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.
Star of Hope serves 250-300 children each day, who are staying in our facilities with their parents as they work to recover from homelessness.
Just last week, a group of 5th grade boys at Second Baptist School, arrived at our front door with 19 boxes of children’s books! This all started when a young man named Fielden cleared all of the books he had outgrown from his room after Christmas. As he wondered who could use them he remembered his family serving at Star of Hope’s Women & Family Emergency Shelter downtown. He decided to give the books to the kids at Star of Hope.
Fielden and his mom met with Elizabeth Hatler, Manager of Volunteer Services here at Star of Hope. As he learned how much children who come to Star of Hope experiencing homelessness with their families would love to have books of their own, he decided to do a book drive with his friends at school. Fielden sent out letters to 25 or so of his friends, asking them to help. The 5th graders worked, and then their work was multiplied by a bunch 11 and 12 year olds, who caught the spirit and built the collection. Bags and boxes of books kept coming, as the kids’ and families’ excitement grew!
Last Thursday, Fielden and 15 of his teammates arrived in numerous SUV’s and swooped into our lobby with box after box of children’s books for our kids. After touring the Transitional Living Center, he asked the boys to take a moment to pray that God would use the books, then added, “Tebowing allowed.” In a wave, the boys dropped to their knees and prayed. Not only did they ask that the children at Star of Hope would benefit from their books, but that God would use them to draw the children closer to Him.
There are so many ways to help those experiencing homelessness in our city. We welcome your help in organizing food, clothing, school supplies, diapers, and yes…book drives for those seeking help at Star of Hope. Feel free to contact our Volunteer Services Staff to discuss how your family , church or corporation can help us in this way, as we meet to provide the needs of 1,100 men women and children each day!
Vounteer Opportunities Houston
Host a Drive for Needed Items
Star of Hope Mission
Star of Hope's 2011 Ministry Report is available now. Take a look inside to see how your support is changing the lives homeless men, women and families in our community.
In 2011, you helped accomplish that mission through your support for:
- 615,068 healthy, nourishing meals to reassure the hungry
- 87,218 donated articles of clothing and 5,910 toys and gifts to help families rebuild their lives
- 50,228 diapers for our littlest guests
- 6,641 medical, dental and mental health care solutions
- 93,861 basic hygiene items that are essential to providing a fresh, clean outlook on life
Thank You Houston!
Mike McGown, Lead Pastor at Parkway Fellowship and Scott Arthur discuss the life-change that happens at Star of Hope.
Thanks Parkway Fellowship for serving with us!
Star of Hope and Parkway Fellowship from Parkway Fellowship on Vimeo.
“That’s the kind of volunteer I like to have on my team,” he said pointing to a young man installing hardware from which he was going to hang a canopy over the Toddler’s playground. “He told me, ‘We are going to buy stainless steel parts for this project, aren’t we? We want it to last forever!’ That’s how the people are who volunteer for these projects. They care about the quality of the work they are doing on behalf of the people in this facility. Even financially, people who are usually very Budget conscious are quite generous when it comes to volunteer efforts like this one.”
The setting for this conversation was the playground/patio area at the Star of Hope Women & Family Emergency Shelter. Exxon Mobil and Marriott volunteers were working diligently to install a drain pipe and fill the large playground with mulch, install canopies over the two small playgrounds to shade the young ones from the Texas heat, weather-proof the wooden fences, build additional storage racks for Children’s toys, write notes of encouragement for the adult guests and work in our kitchen preparing and serving food to our Guests.
Words cannot adequately express our gratitude for our many volunteers. Without them Star of Hope could not provide the level of service that we do. Their labors of love put smiles on the faces of both children and adults struggling through the trials of homelessness, and their generosity and commitment to excellence in all they do ensure additional smiles for future guests. Amazing, the difference some green things and a little shade can make for a child accustomed to concrete, steel and glass under a hot Texas sun!
Unlike most of the volunteers at Star of Hope, I have very little daily interaction with the clients. Instead, I volunteer my services in the Administration Building where I am responsible for entering the volunteer hours performed at each facility.
Before volunteering at Star of Hope, I never considered the ongoing demands and operations required to run a large non-profit, social service organization. However, nine months as a volunteer have provided a unique opportunity to observe the administrative functions of this mission on a daily basis. I was surprised to find less than a handful of dedicated individuals are responsible for recruiting, scheduling and managing more than 7,000 Star of Hope volunteers. I have also watched the Human Resources, IT, Finance, Development and Facilities Management teams tirelessly meet the constant challenges with excellence and a passion for serving others.
Undoubtedly, Star of Hope has tremendous front-line employees who give their time, toil, effort and talent to directly helping Houston's homeless men, women and children. However, it is important to recognize the wonderful individuals who work behind-the-scenes and are sometimes forgotten for their contributions.
Through my volunteer experience, I have learned that each person has a distinct purpose and plays an essential role in this mission. It takes all of us working together to address the many needs that would be overwhelming for any one individual. I am grateful for every employee and donor. And since this is National Volunteer Week, I would like to give a special shout-out of thanks and appreciation to all of the other Star of Hope volunteers. I am humbled and honored to serve with you!
Jonathan Blue
Star of Hope Volunteer
Through your generous giving to underwrite meals for the homeless, Star of Hope was able to serve 87,641 kitchen prepared meals to help people in our community struggling with homelessness during February and March!
Now in April, National Volunteer Month, we encourage you find a place of service at one of our four Star of Hope locations around Houston. There’s plenty to do for all ages.
If you’re one of the lucky “retirees” in our community (or if you know some retirees), there’s no better way to stay healthy in body and happy in heart than volunteering to help someone less fortunate than yourself. Star of Hope’s Manager of Volunteer Services, Elizabeth Hatler, wrote a great article for the current issue Vantage Point. Take a look at Why Volunteering is the Mature Thing to Do on pages 18-19 and share it with a friend.
Star of Hope Volunteer, Jonathan Blue, shared his volunteer story on our guest blog. He wrote, "I would like to give a special shout-out of thanks and appreciation to all of the other Star of Hope volunteers. I am humbled and honored to serve with you!" Read his post and other guest blogs... then share your story with us.
Thanks for all you do as faithful supporters of the Star of Hope!
Star of Hope Mission has played a leading role in serving Houston’s homeless population for more than a century. Have you ever wondered how we got started?
Rev. Dennis Robert Pevoto came to Houston in 1900 and spent six years assisting in the growth of Baptist churches. During this time, Evangelist Mordecai Ham (who led Billie Graham to Christ) and the former homeless alcoholic Richard Dowling introduced Dr. Pevoto to the needs of the homeless.
In early 1907, on a ship bound for Richmond, Virginia, Rev. Pevoto was awaken from a very special dream by the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Dr. Pevoto was to open a refuge for men who were lost, homeless, alcoholic. The dream specified a plan for a chapel, dormitory, lunch counter, rest and reading room, and employment bureau. Even the name was given to Dr. Pevoto – Star of Hope Mission. Later that day, Dr. Pevoto shared the vision with his two traveling companions, and the trio began working on the plan.
Through the help of a caring community, churches, and business leaders, the Star of Hope Mission opened on July 1, 1907 in a two-story building at 714 Franklin Street.
Rev. Pevoto never drew a paycheck from Star of Hope. He simply answered God’s call to serve men in our community who were struggling through difficult times. Rev. Pevoto, along with the community, church and business leaders he recruited, were the very first Star of Hope volunteers!
No longer do unkempt men in tattered stove-top hats and string ties stand around plank tables to slurp down a steaming bowl of soup. Today, our mission continues to grow and families are increasingly the new face of homelessness. However, our need for faithful volunteers remains constant and unchanged!
Just as our founder was a volunteer, so is each member who serves on the Star of Hope Board of Trustees. Not only do we have outstanding volunteer leadership, volunteers play vital roles in many areas of our mission. Rather than say, “Volunteers make a difference from the top down,” I like to say, “Volunteers make a difference from the top throughout!” Last year, more than 7,000 volunteers from across our community, nation and around the world touched the lives of Houston’s homeless men, women and children!
This is the week, National Volunteer Week, in which the staff and clients at Star of Hope celebrate the tremendous faithfulness of our incredible volunteers. Quite simply, the work could not be accomplished without volunteers, and we cannot thank volunteers too often for their generous gifts of time and service. Just as Rev. Pevoto answered God’s call more than 100 years ago, we are exceedingly grateful for each volunteer who answers that same call today and forever touches the lives of the homeless in our community!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be homeless during your birthday? Usually, when I think of my own birthday memories, I think of friends and family together, a nice restaurant, conversations and laughter. But my children’s memories of past birthdays are not so great. It used to be that their birthdays at the shelter would go by almost unnoticed. We would give them a voucher to get a present from our toy room, but that was about all we could do.
That is not the case anymore. For about two years now, a group of teenagers from St. John’s High School comes faithfully at the end of each month. They transform our classrooms into birthday party lands: balloons, crafts, goody bags…even a piñata! The kids come into the classroom excited to see the decorations. They decorate their goody bags and get ready to break the piñata and share candy. Then the birthday kids step up to the middle of the classroom as we all sing happy birthday. Some of the birthdays kids get teary eyed when they hear their name in the birthday song. Some of them cover their faces with embarrassment (they’re so cute!) Then the birthday kids help our volunteers cut the cake and distribute it to their classmates. During the blessing of the food, we all say grace and thank God for the fun, the food, and the laughter of that day.
Yesterday afternoon, as I was making sure to inform parents that we were going to celebrate March birthdays that evening, one of the birthday kids in particular touched my heart. He was a new kid and didn’t know we celebrated birthdays at Star of Hope.
When I told him and his mom to make sure to come to our programs at 6pm because we were going to celebrate his birthday, he said “For real? Man, us birthday kids are going to have fun!”
“...But,” he said to his friends with a look of sadness, “if we were having it at my house, I would invite all of you to come.”
“They can come, Jack,” I clarified. “Everyone is invited.”
His face immediately lit up and he shouted to everyone in the classroom “Hey, you all! It’s my birthday tonight! I want all of you to come!” The goodness and generosity of our kids never ceases to amaze me. Here was this kid who had no idea someone was going to do something special for him for his birthday. But he was not worried about whether or not he would get a present, or what kind of cake he was going to have (as most kids his would be). What he was worried about was being able to share all those cool things with his friends.
Jack had a wonderful time last night. He cut the cake and passed it out to all his friends. When he was done serving his friends, he asked the volunteers if they could help him cut some more pieces. The volunteers told him everyone had been served. “I know,” he said to them. “But I want you to have some too.”
...Best birthday party memory ever.
I would like to give everyone an update on our GED program at the Star of Hope Men's Development Center.
We have a great group of volunteers that comes faithfully in the evening to assist our clients. Now we have also added two teachers in the morning to help with additional preparation for our GED clients.They have been a great addition. Two clients, Alvin and Gary, received their GED in March 2012.
We thank the Lord for blessing our GED programs throughout the mission.
Clifton Louis
Men's Development Center
Homeless Ministries Houston
Star of Hope Mission
Thank you Star of Hope for adding us to your Community Partners page!
Trees of Hope volunteers feel so blessed to be helping you transform the lives of thousands of homeless people reenter society as productive citizens.
Gwen Koch
Ask John what brought him to Star of Hope, and he'll tell you, "A lot of brokenness. It was Easter Sunday. I had messed up, relapsing into drugs and alcohol, and I was separated from my family. I was just broken inside, and I wanted something better out of life."
Watch this video and you’ll see that true life change is not only possible, it happens every day, at Star of Hope!
We invite you to be a part of Star of Hope’s ministry to Houstonians like John, who are at rock bottom and need a second chance. Come volunteer with us, or donate now to help almost 1100 people per day through the Star of Hope Family of Ministries, TODAY. And please keep us in your prayers!
I am sure we can all look back on our school experience a little grimily. It was a time when we realized not everyone was our friend, we weren't perfect, our family might be a little and/or HUGELY awkward, sometimes we were downright ruthless, and most stressfully our pain was often mocked rather than nurtured. During this age the inward focus of self-happiness and self-preservation is so strong that we didn't recognize anyone else felt exactly the same way we did.
I believe adolescence is an ideal period to expose your kids, your students, your scouts to other's pain, other's suffering, other's joy, other's happiness, and other's differences. Volunteering at a homeless shelter gives you sympathy where there was otherwise none for the man on the street and gives you empathy when you had no idea you could vicariously feel so deeply for someone who was so dissimilar to you.
Second Baptist School recently volunteered with Star of Hope. They helped with chores and odd jobs. They were the hands and feet of Christ and brought rest to the weak. I know without a doubt that we were blessed by their presence. I just pray their world view was stretched that day forcing them to be more confident in Christ, more humble in their weakness, more empathetic to one another, and more gracious to everyone including themselves.
If you volunteered with Star of Hope and it had a big impact on your life share your story!
Before being homeless, a usual day for many of the women at Star of Hope started normally. As the sun crept through the window curtains, they would rollover stretch, wash their face to help fight the sleepiness,make breakfast and send their kids to school with the best foot forward, rush to take off the mommy clothes and put on something professional, head to work 5 minutes late, work hard, but happily go home and greet the kids with a big hug from school. Together they would make dinner and wait for daddy to get home. When he did their would be a chill in the air and his wife would try her best to lovingly greet him with a kiss. As she walked away she would breath a small sigh of relief because this time he didn't hit her.
Many of the battered women who are fleeing for their lives have the most admirable qualities. They are hardworking, loving, faithful, great listeners, and loyal. They are just married to someone who reciprocates all of those amazing qualities with physical abuse. Honestly, they might think this is normal. It could have been the "father and mother" relationship their families have witnessed for generations.
Thank God, one day they realize there is something better, they load the kids on the midnight bus, head states away to a shelter they have only seen on the internet, and pray their husband never finds them. Once they get to Star of Hope they are greeted lovingly and begin making a new life free of abusive relationships, breaking the generational bondage, all through much counseling and personal development programs.
The fleeing parent isn't the only one who gets emotional counseling and life advice at Star of Hope. The children do as well. Showing and telling kids what is acceptable in relationship starts at a young age. After all, one in three women in this country are abused and it isn't a matter to take lightly or keep hidden from kids.
In closing, I do know that ending violence against women has much support in the Houston community, as well as in the nation. The 2nd World Conference of Women's Shelters this past week had several big names such as, Reese Witherspoon, speaking on the urgency of ending violence against women. As well as, educating children on what constitutes as harassment not only in person, but on social media and different internet forums.
I thank those who are willing to speak on the issue, as well as, praise the ladies who have gotten out of those relationships. In adding, to their admirable qualities they have courage the size of a tree.
Star of Hope serves as a shelter for battered women. Interested in volunteering?
I Volunteer at the Women and Family Emergency Shelter on Wednesday evenings. I brought books to share a couple of months ago, and recommended one in particular to an elderly lady. Last week she told me how much she was enjoying the book, and I mentioned that if I ever saw it again I would buy it for my home library. She approached me last night with something in her hand....it was the book. She had wrapped it, using a toilet paper wrapper as gift wrap. She fashioned a rose out of toilet paper and affixed it to the package. She also gave me a card, which reads,
Dear Mam,
I would lke to "thank you mam" for letting me read "Shadow Divers", very much. I laughed and cried with the characters. It is a great book! Thanks from the bottom of me (sic) heart.
Sylvia
Needless to say this is a gift that I will cherish for a very long time. I will probably never take the wrapping paper off of the book.
Mary Peldo
On this "Leap Day" 2012...I want to share a leap of faith that two of the New Horizons clients have taken.
Pam and Sharon have both been dealing with this difficult job market. Both were laid off last Spring and have been searching endlessly for work--ANY work. As "mature" women, they are often disregarded in favor of a younger applicant. As individuals with "a past" that is not as promising as their future, they are denied employment based on an unfavorable backgroud check. I often encourage these women by saying,
"If any employer just gives you ONE chance to show your skills and work ethic...they would know what a valuable asset you will be to them!!"
But, they continue to forge ahead, undeterred by the constant disappointments...They have faith!
When trying to help them gain SOME SORT of success and accomplishment...I went to them and asked..."What about school?" When faced with a chance to CHANGE their circumstance, both said "Yes, I want to do that."
These women...who have not been in school since the 80's...took the leap and started classes at HCC to become Community Health Workers. They are so excited about what the future holds for them now. They are experiencing a "revival of hope" and it is a joy to witness their wide-eyed wonder of this uncharted territory.
This LEAP DAY, 2012...what will YOU do to take a leap of faith? Will you volunteer for a non-profit organization and give hope to someone who is lost and alone? Will you open your wallet and offer a donation that could feed a hungry child for a day...a week...a month? Will you open your heart and pray for these ladies...Pam and Sharon...and, other like them, who are taking a LEAP into God's arms...knowing He will NEVER LET THEM FALL?
What will you do this LEAP DAY?
Volunteer Opportunities Houston
Ways to Give Houston - Star of Hope
I was living the American dream. I had a good job, a family, a home with a white picket fence and a dog. By the standards that I grew up around, I was supposed to be happy and complete. But that was not the case. I went from living the American dream to chasing it, making more money, getting larger homes, moving up the corporate ladder, needing more external things to make me feel whole.
By the time I reached my forties, material things were not working any more. I had thoughts like, “Is this all there is to life?” I had reached the annual salary that I thought would make me content, but it didn’t. I had the job title that I thought would bolster my self-esteem, but it didn’t. And I had a big home and the right kind of cars that I thought would increase my self-worth, but they didn’t.
I became increasingly unhappy, and there seemed to be nothing that would fill the emptiness within me. Medication helped my symptoms but didn’t take care of the root problem. I soon became more reliant on the drugs to numb the way I felt and, of course, they, too, quit working.
My American dream was crumbling. Depression had taken hold and was affecting me as a husband, father, employee, and so on. Then my father passed away and a close cousin committed suicide.
I began a downward spiral into deep depression and heavy use of prescription medication. I lost my job, got divorced, and my family moved away. Finally, I lost my home and, along with it, my will to go on.
A friend of my sister suggested the Star of Hope. I arrived at the Men’s Development Center a beaten man. I felt like a failure. I could not forgive myself, and from my limited knowledge of God, I believed He would not forgive me either.
But at Star of Hope, I had Christian role models around me teaching me about the Bible. I came to understand that God promises to care for all my needs, and I have seen that God keeps His Word. He gave me food, water, shelter and an opportunity to develop a relationship with Him.
I will never forget the night in Chapel, when I decided to submit my life and will to God, by asking Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. It was the start of a new beginning for me. I experienced the most peaceful moment of my life, and I felt whole, again. But this time I didn’t have money, the job, the family or any of the things of the world. All I had were the things God provided for me: a few articles of clothing, food and water, a bed, His love and His promises—promises like, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” And “I know the plans I have for you; plans for your welfare and not calamity; to give you a future and a hope,”
At Star of Hope, I was always encouraged by the staff. I have learned to do the same for others. I can give back to Star of Hope by helping those coming through the program and encourage them to finish it. I am involved in the alumni group whose purpose is to continue to build our community, be spiritually transformed, and to give back through service work.
Today, my family is being restored, I am employed, again, and I have my own place. I am a new man, complete, lacking in nothing. Today I am the father, son, brother and christian man God designed me to be! I give back to the Star of Hope by being a volunteer in ACTS Ministry which is the alumni program. I am eternally grateful to the Star of Hope for being a part of my recovery, and making it possible for me to be where I am, living the great American dream through Jesus Christ.
Vance Letbetter
The Lent season is one I cherish. I feel that during this period of sacrifice and intentionality we acknowledge God more often and therefore become more intimate with him. Just as the Israelites, I am a forgetful person and every day I forget who provides for me. I not only forget who provides for me, but how well I am provided for, which is one reason I love having my Church family participate in this holiday season. They act as a pillar to remind me of God's faithfulness during this season of sacrifice.I also begin to recognize it isn't just about me... that we all suffer. And amazingly, we have all been redeemed by the same sacrifice and therefore even in life after death we are STILL taken care of by our provider!
There are those in your backyard that are suffering, that can't provide for themselves or their family. As a family of Christians in Houston, I pray that God creates a passion within the community to not only acknowledge the poverty and suffering in our city, but to seek out opportunities that Star of Hope offers to help those in need. Two wonderful ways to get involved with helping Houston's homeless are volunteer or donate!
Are you a Houston area chef and would like to help the homeless in our city? Be a guest chef with Star of Hope Mission. Contact Star of Hope to get started today.
Thanks Kevin King of Riverbend Country Club and Ben E. Keith for providing a wonder meal for the residents of Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center for Women & Families.
Check out this amazing video of Michael W. Smith, who gave this talk at Star of Hope’s annual gathering just two weeks ago. It was an incredible night! Michael spoke about “The Message for the World Today” and what the solution to our life Identity Crisis truly is.
Join us at Star of Hope in serving those in our community who have lost their way, and need to solve their Identity Crisis once and for all. We’d love to have you!
I wanted to tell you about one of our volunteers, Peggy*. On three separate occasions she has baked over 400 cup cakes and brought them to Star of Hope. We served over 600,000 meals last year; one of the things that many times gets over looked is the “dessert.”
Our clients have so many homeless service needs, we are always looking for ways to help make them feel at home. These cupcakes have been so awesome! I watched the little children eat the cupcakes. Of course they are messy but they are so good and they add so much to our client’s lives here at the shelters.
We have such an active volunteer program at Star of Hope… everything from sorting clothes to serving meals to tutoring children is included…even making cupcakes! Thank you, Houston, for being such a giving community. When we volunteer to help others, we really make a difference for our community! Thank you, Peggy, for taking time to provide such wonderful cupcakes for our clients and their children, right here at Star of Hope!
*Peggy wishes to be anonymous and we have changed her name.
Volunteer Jobs Houston
Homeless Shelters Houston - Star of Hope Mission
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