Philanthropy Opportunities Houston

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.