Our December 18, 2021 Outreach

On Saturday, December 18th, we went out to the streets of Houston to bring a warm breakfast, hot coffee and much needed blankets, coats, clothes, shoes and hygiene packs to over 100 of our homeless brothers and sisters.

We were blessed to have 11 volunteers give up their Saturday, the Saturday before Christmas which is probably the busiest day of the year, to serve those who are most overlooked during the festive holiday season. We could stand in line all day, hand out provisions and send the homeless on their way, but our volunteers love the people we serve. They took time to talk with them, to listen to their stories, to hug them, pray with them, laugh and cry with them.

People often have many fears and misconceptions about what it's like to volunteer to help the homeless where they live, and I'm not going to say that their fears aren't valid. We have absolutely seen people suffering from mental illness and addiction. But the vast majority of the people we serve are just struggling to survive. Survive their circumstances, their abuse, their job loss, their horrific histories, their past mistakes and the many dangers they face daily.

If you'd like to help, please contact us. We go out once a month, but the behind the scenes work never stops. The weeks in between outreaches are spent collecting donations of gently used blankets, clothes, coats and shoes. We are constantly trying to fundraise to purchase new socks, hygiene products, non perishable food to fill "take away sacks" as well as the warm meals we prepare and serve. The collecting, sorting, washing, packing, shopping and cooking is a labor of love, but it is labor and many hands make light work.

Praying blessings on you all for a very happy, healthy, prosperous New Year filled with love.

"May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace."