KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
March 19, 2024
By Natalie Cook Clark
The Ballard House provides housing for patients and their family members who have come to the area to receive medical treatment for a life-threatening illness. This week they turned to social media to request community donations to supply and operate their 20,000 square foot hospitality house.
Photo credit The Ballard House
While The Ballard House has a standing list of accepted donations, this week they shared a few items that are in critical demand. The Katy non-profit is asking for gallons of iced tea and lemonade, Kcups, paper towels and coffee creamer. These items can be dropped off to the house or delivered via online shopping.
The Ballard House is located at 21421 Cinco Park Road. They opened that location December of 2013 and have since served well over 89,000 families.
A Journey of Service
The Ballard House started their journey to serving Katy and surrounding families in 2006 when Keller Williams Premier Realty in Katy answered a challenge to “leave a legacy” by founding Cinco Charities, Inc.
The goal was to provide free housing to families visiting the area for medical treatment. Initially Cinco Charities housed families at local hotels through the support and donations of sponsors.
In 2011, cancer patient Erin Ballard learned about Cinco Charities from her oncologist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Katy. She donated her rental properties and “Erin’s House” helped to expand the good that the organization was doing.
Monty Ballard was so touched by what Cinco Charities was doing that he established The Ballard House and started construction on the location Katy knows today. The Ballard House opened it’s doors in December of 2013. It’s a 20,000-square-foot facility on three acres, officially opened, welcoming families from around the world for medical treatments.
The Ballard House operates on generous donations both in items needed and monetary donations. They also are able to serve their guests because of dedicated volunteers.
“We are overwhelmed by our experience here at The Ballard House,” states Wendi and Mark Engstrom in a testimonial. “It was fantastic and so much more than we ever imagined. The love of God we feel here could not be more comforting. The staff and volunteers were so kind, generous, and caring.”
Donations Accepted
The Ballard House is really in need of gallons of iced tea and lemonade, Kcups, paper towels and coffee creamer. They do have a list of donations that they will always accept.
Gift cards to Lowes, Target, or Walmart
Toilet paper, facial tissues
Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Window & Glass Cleaner
Liquid hand soap
Dishwasher and liquid dish detergent
Small kitchen trash bags
Paper towels
HE (high efficiency) laundry detergent, bleach and fabric softener sheets
Pine O’ Pine furniture polish
Disposable cleaning cloths, handy wipes and sponges
Comet or Ajax cleaner
Lysol Cleaner and Clorox Wipes
Regular coffee and tea bags – individual
Sugar, sugar substitute
Creamer
12-cup coffee filters
Canned soup and vegetables
Condiments
Single-serving cereal
Another way the community can help The Ballard House (and any non-profit) is to follow them on Facebook and share their posts.
Learn more about The Ballard House online or 281-717-4670 and make plans to donate or volunteer.