it - here's a link to a quick Star of Hope YouTube "Can Film Festival" tribute.

Blessings Abound

Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Andrew Holmes

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

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Star of Hope’s Love In Action Van

Friday, July 9, 2010 by Scott McKinley

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:
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The Big Picture

Tuesday, June 29, 2010 by Hank Rush

The most frequent response we get from Houstonians who visit and tour the Star of Hope facilities is this: “I had no idea Star of Hope did ALL of this in the community!” Everyone in Houston seems to know about Star of Hope and think well of it, but in many ways it’s a "best kept secret."

So, to help you with “The Big Picture” of all we do in our city for those who have reached bottom and are not able to sustain independent housing, we have prepared a short, 4 minute video tour of all that Star of Hope does. I invite you to view it right now, by visiting www.youtube.com/StarOfHopeMission.

And, if you’d like to see all this in person, I invite you to come join me for lunch and a tour…and see and be inspired yourself!

Blessings,

Hank

THIS JUST IN: Star of Hope has launched a new texting campaign. You can make a difference by giving a $10 gift to help Houston's homeless right now from the your mobile phone: Text “SOH” to 20222!

Visit Houston Non Profit Donations and discover other ways to give.

The Storms of Life--Prayers Answered

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 by Erika Wise

Star of Hope is among many Non Profit Organizations Houston! And, during Hurricane Season, it has been one of the few Shelters Houston Texas which remain occupied during the some of the storms. The closest storm in my recollection--as for many of us--is Hurricane Ike, Fall of 2008. However, the stories I want to share today--the FIRST day of Hurricane Season--are from Hurricane Rita...

Still ministering to the evacuees and victims of Hurricane Katrina--a human flood coming from Louisiana and Mississippi to Houston and the surrounding areas--Star of Hope's Women and Family Shelter began to prepare for the landfall of Hurricane Rita. With the devastation of Hurricane Katrina still on everyone's mind...we were working with frightened, hurt, confused, abandoned and broken people leaving all they had--even loved ones--behind.

We as staff were used to working with those dealing with the "storms of life"--unemployment, drug addiction, abuse, and brokenness. But, this STORM was different--these precious men, women and children were clinging to the last few things they had left in this world--EACH OTHER!! The trauma was real...the fear was real...and, they were about to experience it all again!! Now these families and individuals faced a new threat; another STORM of life...Hurricane Rita...was threatening a direct hit to the Galveston/Houston area.

Outpouring of donations from all across America--Houston Non Profits, Christian Ministries Houston and Houston Non Profit Donations --SOARED. America responded to the material needs of the evacuees who fled to the Houston area. Food, blankets, clothing, water and other material items were coming in by the truckload...an answer to prayer!!

A few last minute buses were able to evacuate some of our residents (elderly, sick, very young)--an answer to prayer. The rest of us "hunkered down" in the cinder block safety of the Women and Family Shelter. I was among about 8 staff members who volunteered to "stay behind" and ride out the storm with the ones who had nowhere else to go or who could not be evacuated. That Friday night we held a Worship service--we prayed, sang hymns, and thanked God for His protection. All the residents and some locals who joined us went to bed early and staff began a vigil to pray and "watch this storm."

Of all the "storms of life" we had helped others through--this was the first one we could actually WATCH the progress and path!! We prayed for the storm to lessen--it was a Category 5; we prayed for the storm to turn--it was due to hit Galveston Bay directly. In the wee hours of Saturday, September 24, 2005, the storm came ashore in Louisiana as a Category 3 storm--answered prayer!

As we woke up Saturday morning (some of us had not slept), we found some wind damage and the lights were out--a generator provided some emergency lighting. Some of those Houstonians who had sought shelter with us as a "last resort" wanted to return to their homes and we all wanted to get on with life. As a few "relief staff" joined us later in the morning, we prayed again--for "light" and for transportation for those who wanted to return to their homes. As soon as we said, "Amen" and lifted our heads from prayer--a YELLOW TAXI CAB appeared in our driveway--an immediate answer to prayer! Staff talked with the cabbie and made arrangements to transport those who wanted to return home. The cabbie even returned to ensure all who had a place to go were taken there. We ate breakfast and lunch in the dim light seeping in through the skylights.

The mood was light, and happy as the residents rejoiced in God's protection, love and provision. And, as more staff began reporting to work to relieve those who had stayed through the storm...the electricity was restored at 2:00pm...it was only out about 12 hours--an answer to prayer!!

So, as this year's Hurricane season officially begins...and, predictions are made...I rely on the only thing I KNOW to be true---God answers prayer!!! In the midst of the storms of life--"hope floats up" as God answers prayer!!

"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield." Psalm 33:20

Send An Easter eCard

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 by Scott McKinley

Just in time for Easter, you can now send an Easter eCard to a friend to let them know that you care about Houston's homeless and support Star of Hope Mission.

Each meal at Star of Hope costs only $3.31 to prepare and serve. Please give today and help those who are struggling get a taste of hope this Easter. On the donation form, select "Send an eCard (optional)" to write and send your personal message.

Provide meals and send an Easter eCard at Houston Non Profit Donations.

Thank you for caring, giving and sharing!

Why Shouldn’t Homeless Kids Have High Hopes?

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 by Hank Rush

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!

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