Volunteers sort and pack toys into bags for toy drive recipients.
HOUSTON—All is calm now, but on Saturday, December 15, as well as December 17 and 18, Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) was bustling with activity as staff and volunteers gathered to distribute food to over 1,000 families and toys to more than 2,000 children.
Families received bags filled with food needed to prepare a complete holiday meal with all the trimmings, including a turkey, gravy, canned vegetables and soup, stuffing, potatoes, butter, eggs, dessert mix, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Families with children ages 12 and under received a bag of three to five age-appropriate toys for each child.
The items distributed were collected as part of NAM’s annual Holiday Project, which provides local families in need with food and toys for the holiday season. Registration for the Holiday Project began in September, and those meeting eligibility requirements were given food vouchers to redeem for holiday meals in both November and December. Families with children 12 and under were also given toy vouchers.
The Holiday Project is a huge undertaking, with donations and financial support coming from organizations and individuals alike. Local congregations filled thousands of toy bags and PV Fluid Products delivered over 1,800 turkeys. Hundreds of volunteers worked tirelessly over the past few months, registering eligible families and collecting and sorting donations.
“Too many children in our community don’t have the same childhood that many of us were blessed with,” said Les Cave, NAM’s President and CEO. “Thanks to all of the donations of food and toys that NAM received, we were able to provide families with some relief and a bit of holiday cheer.”
Cave also expressed his gratitude. “We are grateful to everyone who has given their time and resources to ensure NAM’s Holiday Project was a success. It would not have been possible without the generous support of businesses, congregations, and individuals in our community,” he said. “It is heartwarming to see everyone come together during the holiday season to help our neighbors in need.”
Special thanks to our congregations Abiding Word Evangelical Lutheran Church, Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Community, Cypress Creek Christian Church, Faithbridge Church, Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, Hosanna Lutheran Church, Houston North Stake, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Immanuel United Church, UCC, John Wesley United Methodist Church, Kinsman Lutheran Church, Klein Texas Stake, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Klein United Methodist Church, Lakewood United Methodist Church, Ninth Church of Christ, Scientist, North Oaks Baptist Church, Northwest Bible Church, Northwoods Presbyterian Church, Plymouth United Church, USS, Resurrection Lutheran Church, Spring Creek Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Spring Woods United Methodist Church, St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Christian Church, St. Dustan’s Episcopal Church, St. Edwards Catholic Community, St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, St. Luke the Vintage Hospital, Trinity Klein Lutheran Church, Unity Spiritual Center of Greater Houston, Valley Rise Church, and Windwood Presbyterian Church.
Also, thank you to the businesses and organizations who donated such as Champions Fire Department, Ladies Association at Champions Park, Chaparral Management, Pointnext Supply Chain, Gary Greene – BHGRE, Willowbrook Rotary, Heritage Texas Properties, Propel Physical Therapy, ExxonMobil, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, Molo Montessori, Office Systems of Texas, BXS Insurance, VorTX, Cypress Ladies Book Club, Conservatory at Champion Forest, HP Inc., Detection & Suppression International, Augusta Meadows Apartments, Remington Properties, Canyon Gate at Northpointe, H&R Block, and all of the individuals in the community who dropped off toys and food to help with NAM’s Holiday Project 2018.
Northwest Assistance Ministries is a non-profit, community-based social service agency that strives to meet basic human needs through Neighbors Helping Neighbors. NAM provides assistance in areas such as food, shelter, health, education and domestic violence awareness and intervention. During its last fiscal year, NAM touched the lives of more than 130,950 people through its many programs and services.