When we last saw Juanita Gomez, her mobile home was waiting to be rebuilt after the destruction of Hurricane Harvey. So naturally, we wanted to check in with her and see how the rebuilding was coming along. We were relieved to see that her home had been mucked and gutted - but she was still looking to make her house really feel like a home. Juanita explained to one of our team members over the phone that she doesn’t feel like herself when she isn’t able to cook. For her, cooking meals for her family brings joy, meaning, and satisfaction. Not to mention she finds it very therapeutic, which is so important these days! During the flood, she lost all her cookware, leaving her unable to take part in her favorite activity - cooking. She was using a stick from her yard in the place of a wooden spoon. Now that Juanita’s house was livable, it was time to make it a home! So on Day 289, that’s just what we did. We presented Juanita with bowls, cups, cutting boards, pots, pans, … [Read more...] about Cookin’ Up Hope

Yesterday we helped the team at La Casa El Buen Samaratino in Southwest Houston update their gynecology equipment to be able to better serve more of their patients. Casa is the only free clinic in Houston that provides 100% free services for patients who are uninsured and low-income. One of the things they do at Casa is host diabetes awareness and education classes. Patients and members from the community pile into their conference to learn all about diabetes - what to watch for and how to manage it. But the projector they had was really old and sometimes refused to work when there was a roomful of people waiting. Casa's diabetes work is so important, we decided to get them a new projector and screen on Day 288 so that their educational programs could be even more effective. “We can watch a movie tonight!” joked Rosie, the clinic coordinator, while she opened the packages. The projector is primarily used for the diabetes class, but as the staff unpacked the new equipment … [Read more...] about Projecting Health

La Casa El Buen Samaratino is located in Southwest Houston. Casa is the only clinic in Houston that provides 100% free services to patients who are uninsured and low-income. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the clinic has been stretched thin with staff working many extra hours with outdated or few resources. The Casa team doesn't have all the equipment they need. For some equipment they have just a single item that must be sterilized between patients, a process that takes 24 hours. That means they can only do certain procedures once each day - even if they have multiple patients who need it. The team at Casa is working so hard, we wanted to do something that would help them in their work. So we decided to update their equipment and get them more of the supplies they need. And we decided to focus on women's health. Casa has gynecologists on staff, and they do a lot of screenings for cervical cancer. With their current equipment they can only do one biopsy per day for … [Read more...] about Good Samaritans

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the East Houston Civic Club (EHCC) is serving as a critical distribution center providing much needed relief to residents of Northeast Houston. The EHCC is the response of individuals coming together to support the community. Over 120 volunteers have helped out at EHCC since it opened just after the storm. Of those 120, there are about 40 volunteers that have gone way above and beyond, dedicated over 4 full days per week at the Civic Club (easily over 50-60 hours per week). Many of these volunteers have so felt compelled to volunteer that they’ve quit their jobs or taken a leave of absence. “It’s something that has to be done. You just pitch in whenever you can. You can’t just sit back and wait for someone to do it for you.”, said Maryland Whitaker, President of the EHCC. These volunteers give so much time, energy and passion in serving the NE community. It’s a pretty demanding job – day after day you’re on your feet, in the sweltering heat, … [Read more...] about A Token of Thanks

Houstonians are dealing with some issues post-Harvey that might not first come to your mind... Mosquitoes are annoying, all-year long in Houston. Going indoors is usually how to get away from the bothersome bugs. But with their homes opened up to dry out, there's no longer any escape. And in northeast Houston, many communities are also struggling without clean running water. Less frequent handwashing could lead to an increased spread of germs and bacteria. Getting laid up with a cold, the flu or worse is the last thing people want while they're still dealing with the aftermath of Harvey. So, on Day 285 we decided to do something simple to help community members in northeast Houston protect themselves. Yesterday, we noticed that there wasn't hand sanitizer or mosquito repellent available at the EHCC distribution center. So, we purchased both and they were quickly added to the distribution kits. Then those kits were taken to a vaccination clinic - anyone who came in for a … [Read more...] about Fighting the bugs

So many people lost everything in Hurricane Harvey – homes, cars, jobs, personal belongings, memories, collectibles, and even family members and pets. The Northeast area of the city – a historically underserved and marginalized area – was hit particularly hard. In the aftermath, individuals and families are trying to piece their lives back together little by little. With limited to no resources and a lengthy recovery process ahead, the need for temporary relief is greater than ever. That is the gap the East Houston Civic Center (EHCC) has stepped into. James Phelan and Jeanne Dupre Weido, two passionate and dedicated community leaders, run the operations of the EHCC with support from a network of over 120 volunteers. They are a resource for people who need a little bit of help post-Harvey - their store room is filled with food, water, hygiene items, clothing and home cleaning kits. "The items they receive at the distribution center impacts their lives because it allows them to … [Read more...] about Distributing the Essentials

Yesterday, we were able to get Tajuana and her kids up off the floor of the apartment where they're staying. The family lost their home and everything in it to Hurricane Harvey. With help from Mattress Mack, we got them each a new mattress. But it takes more than a mattress to make a bed. In their small apartment, their beds are really the only space they can have to themselves. So, on Day 283, we brought Tajuana and her family the bedding - sheets, pillow and blanket - to make their beds a space all their own. Black for Tajuana, blue for Brodrick, pink floral for Mykala and red for Todrick. The kids were away at school when we arrived, so we asked Tajuana to sit and relax while we made up the beds. She was really excited to surprise the kids with their brand-new comfy beds. "They're gonna say, 'Mama, where did these come from." Hopefully a good night's sleep will help Tajuana and the kids get the energy they need to keep moving forward. … [Read more...] about Beds Made

Tajuana is a single mom of three - Brodrick (5), Mykala (8), and Todrick (10). When Harvey hit Houston the waters rose 4.5 feet at their house in Trinity/Houston Gardens. Tajuana and her family headed for safety at the Convention Center where they stayed for 5 days. Now, they've signed a short-term lease for a one-bedroom apartment where they'll stay until their home is rebuilt. Tajuana is an UBER driver and her car was wrecked in Harvey. She's waiting for insurance to replace her vehicle, but in the meantime it means that she hasn't been able to work. Without money coming in, Tajuana hasn't been able to replace any of the creature comforts of home. In particular, the family needs mattresses. "Every night Tajuana lays out all the clothes they have on the floor to give the kids somewhere softer to sleep," said Maddie McElhenny, ARC team member in Houston. "So, we headed to Mattress Mack's to remedy the situation." Mattress Mack is a Houston celebrity. In the days following … [Read more...] about A Soft Sleep

We met Bobbi in NE Houston, in a neighborhood underserved since Hurricane Harvey. Bobbi lives alone in the house she grew up in, but it was terribly flooded in Hurricane Harvey and she was forced to move out. In addition to the trauma of the storm, Bobbi is struggling with health issues and is on her second round of chemotherapy. Her sister Dolores takes care of her and makes sure she gets what she needs. When we met Bobbi, her house had been mucked, gutted and sanitized. But it was still far from livable. Every day Bobbi would come back to the house and hope she could move some of her things back in. On Day 281, we wanted to do something to keep things moving for Bobbi. So, we went with her and her sister Dolores to Home Depot to purchase two brand-new doors of her choosing. With secure doors, Bobbi will be able to start rebuilding the interior of her home without having to worry. And eventually, she'll be able to move her things back in. "I'm going to paint the front door … [Read more...] about Starting with a Door

Mary was maybe the most positive person our team met in Houston. And we met a lot of positive people. When the flood came, she and her family had to walk a long way to dry land. But Mary uses a walker - "I didn't think I was going to make it." She had nightmares for days afterward and wasn't sure they would ever stop. She prayed to God that the trauma would go away. Mary has kept an amazing attitude through it all, and she's even viewing Harvey as a sort of blessing. “Harvey could be a good thing – health wise for me. I had to push myself. I'm active and moving around more. I’m doing things I didn’t think I could do.” We were inspired by Mary's attitude, and we wanted to meet her positivity with more positivity. Mary's house in northeast Houston is actually further along in the rebuilding process than most. It's been mucked and gutted, sanitized and is currently being rebuilt by a small team of volunteers who came down from Tennessee to help. Talking about her house, she said, … [Read more...] about Meeting Positivity with Positivity