Being a vibrant mission is not just about caring for the homeless in our city, it's about serving our friends who support our ministry. One of the ways we do this is by sharing the wonderful things that are happening in our shelters to encourage and prepare our clients for re-entering society, with obtainable goals for self-sufficiency.
As you read the blogs written by our staff and guest bloggers, your heart will be touched by the stories about life in the shelters and the experiences of the men, women and children living in them. You will find ways to connect that meet your charitable ideals and many opportunities to deepen your involvement with Star of Hope Mission.
Growing older there is a hidden tendency to find pride and value in our everyday independence disguised under the name of self-sufficiency. The truth is as Christians we acknowledge we are only free and independent because of our reliance on Christ’s grace. Star of Hope is the perfect place for me to constantly be reminded that we are only functional because of mercy and grace. This past month a 9 year old girl name Charlotte was the messenger of mercy, love, and grace...and was a blessing to all! On National Lemonade Day, Charlotte, set up a lemonade stand. Unlike other children she didn’t spend her earnings on bubble gum, a new Barbie, or put it in her savings account for college; she gave all her money to the Homeless; $65 dollars went to help Star of Hope Homeless Kids this Summer.
“Charlotte has seen the same homeless man everyday for the past two and a half years who cares for his dog, Applejacks, and more recently another stray. No matter the weather, no matter how little he has for the day, both dogs are well cared for, fed and loved. She does not understand how someone who cares so much for two animals does not receive the same caring from other people.” Charlotte’s mom said. Charlotte decided to show others in similar situation she cares… a lot.
If Charlotte carried the burden that she was her own provider she probably would not have given all the money she earned. Charlotte knows she is provided for, therefore has the freedom to give to others. Just like Charlotte, we are not our own provider, yet we choose to carry the burden of “independence” as if it were our own to carry. The truth is we too are provided for well and have the freedom to give to others. If we chose to give then we will experience joy and witness first-hand God’s provision for not only others, but ourselves as well. As soon as we realize we cannot out give God the sooner we will be able to invest in the lives of others...and only then will we find contentment in our own wealth. Celebrate because we are provided for!
Matthew 18:2-6 - And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Charlotte has reminded me and others that my faith and my security lies not in my own self-sufficiency, but in Christ’s grace and provision. My prayer for us---you and I is that we do not seek greed of this world, but contentment in Christ. Honor Charlotte and acknowledge God’s sufficient provision, by matching her gift...or more!
Read more about Charlotte on Hank Rush's blog: Hope for the Homeless
Discover other ways to give: Philanthropy Opportunities Houston
Discover other ways to give: Philanthropy Opportunities Houston
Sometimes, I get a chance to get out of my normal day to day IT world and get to help out on video. A few months back one of our wonderful donors/volunteers, Cookie Joe, and her business partner, Tran Pham Rich , (owners of Cookie Joe's School of Dancin' located in Sugar Land, Texas) donated the money to rebuild and equip our intake center at the Women & Family Emergency Shelter. The name of the intake center is Place of Grace and one of the new features is a large flat screen television that families and homeless ladies, who are seeking services can sit and watch. The television is there to show the potential guests all the many programs and services that Star of Hope Mission offers to help them understand who we are and how much we want to help them.
Yesterday, after completing a video compilation of various elements I took the DVD over to test and play it for the first time at Place of Grace. I was joined by a homeless lady who I did not think was paying any attention to the video. She, like countless others, was just looking for a place that would take her in and give her some relief from the Houston streets. As the video progressed through all the various ministries of Star of Hope , she looked over at me and said that she had no idea that Star of Hope did so many things. I sat and explained a few details to her about what she had seen, all the while hoping she was inspired to become a part of the Star of Hope family and be a life changed, a life restored.
Learn more about Star of Hope and Philanthropy Opportunities Houston.
“Star of Hope in Houston Texas, You're truly changing lives, not with lip service but with hope, love & opportunity, amazing job. Thank You!” @LeighAnneTuohy
These words were posted on Twitter last Saturday by LeighAnne Tuohy, following Star of Hope’s Annual “Because You Love” Banquet the night before. It was our best attended banquet ever with 1700+ donors, corporate sponsors and community partners in attendance. Sean and LeighAnne Tuohy, the couple who inspired the movie “The Blind Side”, were our guest speakers.This week, we are hearing stories from those in attendance who were touched in a special way by the evening’s activities. We always work to educate and inspire. We want to educate folks on what homelessness is, who it is currently affecting in Houston, and how they can help. And we seek to inspire through videos and live testimonies of clients of Star of Hope… who have seen their lives completely turned around by the power of God’s love and by the opportunity they receive to start a new life while at Star of Hope.
The number of homeless families in our community doubled in just one year, from 2009 to 2010. With your help in 2010:
- Star of Hope’s family of ministries graduated 46% more clients from our programs
- 44% more completed and were awarded high school equivalency GEDs
- 40% more Clients found jobs, than in 2009
- We also were excited to announce that during 2010 we saw 629 households restored into independent living in the Houston community
All of this could not have been done without YOU, “The Star of Hope Family”…our donors, volunteers, church friends, partner service providers and corporate supporters.
Thanks for all you do in the many individual ways you serve along side of us at Star of Hope. And if you’d like more information, visit www.sohmission.org right now and find out how you can become involved in this exciting ministry in our city!
A few weeks ago, I shared with you that the number of homeless families in Houston has doubled in just the last year. Our family shelter in downtown Houston has been full with overflow every night. This shocking trend appears to be continuing as we move into Fall and the holidays.
During just one recent weekend, ten families came to Star of Hope’s Women and Family Emergency Shelter for food and safety, all on the same afternoon. These four, two-parent families with children, a single dad with his children, and five husband and wife couples spent the night safely with us, bringing our total overflow sleeping on the floor that night up to 115. And that is in addition to all our rooms being full with another 275 people!
The face of homelessness is changing. These “families on the fringe” are living in their cars, in abandoned buildings or with a friend or a relative doubling up. Many of them are victims of the economy. Sooner or later, when they end up at our front door, they find that door is always open.
With no relief in sight, we are planning for the coming months. The holidays are right around the corner and this season we anticipate continued record numbers. We’ll need record amounts of food to serve those who, perhaps for the first time, are not spending these special days in their homes, but “at the home you provide” at Star of Hope.
We are all blessed with the ability to provide a warm meal for our family. Why not start the holiday early and help us provide for a family less fortunate by visiting Ways to Give. The most versatile and effective gift is a financial one. This allows us to purchase needed food items, and this is a gift you can make right now.
As you set your table tonight, think of a setting a place for a homeless family as well, and know that your donation has helped provide them with a nutritious meal too. Thank you for helping us care for these new families!
During just one recent weekend, ten families came to Star of Hope’s Women and Family Emergency Shelter for food and safety, all on the same afternoon. These four, two-parent families with children, a single dad with his children, and five husband and wife couples spent the night safely with us, bringing our total overflow sleeping on the floor that night up to 115. And that is in addition to all our rooms being full with another 275 people!
The face of homelessness is changing. These “families on the fringe” are living in their cars, in abandoned buildings or with a friend or a relative doubling up. Many of them are victims of the economy. Sooner or later, when they end up at our front door, they find that door is always open.
With no relief in sight, we are planning for the coming months. The holidays are right around the corner and this season we anticipate continued record numbers. We’ll need record amounts of food to serve those who, perhaps for the first time, are not spending these special days in their homes, but “at the home you provide” at Star of Hope.
We are all blessed with the ability to provide a warm meal for our family. Why not start the holiday early and help us provide for a family less fortunate by visiting Ways to Give. The most versatile and effective gift is a financial one. This allows us to purchase needed food items, and this is a gift you can make right now.
As you set your table tonight, think of a setting a place for a homeless family as well, and know that your donation has helped provide them with a nutritious meal too. Thank you for helping us care for these new families!
Visit Philanthropy Opportunities Houston and Community Volunteer Opportunities Houston
for more ways to get involved.
for more ways to get involved.
Tonight Star of Hope will be recognized by State Farm Insurance as a State Farm “good neighbor” at the Astros Home Game at Minute Maid Park. We are honored to receive this recognition, and thankful for the help and support of State Farm and our community as we work to help the large numbers of families experiencing homelessness this summer in Houston. We are intensely working to place the many families who are in our shelter, many sleeping on the floor, into more permanent programs and housing before school starts next week. Can you imagine being homeless, sleeping on a mat on the floor in a full homeless shelter, and getting your kids off to school all at the same time?
Please take a moment now to GIVE ONLINE or by pulling out your cell phone and texting the message: “SOH” to 20222 to give a $10 immediate gift to Star of Hope. AND… Beginning last Saturday, a generous Star of Hope Donor has agreed to MATCH the next 1,000 text gifts... so your text gift today can be doubled!
If you're in town I hope to see you at the Astros tonight. Many thanks, State Farm, for your great support and for being a "good neighbor" to our great city.
Hank
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
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
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.
One of the best ways to learn about Star of Hope or share us with your friends is our annual banquet. On January 20, 2010 we are celebrating 103 years of caring for Houston's Homeless. Join us along with Michael English and Mike Yankoski (author of Under The Overpass).
For the first time you can register online @ Philanthropy Opportunities Houston.
Other great ways to learn about Star of Hope and helping the homeless... Join us for a graduation, tour or volunteer. Comment here or send me an email smckinley@sohmission.org. For volunteer opportunities, visit Homeless Volunteer Work Houston.
For the first time you can register online @ Philanthropy Opportunities Houston.
Other great ways to learn about Star of Hope and helping the homeless... Join us for a graduation, tour or volunteer. Comment here or send me an email smckinley@sohmission.org. For volunteer opportunities, visit Homeless Volunteer Work Houston.
Powered by Compendium