News Room

Reported by Kristine Galvan on Fox 26 News Houston:

myfoxhouston.com

Story by Allison Triarsi - 11 News/khou.com:

read the story on KHOU.com 

Economy and Heat to Blame – Donations Have Dropped

Star of Hope President and CEO, Hank Rush, has announced that the homeless mission’s downtown Women and Family Emergency Shelter at 419 Dowling, has reached a record overflow. “During this last week, each night we have averaged about 100 women and children waiting for beds. This is unprecedented,” he said. The shelter has been at its 256 person capacity, with a waiting list, for two years. “We always experience extra people in the summer – but this year because of the extreme heat and the economy – we’re seeing more children, more families and lots of new faces.” said Rush. The homeless women and children on the waiting list spend the night on a pallet inside the shelter, out of the heat and asleep in the atrium area. The Men’s Center has been at or near its 300 person capacity every night this year.

The record numbers and weak economy have created a major challenge for the homeless mission. “More people means more food, more utilities and extra staff. Our donations have dropped considerably. Currently, we’re experiencing about a $700,000 short fall. Soon we won’t be able to deal with the overflow and we’ll have to cut programs and turn people away …we hope we don’t get to that point,” Rush said. The Star of Hope chief is optimistic. “It’s been my experience that Houston is one of the most generous cities in the country. But it’s a historic fact – when the temperature goes up, the donations go down. We need the city to open its 'summer heart' and help us help their neighbors in crisis,” said Rush.

Houstonians are encouraged to donate cash, canned, non-perishable food, gently used clothing and even volunteer hours. Specific immediate needs include towels, blankets, diapers, water and toiletries. Star of Hope’s Summer of Hope campaign boast a new “giving” feature- texting. It’s now possible to donate $10 to Star of Hope by safely texting “SOH” to 20222. For more information on “ways to give”, visit www.sohmission.org.

Key Energy Services Treats Kids To A "Fiesta de Esperanza"

As part of the Mission’s Summer of Hope Campaign, school aged children from Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center and Women and Family Emergency Shelter will spend their first “no-school” day jumping on a giant moonwalk, eating fajitas and enjoying a carnival featuring a petting zoo, cotton candy and popsicles. “They’ve been through a lot and it’s our pleasure to make it possible for them to just be regular kids celebrating the beginning of summer,” said Key’s Lesa Carter. More than 50 volunteers from the Houston based onshore energy production company, Key Energy Services, will be onsite to coordinate the food and fun.

For the soon to be tired out moms, the Baybrook Macy’s is sending 10 volunteers to treat the ladies to makeovers.

Children entering the Star of Hope Shelters during the school year are immediately registered and start attending area HISD schools including Rusk Elementary, Gregory Lincoln Middle School and Wheatlley High School. In July, donors have made it possible for the children to attend a week of Summer Camp.

Mary Chapman Cantu, Star of Hope Vice President of Development, has announced that about 40 homeless children will make Mother’s Day cards and create gifts for their Moms this Wednesday afternoon at the Mission’s Transitional Living Center.

The event is hosted by the Trees of Hope Guild, part of a non-profit organization founded in 1990, that raises funds for Star of Hope. Guild members and event chair Shannon Corbett will join other volunteers in working with the 4 – 12 year olds as they use construction paper and glitter to create cards and show Mom they care. Also, the children will have their pictures taken and inserted into a frame they made just for Mom.

After about 45 minutes of design time, the mothers will be invited to join their children as they enjoy homemade Hope Floats and watch a brief music and dance number presented by the Second Baptist group JUMP. Immediately following the performance the kids will present their gifts and cards to Mom.

Sportsman Channel’s Hunt.Fish.Feed. (www.huntfishfeed.org) initiative is coming to Houston’s Star of Hope Mission to help feed local residents in need on Friday, April 16 at 4:30pm.  The Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM initiative is a unique outreach program that taps an underutilized food source—game meat and fish donated by sportsmen—to feed those struggling with hunger across America.  Sportsman is partnering locally with Comcast and Safari Club International Foundation on this Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM tour stop.  Numerous local and state elected officials will be attending to help with the volunteer efforts.

“Comcast is proud to join Sportsman Channel’s Hunt.Fish.Feed initiative to raise awareness of hunger in our area and help meet the needs of those affected by it,” said Tony Speller, senior vice president of Comcast Houston. “Across the nation, Comcast affiliates have participated in many Hunt.Fish.Feed. events helping thousands, and we look forward to bringing this unique event to Houston to help hundreds of our citizens in need.”

“We're honored to once again be the recipient of a wonderful community effort,” said Mary Chapman Cantu, Vice President of Development for Star of Hope. “In addition to being fun and educational, this unique event helps us as we feed homeless Houstonians every day."

Michel Martin of NPR speaks with Hank Rush, President and CEO of Star of Hope Mission, about the issue of homelessness. Listen to and read the story on NPR.

EMPLOYEES TURN CORPORATE AWARD INTO HELP FOR THE HOMELESS: AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry Houston has announced plans to “give back” to the city they serve. Board Member Rob Frohn recently awarded the local group a $14,000 prize from their company–wide Community Program Best Practices competition. They will use the grant to fund an “extreme make-over” at the Bayou City’s Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Shelter.

In her spare time and for the last four years, Catherine Chau, the manager of the project for AkzoNobel Houston, has been volunteering with Star of Hope. “The Shelter, which houses 275 homeless women and children, has a large multi-purpose meeting room that is now being used to sleep 50 – 80 overflow guests each night,” she said. “We plan to make this area far more comfortable for these overnight guests and add more functionality to the room. Our employees will paint the area a warm, inviting color and furnish it with lots of tables and chairs. An overhead projector, sound system, DVD player and retractable screen will be installed to help with meetings and classes for these residents.”

Ed Black, Director of Star of Hope’s Women and Family Emergency Shelter, knows AkzoNobel well. ” We continue to be grateful for this wonderful organization. Throughout the years their efforts have helped us provide much needed services to thousands of Houston’s homeless women and children.” he said.

Star of Hope Vice–President of Development, Mary Chapman Cantu, has announced that Marriott International and Glazier Foods have successfully concluded this year’s Food Drive.

Kyle Ariza, General Manager of the Jesse H. Jones Rotary House International is proud of Marriott’s and Glazier Food’s involvement In this humble effort to help the Houston Star of Hope Mission. “Marriott International has an ongoing SPIRIT TO SERVE and is committed to help make our community a better place to live and work. Here in Houston, the Star of Hope has been a trusted partner in serving almost 1,000 homeless men, women and children every day. We hope that our effort helps the Mission address hunger and housing needs by providing more than 2,000 meals daily,” she said.

The hotels that are taking part in this great charitable event along with Glazier Foods are: JW Marriott at the Galleria, Renaissance Houston Hotel Greenway Plaza, the Marriott Woodlands Waterway, Marriott Medical Center, Marriott Houston Airport, Houston Marriott Westloop, and the Jesse H. Jones Rotary House International.

Grammy and Dove Award winning recording artist TobyMac visited Houston on Wednesday, Feb 10 to promote his latest CD “Tonight”. Hosted by KSBJ Radio, Lifeway Christian Book Stores and Star of Hope, he visited three area book stores and signed autographs. The events raised awareness for Star of Hope and Houston’s homeless men, women and children.

Saturday - January 30, 2010 - 7:00 PM

Sugar Land Dance School presents the 5th annual benefit for the Star of Hope Homeless Mission. TV 11’s Deborah Duncan hosts the evening and even sings.

National recording artists NASH3 join with the First Methodist Houston’s contemporary music group First Praise, Sugar Land’s Ballet Grace and KHOU’s Deborah Duncan to present “Rocka My Soul” an evening of song, dance and hope, produced by Cookie Joe’s Dancin’ School.

Nash3, a popular singing-songwriting trio is comprised of Bill and Kim Nash and their youngest son, Jimmy. In late 1994, superstar Reba McIntyre recorded a song that Kim and Bill collaborated on which became a top five hit single entitled, "They Asked About You." That song went to #1 and has currently sold over six million copies. Their latest hit is "In God We Still Trust", which was not only a #1 independent record for Nash3, but was recorded by country super group, Diamond Rio, on Arista Nashville Records. Since the worldwide release of the single and music video, it has become increasingly popular, and is quickly becoming a patriotic standard.

Cookie Joe’s Ballet Grace will dance independently and to music performed by Nash3, First Praise, under the direction of Jemine Leigh, and to Deborah Duncan, who will sing “The Star of Hope”, which she co-authored. 

During the evening, Elisabeth Rush, wife of Star of Hope President Hank Rush, will be honored with the “Spirit of Hope” award noting her tireless, unselfish and continued work with the broken and underprivileged youth of our city.

Tickets are available before the event at Cookie Joe’s Dancin’ School, or at the door for a donation of $10.00 for adults and $7.00 for children.

For tickets and more information, check out www.cookiejoedance.com.

Location: 
First Methodist Houston's Westchase Campus
10570 Westpark Dr. @ Sam Houston Tollway

Susan O’Donnell
KSBJ - Morning Show Co-Host: 1/11/2009

"I took a ride this weekend with the man from Star of Hope that takes a van filled with warm clothes, food and help into the areas of downtown where the hardcore homeless stay. Charles Williams is the man. He does this multiple times a day nearly every day of the year." Read Susan's blog on ksbj.org

January 7, 2010:  As the hard freeze descends upon Houston, the Star of Hope Emergency Shelters are already reporting capacity crowds. “We try never to turn anyone away” says Mary Chapman Cantu, Vice President of Star of Hope Development. “So after our beds are full, we turn to the alternative – available floor space.”

The Downtown Men’s Center reports that all of its 300 beds are being utilized and expects an additional 50-100 homeless men to spend the night on the chapel or cafeteria floor. Blocks away, the 278 bed Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Center is at capacity and will host an extra 50 – 100 women and children on the large atrium floor inside the warm shelter.

“We’d love to supply each one of our “overflow” guests with a soft bed mat but we simply don’t have enough, said Cantu, “Between the Women and Family Shelter and the Men’s Center, we could use about 100 more.”

Sleeping bags are also in short supply. The Mission’s Love – In – Action Van distributes the coveted bags as often as they are available to the many hundreds of hard core homeless who insist on “toughing out” the cold weather under a bridge or overpass.

Donations of sleeping bags, soft bed mats, blankets, warm coats and gloves are welcomed at the Star of Hope Men’s Center at 1811 Ruiz during business hours.

SALLY MACDONALD
Updated: Thursday, 07 Jan 2010, 9:42 PM CST, Published : Thursday, 07 Jan 2010, 9:40 PM CST

HOUSTON - "The bitter cold is creating a new challenge for scores of families left homeless by the recession. The two Star of Hope emergency shelters are at capacity."

"More than 700 people have crowded inside for the night. Inside the Women and Family Shelter at 419 Dowling, FOX 26 found a single dad who's proof everyone of us is one paycheck away from being homeless." read the story on My Fox Houston

Houston (KTRK) - Thursday, January 07, 2010: "Several local shelters are stepping up their efforts to help the city's estimated 10,000 homeless survive the dangerously cold air." read the story at ABC 13 Eyewitness News

As beds fill up, Star of Hope asks for more sleeping bags, other items
HOUSTON CHRONICLE - Jan. 7, 2010, 9:35PM

"The hard freeze slamming into the Houston area is causing a run on space at Star of Hope emergency shelters and the need for donations of sleeping bags and soft bed mats, officials said." Read the story in the Houston Chronicle

Sherry Williams / 11 News - KHOU

Posted on January 7, 2010 at 9:18 AM: "Officials at the Star of Hope in Houston are prepping for the frigid temps and are asking for donations of coats and blankets."

"Houston – Jan. 6, 2010… Homeless shelters like Star of Hope are filled to capacity and sleeping an additional 50 to 90 people on floor mats at their Women and Family Emergency Shelter. They try to accommodate everyone and give them the safety and protection of being indoors.

Sun & Ski Sports is lending a helping hand by donating 369 pieces of new clothing to assist in keeping these people warm during this arctic blast. Pieces of clothing include insulated ski pants, bibs and jackets."  read more

Star of Hope Mission goes on Cold Weather Alert

Hank Rush, Star of Hope President and CEO, has announced that the Mission will switch to “Cold Weather Status” because of the cold front moving into our area. With temperatures expected to drop into the mid to upper 20’s Thursday night, the Downtown Men’s Development Center staff is preparing for a possible overflow.

In addition to 150 full time “program” beds, the Star of Hope’s Men’s Center has 150 “overnight transient” beds. The Center is near capacity now and can offer additional space for about 100 homeless men.

In preparation for the cold weather, the Mission’s LOVE-IN-ACTION VAN will depart the Men’s Center at 12 Noon on Thursday loaded with blankets, coats, coffee and sandwiches. The van will visit areas frequented by homeless men and women. The Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Shelter is at its 280 bed capacity but reports that additional space will be available to those seeking shelter from the cold weather.

Reporter: CHRIS STIPES on My Fox Houston
Updated: Wednesday, 06 Jan 2010, 9:50 PM CST Published : Wednesday, 06 Jan 2010, 9:51 PM CST

HOUSTON - "With the coldest temperatures in about two decades on the way, many of Houston’s estimated 10,000 homeless people are quite concerned." www.myfoxhouston.com

January 4, 2010: Bill Stamps (KUHF - Houston Public Radio News)

"The temperature is expected to dip down into the twenties tonight and the lows will remain in the twenties and thirties throughout the week. For many of us that just means turning up the heater, but for people on the streets, staying warm isn't that simple. Bill Stamps has the story." Listen to the story on KUHF

Give the gift that gives back to Houston families who have no home this Holiday season and enjoy Christmas classics. Songs by Great Day Houston’s Deborah Duncan, Mary Griffin, Marcos Witt, Wayne Watson, Cindy Ratcliff and more!

Help Houston's Homeless men, women and children by ordering your copy today at KHOU

Johnny Hanson / Chronicle  Nov 18 2009 10:13PM

"Homeless men at the Star of Hope Men's Development Center lined up for a barbeque lunch provided by Austin-based Stubb's BAR-B-Q, as Stubb's fed more than 600 homeless men, women and children in the Star of Hope facilities as part of the Stubb's Feed the World Tour in Houston." Chron.com

Share Your Warmth with Houston's homeless and Star of Hope Mission. November 9-24, bring in your gently used or new coats and warm clothing to Sun & Ski Sports. Visit Sun & Ski Sports for Houston Area drop off locations.Video clip from Great Day Houston:

Participating hotels will collect and clean blankets in time for cold weather distribution

Star of Hope Community Relations Director Marilyn Fountain has announced that six of Houston’s Marriott Hotels will take part in a city-wide holiday blanket drive expected to provide warmth for hundreds of homeless in the Bayou City when the weather turns cold. “In addition to the hotels donating their own blankets, they have offered to be collection points for the general public to donate new or gently worn blankets.” said Fountain.

J.W. Marriott Hotel General Manager Shelila Foley is proud of their involvement. “Marriott International has an ongoing SPIRIT to SERVE commitment to every community we’re in. Here in Houston, the Star of Hope has been a trusted partner in serving individuals in our area that need help to get back on their feet. We believe in the Star of Hope Mission and are honored to work with them in their endeavors.” she said.

The blanket drive will run from November 2 through November 6, 2009. Marriott hotels collecting blankets during business hours are: J.W. Marriott Houston, 5150 Westheimer Road, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands, Houston Airport Marriott @ George Bush Intercontinental, 18700 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Houston Marriott Medical Center, 6580 Fannin Street, Houston Marriott West Loop by The Galleria, 1750 West Loop South and Renaissance Houston Hotel, 6 Greenway Plaza East Houston.

Marriott representatives and staff will clean and deliver all of the collected blankets to Star of Hope on Monday, November 9, 2009 at 1:00 PM. For more information about the Marriott Family of Hotels 2009 Blanket Drive, contact Star of Hope’s Marilyn Fountain at 832-439-5192 or J.W. Marriott’s Senior Sales Catering Manager, Travis McIntire at 713-599-2107.

Christian recording artist Matt Maher was in town recently to debut his new CD, Alive Again. He met fans and signed CD’s at three LifeWay Book Stores in Houston during a KSBJ Street n Greet tour sponsored in part by Star of Hope Mission.

The Star of Hope’s Women and Family Emergency Shelter will host their annual “Back to School Back Pack Bash” on the Friday (August 21) before HISD students return to class. Staff members and volunteers will distribute school supplies, uniforms and back packs to about 100 school age children currently living in the shelter. The supplies have been donated from individual and corporate donors as well as Artbridge, HISD and Second Baptist.

“When the children arrive at the shelter with their family, they’re in a crisis situation, often experiencing trauma and uncertainty,” said Star of Hope President and CEO, Hank Rush. “As we all remember, the first day of school can be traumatic in its own right. We try to make their transition as smooth as possible by providing them with everything they need to blend in with their classmates.”

The following Monday, the children will board buses for schools including Rusk Elementary, E.O. Smith Middle School and Wheatley High School. The back pack distribution will be preceded by a blessing and comments from representatives of the participating schools.

Medifast, a weight loss sponsor on Houston's Sunny 99.1 and KTRH AM Radio, had a contest between "on air" personalities Marc Sherman (Sunny) and Michael Berry (KTRH) to see who could lose the most weight in the allotted time. The winner would receive $500 to give to their favorite charity.
 
Marc Sherman won - he lost 30 pounds -  and is pictured here with Michael Berry. Marc presented Star of Hope with the $500 check.

DUARTE GERALDINO - Updated: Wednesday, 24 Jun 2009, 10:00 PM:

By ALLAN TURNER of HOUSTON CHRONICLE - June 23, 2009, 9:40PM:  Sweat beading his shaved pate, Charles Williams swung into his polished white van with jauntiness that belied the seriousness of his mission. Around him, the city shimmered Tuesday with heat. Trees wilted. Birds sang a scorched lament. Homeless men and women roamed the hard-luck streets in search of food, love and work — but most of all a sip of water.   read more

Mary Chapman Cantu, Star of Hope Vice President of Development, has announced that 20-25 homeless children will make Mother’s Day cards and create gifts for their Moms this Friday afternoon at the Mission’s Transitional Living Center.

The event is hosted by the Trees of Hope Guild, part of a non-profit organization founded in 1990, that raises funds for Star of Hope. Guild members and event co-chairs Julie Bayouth and Kristin Gauntt will join other volunteers in working with the 4 – 12 year olds as they use construction paper and glitter to show Mom they care. Also, the kids will use their imagination to fashion colorful, useful gifts.

After about 45 minutes of design time, the mothers will be invited to join their children as they watch a brief music and dance number presented by the Second Baptist group “JUMP”. Immediately following the performance the kids will sing a song to their moms and present the cards and gifts.

download full press release

Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM Initiative Taps New Food Source Provided by Local Hunters

New York, NY – March 18, 2009 – Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM —The Sportsman Channel's unique initiative to help feed the nation's needy during the economic crisis and beyond—is joining forces with the Safari Club International Foundation’s Sportsmen Against HungerTM and the Star of Hope Mission to feed members of the community on Friday, March 27th from 5 to 7pm.  Download full press release.