KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
November 2, 2019
By Ali Litton and Katrina Katsarelis
Does your employer, club or friends group support a non-profit organization or charity? Consider the needs of Katy neighbors throughout the year, but especially now, as the holidays approach.
See how you can impact the lives of people in Katy through donations of food, clothes and personal care products, or give them hope by sharing your talents and other valuable skills.
Share Your Skills at the Krause Center
In 2018, 177 young women found a safe haven in the Krause Center, many arriving after experiencing severe abuse or neglect. These girls, between the ages of 12-17, stay an average of six to eight months. See how you can help enrich their lives through physical donations, or your time.
25722 Kingsland Boulevard
www.upbring.org/programs-and-services/childrens-centers/krause-childrens-center
How to Help:
Comfort Items and Comfort Foods
Donations for the “Point” Store: Young women at Krause earn points throughout the week by demonstrating responsibility and good behavior. They can use their points on stuffed animals, shampoos, conditioners, hair products, journals, blankets, snacks and other items at the Krause point store.
Provide a Meal: The center serves 80 people three times a day and accepts donations of commercially prepared foods like pizza, sandwiches and pancakes. They cannot accept homemade meals.
Donating Your Time
Spiritual Care Volunteers: Volunteers are encouraged to spend time with them to help grow their spiritual walk by leading a worship service, Bible study, devotion time or book study.
Hair Care Volunteers: Self-care is a very important lesson to teach the young women. Volunteers can teach them how to properly manage and maintain their type of hair style.
Musical Performance: The center welcomes all kinds of musicians to entertain the young women or help them tap into their own creative potential by teaching them how to sing or play a musical instrument.
Group Activities: Volunteers are invited to share crafts, sports, dance, theater, board games to provide social interaction for the young women.
Academic Tutors: Academics are a priority at Krause. Volunteers are needed to provide extra tutoring to students in math, English, science and/or social studies.
For information about volunteering at Krause, visit their website.
Donate a Turkey to Katy Christian Ministries
Katy Christian Ministries is seeking turkey and food donations to help stock their food pantry for the holiday season. They are asking the community for turkeys, hams, non-perishable food items, gift cards and personal care items to help our needy neighbors.
Last year, KCM was able to provide a holiday turkey/ham for 972 Food Pantry households, and they hope to exceed this for 2019.
In 2017, KCM Food Pantry distributed over 726K pounds of food to those in need. On an average day, KCM serves about 105 families, and on September 30, 2019 the number grew to 186 families.
5506 1st Street, Katy
How to help: Drop off frozen turkeys/hams at the location above Monday - Thursday from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (around the back of the building).
Drop Food Items in Red Barrels at Katy Grocery Stores
Don’t have time to drop off at KCM's Food Pantry? You can also drop off food while you shop in any of Houston Food Bank’s Red Barrels at Katy-area Kroger’s, HEB, and Sprouts. The barrel donations also benefit the KCM Food Pantry, as donations are shared with local food pantries.
The Food Bank distributes 104 million nutritious meals through its network of 1,500 community partners in southeast Texas, feeding 800,000 individuals each year.
535 Portwall Street, Houston
How to help: Purchase pre-packaged food bags at Kroger's, HEB, and Sprouts and drop them in the red barrels on your way out.
Donate Clothes to Clothed By Faith
Clothed by Faith provides gently-used clothing to those in need and they are constantly seeking gently used clothing and shoes, plus new socks and underwear for all ages. While donations are requested year-round, their need is especially great right now to support their upcoming clothing giveaways: one during the Katy Thanksgiving Feast on November 28, as well as their annual Coat Giveaway in December.
802 Dominion Drive, Suite 100, Katy
Email volunteer@clothedbyfaith.org.
Donate at Various Katy Blood Drives
It's easy to give the gift of blood this holiday season. Just make appointment to donate at one of several Katy-area blood drive locations. Monty Ballard YMCA and Katy Church of Christ will have blood drives on November 11, and Bear Creek Baptist Church will be hosting one on November 12 to honor cancer survivor teen, Eden Green.
“The blood drive means so much to us!” shares Eden’s mom, Shannon Green. “Without blood donors, Eden would not be here today. Her blood type is different from my husband and I so we could not give her blood. Donors were vital to her survival.”
The process is very simple and doesn't take much time. You'll be screened on-site by a questionnaire and the blood center makes sure everything is comfortable and medically safe.
1400 La Concha Lane, Houston
How to help: Find a Katy Blood Drive location here and set up an appointment time.
Monty Ballard YMCA, November 11 from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Katy Church of Christ, November 11 from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Bear Creek Baptist Church, November 12 from 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Attend the Festival of Trees
The Festival of Trees will be held on Friday, November 29 from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm and Saturday, November 30 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. This amazing event is a holiday fundraiser benefiting the Ballard House in Cinco Ranch.
There will be live entertainment, a parade of trees, food trucks, holiday shopping, and a Big Kids Fun Zone. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and veterans, and $5 for kids aged 3-12 years. (Ages 2 and under are free.)
Proceeds benefit the Ballard House in Katy, which provides temporary housing in a warm and supportive atmosphere for those individuals and their families who are hospitalized or receiving treatment for a serious medical condition.
2100 Cane Island Parkway, Katy
How to help: Purchase tickets online and make plans attend this worthwhile event that supports the Ballard House. Open to all ages.
Help Stuff the Sleigh Provide for Cancer Families
The holidays are an especially tough time for families affected by childhood cancer. Stuff the Sleigh in Katy strives to deliver joy to these families through generous donations. The holiday giving program was started in 2008 and became a year-round support to patients and families in 2018. Stuff the Sleigh helped over 500 people in 2018 and continues to grow.
As the name suggests, Stuff the Sleigh seek toys for gifts, but they also run the Dare to Dream program which helps provide families with trips.
P.O. Box 342, Katy, TX 77492
How to help: Visit Stuff the Sleigh on Charity Row at the Festival of Trees on November 29 and 30 or donate through their website here.
Donate to Katy ISD Santa Cops
Katy ISD Police Department's Annual Santa Cops program helps families that may be experiencing hardships, by providing gifts and clothing for their children during the holidays.
Every year, students, community organizations, as well as district employees, help make this program a success. Sponsor information will be sent out around the third-week of November. In past years, the program has been able to help over 900 students.
Katy ISD Police Department
How to help: If you would like to donate or sponsor this program, call 281-237-4012 or email santacops@katyisd.org.
Help Give a Homeless Person a Hand Up
Hope Impacts helps people and families in transition with life skills training, job placement, and transitional housing placement. Additionally they host many helpful programs including Supper & Showers, a monthly outreach breakfast, regular Bible studies, as well as provide use of computers, phones, and showers.
During Katy's cold months, Hope Impacts will also distribute warm coats and blankets to Katy's homeless population. They have numerous volunteer and donation opportunities for their many programs during the holidays and throughout the year.
802 Dominion Drive, Suite 900, Katy
713-705-7884
How to help: Reach out to the organization for opportunities to volunteer or serve. You may also make a donation on line here.