Volunteer Helping Houston Homeless

Imagine what it must be like to be out on the streets with no place to call home. Frantically, you search for shelter and a safe place to fall asleep. That’s when you remember that someone told you about Star of Hope. In desperation, you put your last two quarters in the payphone, hoping with everything you have left inside that you can talk with someone, that you don't get a recording.

Although most of us are used to automated telephone systems, navigating menus can be a frustrating process. And if this is the only call you can make, it’s even worse. 

At Star of Hope, our goal is for every caller to reach a “live” voice – to get the help and answers each caller needs and deserves. To accomplish this goal, we opened a call center that is staffed entirely by volunteers. 

No one has taken a more active role in the call center than our friends from Willis of Texas, Inc. About 30 Willis employees staff both the morning and afternoon shifts every Wednesday. Thanks to Willis and other call center volunteers, each call is promptly answered by a friendly voice that’s filled with compassion. Once calls are answered, volunteers remain on the line until callers receive the help they need - even praying with callers. Volunteers are not interested in the number of calls they answer, but in delivering the best possible service.  It is far more than simply answering the phone, it is a ministry! 

Our friends at Willis have been very generous with their time, and yet, found a way to do even more during the holidays. In addition to volunteering in our kitchens and at the Christmas Workshop, they also raised $5,550 to purchase gifts for moms and dads at our Women & Family Emergency Shelter and men in the recovery programs at the Men’s Development Center. Not only will there be gifts for the children, but for the adults, too. No one has been forgotten!

Each year at the NBTA trade show, Joe Carino, owner of CARINO Hotels & Resorts, raises money for a charity by holding a raffle. The prizes are awesome – weekend stays at one of his breathtaking resorts and destination airline tickets – and the raffle tickets are modestly priced.   This year, Mr. Carino joined forces with NBTA and selected Star of Hope as his beneficiary.

Several staff members and volunteers were invited to the exposition during peak traffic hours over several days to talk about Star of Hope, answer questions and sell tickets. Not only did we have another opportunity to visit with NBTA members who participated in the volunteer project, we were able to share our mission with people from around the world. 

As the convention & exposition ended Wednesday noon, NBTA further blessed us with a large financial gift. The check presentation was made on the trade show floor as Star of Hope President & CEO, Hank Rush, formally thanked NBTA members for their overwhelming generosity. 

But it doesn’t end there. After the convention, Preferred Corporate Housing made a sizable donation of urgently needed items such as sheets, towels and flatware. UPS and FedEx continued to deliver boxes filled with school supplies and toiletry care packs. And NBTA members continue to use social networks to share Star of Hope with an even broader audience. 

Local NBTA members arrived in their own cars, and buses packed with NBTA members from across the country pulled up to Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center right on schedule. Suddenly, the campus was filled with the neon orange shirts of NBTA leadership and the dazzling red shirts of NBTA members. Each volunteer came ready to work!

Empty one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments were filled with paint brushes and trays, rollers, masking tape and ladders. Volunteers knew they were getting these apartments ready so that homeless families could move in. Other volunteers painted the l-o-n-g hallways on all three floors of the Singles’ dorm, like a college-dorm setting where two rooms share a bath. The bright, fresh coat of paint told clients, “You’re important! You deserve a nice, attractive place to live!”

While most volunteers painted, one or two volunteers worked with our kitchen staff to prepare dinner. And a few more wrote notes of encouragement that were placed in client mailboxes.  These notes will be forever treasured….
 

“Just wanted you to know someone is praying for you today!” 

“Hang in there! I will be keeping a good thought for you!”
“When the world says, ‘Give up,’ Hope whispers, ‘Try it one more time.’” 

About the time everyone needed a break, the most amazing thing happened – a couple of guys from Chick-fil-A at Holcombe & Buffalo Speedway came through the door with two large coolers. Classic chicken sandwiches, leftover from another event, were an unexpected treat for clients, volunteers and staff members. The timing was perfect!

Re-energized, volunteers not only finished painting the planned areas, but also taped, prepped and painted several other large areas. Their enthusiasm and hard work were inspiring!

As the cars and buses pulled away, taking NBTA members back to the convention floor, we were grateful for such a fabulous opportunity to share our mission with new friends from Houston and across the USA!

National Business Travel Association project day finally arrived. However, before a single NBTA volunteer reached Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center, another group of volunteers was already onsite making final preparations. These special folks are Volunteer Hosts.

No two of our Volunteer Hosts are exactly alike – they come from many different backgrounds and career paths. But they definitely have several traits in common. Their positive, winning personalities are infectious and bubble over to all those around them. They are high energy, display exceptional professionalism and their hearts are filled with compassion. Most important, they love Star of Hope and want to share this passion with all those who come through our doors.

Volunteer Hosts are a vital extension of the Volunteer Services team and often create a new volunteer’s first impression of our mission. After special training, they help welcome volunteers, give tours, solve problems, provide valuable feedback and ensure those who give the gift of time know what a blessing their service is to our mission. 

When NBTA volunteers boarded the buses at the George R. Brown Convention Center for their trip to Star of Hope, Volunteer Hosts were on each bus to give an overview and streamline the sign-in process. 

Once NBTA volunteers arrived, Volunteer Hosts directed them to the bag check area, which was also staffed by Volunteer Hosts, and the various project areas.  Volunteer Hosts stayed with the NBTA volunteers at each work site to answer questions, keep volunteers hydrated and check-on supply levels. Thanks to the tremendous support of our Volunteer Hosts, we were able to maximize the time and NBTA volunteers accomplished even more than anticipated.

We are grateful for our Volunteer Hosts and the important role they play in ministering to other volunteers throughout the year. Volunteer Hosts allow us to do more, better so that our clients, staff, volunteers and community are blessed and God gets the glory.

Learn more about Community Volunteer Opportunities Houston

It’s been a year since I received the first e-mail from Jeannie Eisenhart.  Jeannie works for Crowley Maritime in Florida and is on the Board of the National Business Travel Association. 

NBTA members include airlines, hotels and resorts, travel agents and corporate travel departments, food service companies and temporary corporate apartment homes – just to name a few. Their 2010 international convention & exposition was scheduled for Houston, and for the first time ever, NBTA wanted the agenda to include a community service project. After the Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau recommended Star of Hope and NBTA executives from Washington, D.C. toured our facilities, an amazing partnership was born!

NBTA featured Star of Hope on their website and urged each member’s support. Without a track record, NBTA did not know what the response would be. But they wanted to provide members with a variety of ways to help Houston’s homeless men, women and children:

·         * As members completed the convention registration form, they were asked to make a $10 donation to Star of Hope.

·         * NBTA members were given a list of needed items – such as toiletries, towels, sheets, clothing and canned goods – and asked to make an in-kind donation.

·         * And members were asked to sign-up for a project at our Transitional Living Center – painting client apartments and other living areas, writing notes of encouragement for client mailboxes and assisting in the kitchen.

Deliveries arrived from across the country – large and small boxes of donated items. As our Women & Family Emergency Shelter slept a growing number of adults and children in overflow during the dangerous summer heat, these donations were a special blessing.

We worked with the incredible NBTA staff for almost a year, planning for every detail. And there was a lot of work happening behind the scenes. NBTA secured cash donations from ADTRAV and Continental Airlines. Someone from Lowe’s contacted Werner & Co. on behalf of NBTA. Werner generously donated more than 50 ladders for the painting project. And Aramark donated drinks and snacks for NBTA volunteers. 

After such a tremendous team effort, I was eager to meet all of the people from across the country who worked so tirelessly to bless Star of Hope. I wanted to put faces with the names and personally thank each one of our new friends. Project day could not arrive soon enough!

Make plans to serve Houston’s homeless men, women and children.

Call 713-440-5322 or 713-440-5301 to discuss volunteer project options for your group.
Community Volunteer Opportunities Houston

In Houston, it’s usually difficult to tell exactly when summer ends and fall begins.  The arrival of fall isn’t signaled by green leaves turning into spectacular shades of red, gold, yellow and orange. Nor do we break out our jackets, turtleneck sweaters and plaid wool blankets for Friday night football. For most Houstonians, the arrival of fall is little more than a note on the kitchen calendar.

But the staff and clients at Star of Hope know exactly when fall begins. It begins with the arrival of outstanding volunteers wearing bright red and white ExxonMobil t-shirts. Our partnership with ExxonMobil spans more than a decade and their volunteers share in each client success.

I am happy to report that Fall 2010 has definitely arrived! Red and white shirted ExxonMobil Global Services volunteers spent two days helping out at all three Star of Hope campuses. 

Volunteers assisted the kitchen staff with chopping veggies, making sack lunches, cleaning and serving lunch. A few volunteers even braved arctic temperatures in the freezers to ensure they were clean and well organized. 

The entrance of our Transitional Living Center got a facelift as volunteers spruced up the landscaping in several areas. While one group worked outdoors, another group of volunteers taught computer skills and conducted mock interviews with clients in the Personal Development program. Not only did the ExxonMobil volunteers help clients sharpen their skills, but they also gave clients the confidence they need for successful interviews.

As we work for national accreditation of our childcare program, ExxonMobil volunteers helped ready the childcare center at our Transitional Living Center for inspection. They painted both the infant and pre-k classrooms a lovely pastel shade of creamy yellow and installed new cabinets. They even built special scaffolding to reach the high ceilings. As if that weren’t enough, they custom-built child-size picnic tables so our little ones can enjoy lunchtime outdoors.

Over the years, ExxonMobil volunteers have worked to make our facilities more inviting and comfortable for Houston’s homeless men, women and children, as well as providing for the direct needs of our clients. Thank you, ExxonMobil, for the many ways you continue to bless our mission!

When volunteers from GE Energy hosted Family Fun Time at Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center, it was quite an adventure for Sylvia, a client in our New Hope program. “I’ve been around the world in the last hour!” she exclaimed with a broad grin. “I’ve met all of these wonderful volunteers from all over the world!”

While in Houston, this international GE Energy group asked to include a volunteer project in their plans.  We were delighted when they selected Star of Hope!  The fun started with a hamburger dinner and all the trimmings. And then, laughter, bright smiles and giggles spread out across the cool fall evening.
 

A volleyball game in one courtyard grew bigger and bigger as more and more clients joined energetic volunteers. Sack races, golf, bowling and badminton filled the other courtyard. Clients and volunteers gathered around tables in the chapel for board games, dominoes, face painting and crafts.

One little boy, perhaps 6 and very bashful, looked around the chapel in wide-eyed wonder. When a volunteer asked if he would like to play a game, he nodded, “Yes.” Although he followed the volunteer to pick out a game, it was the volunteer who had to make the choice. The little boy would not say a word. But the volunteer did not give up, and finally, broke the ice. Moments later, both the little boy and the volunteer were doubled over in laughter and talking with each other 90 miles an hour.

I don’t know who had the most fun – the kids or adults, the clients or the volunteers. But I doubt anyone will soon forget this special time together.
 

Learn more about Community Service Volunteers Houston at Star of Hope!

It really doesn’t matter where I am.  When our flag is raised and the National Anthem is played, a huge lump knots up my throat and I quickly blink back the tears. Although the weather may not cooperate this July 4^th, it really doesn’t matter.  Rain may shut down the fireworks, picnics and parades, but it certainly will not dampen the overwhelming pride in our country and gratitude for our freedom. 

Here at Star of Hope, freedom takes on a whole new meaning. Many of our clients have been chained to the bondage of addiction, abuse, generational poverty, hopelessness and despair. For some, it’s the only life they have ever known. But when they come to Star of Hope, they find there is indeed hope for a better tomorrow. With the help of generous donors and volunteers, clients are equipped with the tools they need for successful, independent living. They are no longer bound by the past, but free to discover the bright future that awaits them.

Even more important than the practical skills that empower our clients, clients have the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ, in whom there is eternal freedom. In Matthew 11:-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." As clients invite Jesus into their hearts, they find the amazing freedom and unique purpose that comes only through a relationship with Him. Last year, 5,332 clients decided to trust their future to Christ and many more have made decisions for Christ already this year! 

So on this Independence Day, we rejoice with our new brothers and sisters in Christ who have found true, lasting freedom in Him! As we pray, we ask God’s continued blessing and direction for our nation and our work here at Star of Hope.  And we ask His blessing on each of you and all those He sends through our doors.  Have a safe and happy July 4th!

Learn more about Star of Hope at Non Profit Organizations Houston

The personal and career development programs at our Transitional Living Center help clients learn to shine when they interview for jobs. We want our clients to be so polished, poised and professional that they have a variety of job offers from which to pick. But for many clients, job interviews are very difficult and create enormous anxiety. Baggage from the past - such as an unstable work history, gaps in employment, a felony conviction or poor references – can cause wary potential employers to ask tough questions.   Through lots of practice and role playing, clients learn what to expect in interview situations and how to honestly present themselves in the best possible light. This helps calm the jitters and reduce stress.

Although it’s helpful for clients to practice interview situations with the Star of Hope staff, it is even more helpful when they can practice and receive feedback from the corporate community. Last week, a group of caring, dynamic volunteers from the finance and accounting departments of BMC Software were onsite to work with clients who are beginning their job searches. Teams from BMC conducted mock interviews and provided each client with individual feedback; discussed job search skills and time management; and helped clients hone their computer skills. Our clients took this opportunity seriously by dressing and acting as if they were interviewing for “real” jobs. 

The BMC Software team was only onsite for a few hours, but the impact they made will be far-reaching as our clients do well in interviews and begin successful new careers. Here are just a few comments made by clients about the time they spent with the BMC volunteers:

• -"BMC Software, thank you for coming to the Star of Hope. I learned new tools for interviewing and how to approach people when networking for employment."
• -"I really enjoyed the career workshop.  It was very knowledgeable and I would recommend it to others."
• -"Titus was very professional.  He showed interest in his topic and was very helpful in teaching me how to succeed in the interview."
• -"I learned some exceptional new ideas, which I plan to implement into my new career. The workshop was very refreshing and uplifting. I feel empowered after the information I have received."

Learn how your corporate group can get involved and like BMC Software help our clients achieve success at Community Volunteer Opportunities Houston. 

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.

It’s probably been a year since we first met perky art consultant, Sheri Hammonds. A dynamic MBA with a gentle, compassionate spirit, Sheri contacted Star of Hope about teaching art classes for our adult clients. Sheri described how she loves “to move paint” and how this creative outlet might help our clients express feelings for which they have no words. 

Since that first meeting, Sheri’s dedication to this project never wavered. When others might have become overwhelmed by the ever-present challenges of a start-up program, Sheri met with artists and recruited volunteers to assist with the classes. Along with her team, Sheri attended workshops on teaching art, as well as our required volunteer orientation. She developed a 7-week curriculum for the classes, located funding sources for art supplies and got a large quantity of supplies donated. And she worked tirelessly with all of us at Star of Hope to ensure each detail was carefully attended. It wasn’t an easy process, but Sheri was committed to the project God placed on her heart. 

Yesterday afternoon, finally, Sheri held her first class for 10 ladies at our Transitional Living Center! Sheri was joined by three more volunteer teachers – Paula, Carol and Lucy. At first, some of the clients were a little anxious and hesitant to try something so new. But Sheri worked beside them, reassuring and encouraging all of the ladies. Soon, everyone was filling large sheets of paper with beautiful colors and sharing moments of fun, laughter and relaxation – as well as a few artistic tips.

Sheri said, “I was particularly moved by one student’s explanation of her drawing, which was a road leading to various paths in her life and stops in her truck.  I also had a great conversation with one student about her heroes in her life. She told me about three people she’d like to have dinner with if she ever had the chance.  This was a wonderful group and they were so glad to be creating and relaxing.”

Like Sheri, you can make a real difference in the lives of Houston’s homeless men, women and children.  Register today to become a Star of Hope volunteer at Community Service Volunteers Houston.

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

I’ve often heard that for kids a week at summer camp is equal to a year’s worth of Christian education. Many dynamic Christians have shared testimonies of how Jesus first became real in their lives while attending camp. The children at Star of Hope are no different. Amidst horseback rides, canoeing and the many new challenges of the great outdoors, they learn about a Savior who loves them and will never leave them. There, around the glowing embers of the campfire, a yearning for His purpose in their lives is powerfully and forever ignited. So how awesome is it that Star of Hope sends about 120 children to summer camp each year?!?! 

Of course, the kids don’t simply hop on the bus and ride off to their cabins in a wooded paradise. Getting 120 children ready for camp is a HUGE job that could not be accomplished with the generosity of our donors and volunteers. Since most of our children do not have the essentials for a week at camp, we pack and send each camper with everything he or she needs – shorts, t-shirts, socks & underwear, swimsuits, tennis shoes, flip-flops, towels, toiletries, and most important, a Bible. 

This week, volunteers will be at our Women & Family Emergency Shelter to pack a duffel bag for each child.   This is not a fast job – packing must be done with care and an eye for detail. Not only is it important for campers to have the items they need, it is very important they have the right sizes. Volunteers from the Doubletree Hotel – Houston Downtown will kick-off the packing party and donate travel-size toiletries. Rick & Carole Wilcox, Harry Kirkpatrick, Melvin Jackson, Nellie Zarate, Durwood South and Vivian Busquet , along with a few more volunteers, will finish the job long before the first bus arrives. The ride to Camp Good News will be filled with joyful camp songs and happy hearts.

Please pray for our children and counselors as they travel to and from camp. And pray as our children experience God’s amazing creation in a new way, they will open their hearts to His love and accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior. As they come to know the boundless love of Christ, our children will truly experience a Summer of Hope!

Learn more about Houston Volunteer Opportunities and Donation Opportunities for Summer of Hope.

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

“Taking Care of the Way People Live” is more than a catchy advertising slogan for Gables Residential, a company nationally recognized for excellence in the management, development, acquisition and construction of multi-family apartment communities. Last Thursday, Gables Residential shut down their entire Houston operation and sent about 150 enthusiastic, high-energy volunteers to take care of the way families live at Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center. 

Members of the Gables team spent the day painting 15 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in preparation for new families who would otherwise be homeless, as well as repairing and painting mechanical surrounds. The TLC campus was covered with bright, eye-popping turquoise t-shirts that proclaimed “Volunteering In Progress”. Not only did Gables generously donate the project materials and manpower, but they also donated items our children need for summer camp – duffel bags, flip-flops and towels. 

Throughout the day, my heart was touched by the joy with which the Gables volunteers worked. Here are just a few of the responses I received when I randomly asked volunteers what it meant to be part of Gables Day at Star of Hope:

·         -  “My mother raised three kids on her own….to be able to help other people is important” Rosemary

·         -  “I moved out of my house when I was 16 years old. When I decided to straighten out my life, my family was there for me. I’m glad Star of Hope is here for these families.” Lisa

·        -   “Star of Hope is a place that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of folks who really need it. It is refreshing to see that Star of Hope has kept true to its core mission and values throughout the good times and bad. Truly a great organization!” Ben

·         -  “Volunteering at Star of Hope means giving back in circles.” Sabrina

·         -  “I like helping other people.” Jesus

Would your corporate group like to join Gables Residential in helping Houston’s homeless men, women and children? Visit Community Service Volunteers Houston to get started.

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!

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.

Although others might disagree, I truly believe the Volunteer Services team has the best jobs at Star of Hope! Every single day, Julie, Billie and I have the privilege of working with people who come to Star of Hope simply because they have a heart to serve. They come as partners in our mission – not wanting anything in return. These amazing people are Star of Hope volunteers!

Our volunteers bring an enormous variety of talents, abilities and skills to the table. Their generous gifts of time, energy, compassion and leadership have touched the lives of Houston’s homeless men, women and children in countless way! As they share special moments of God’s love with our clients, our volunteers are beautiful examples of a servant’s heart and outstanding role models in our community. The difference they make today will continue to impact tomorrow’s history and our world is a much better place because of each volunteer who walks through our doors.

Albert Schweitzer once said, “Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light.”

For many of our clients, the light was extinguished long ago as they struggled through pain, addictions, tragic circumstances, and sometimes, bad choices. Their world was pretty dark, bleak and hopeless and they often felt invisible.  But at Star of Hope, clients discover they were created for a unique purpose by a loving Heavenly Father, and as a child of the King, their lives have value and worth. As volunteers partner in our ministry, they help rekindle the light in another human being. Lights that have gone out are blown into flame by their love and compassion.

This is National Volunteer Week and a time to pay special tribute to all of our volunteers. The national theme, Celebrating People in Action, exemplifies the enthusiastic response of our volunteers as they have eagerly reached out to help those in need for more than 100 years.

On behalf of Star of Hope’s Board of Trustees, staff and clients, I would like to express our deepest thanks and gratitude to each of our volunteers. What you do matters and makes a lasting difference in the lives of others – you rekindle the light, touch hearts and inspire our clients to become successful members of our community. Thank you for all of the many ways you bless all of us. We pray God will richly bless your participation in this ministry today and always.
 

Get involved. Visit Houston Volunteer Opportunities.
 

Every day I find that people in our community are eager to know more about Star of Hope, the services we provide and how to get involved.  One question I am often asked is, “Where do you get your volunteers?”  The answer is simple – from everywhere!  

l  Churches, Bible studies & various ministries

l  Local and out-of-town mission outreach groups

l  Businesses – Small businesses to global conglomerates

l  Professional organizations and societies

l  Universities – student associations and professional groups, sororities & fraternities, athletic programs, alumni organizations, etc.

l  Traditional high schools to boarding schools and home school organization – clubs, athletic programs, honor societies, etc. 

l  Civic, philanthropic and charitable organizations

l  Social clubs

l  Other non-profit partnerships and collaborations

l  Families

I can’t imagine a community more generous than the one in which we live.  Each year, thousands of Individuals and groups give their time, energy and resources to help those less fortunate through Star of Hope’s onsite and offsite volunteer opportunities. We are grateful for each volunteer and consider this a "God thing" - the way He continues to impress people's hearts to partner with our ministry, enabling us to do far beyond what we could have ever imagined for over 100 years! 

Want to know more?  Check out the ways you can make a difference in the lives of Houston’s homeless men, women and children at Volunteering Houston.