‘Stuff the Bus’ campaign helps hundreds of youths
The Houston Northwest Community Center distributed 360 backpacks full of needed school supplies to children in the Bear Creek area, as part of the center’s annual Stuff the Bus program.
Harry Thomson, president of the Houston Northwest Community Center, Inc., said they’d planned to distribute 325, which was nearly double from last year, but knew more children would need those school supplies.
“This is an all time high,” Thomson said.
The Houston Northwest Community Center hosted a pre-registration for the backpack program several weeks ago, and had 325 kids signed up, but they knew they’d need more.
“This has been in preparation since the beginning of the year,” Thomson said.
Children were able to choose three books to read from a wide assortment in the Houston Northwest Community Center’s Books to Kids book program.
The Stuff the Bus Program, which was held on Aug. 11 at the Bear Creek United Methodist Church, located at 16000 Rippling Water in Houston, drew throngs of people, who also came out to the center’s community food pantry.
Lines of people starting to form at about 4:30 p.m., and by the time the distribution ended at 7 p.m.,
the center had serviced more than 500 area families.
Houston Northwest Community Center, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, was organized in 2009.
Houston Northwest Community Center, Inc. furnishes emergency food to families two monthly on Tuesday nights, providing food for over 600 people on each occasion.
On Aug. 11, many of the families who received a backpack, also were able to receive food from the food pantry.
Janelle Meyer, who has been involved with the Houston Northwest Community Center since it began, said these programs benefit many families in the community.
“There is certainly a need in this little pocket… in far west Harris County,” she said.
The area of far west Houston, which includes parts of Katy ISD and Cy-Fair ISD, was served by Bear Creek Assistance Ministries until the organization closed in 2009.
To fill the void and help those families and children in need, the Houston Northwest Community Center was formed.
“This has grown from a desire to want to help people,” Meyer said.
Through the help of various partnerships, such as Bear Creek United Methodist Church, St. Aiden’s Episcopal Church, and Copperfield YMCA, the Houston Northwest Community Center is able to provide a thrift store and a food pantry to those in need.
They also provide valuable services in the west Houston Community, such as GED instruction, an after school learning and reading program, and parenting outreach courses.
The center raises funds through private donations, through their thrift store, known as A Thrift Store with Treasures, located at 17111-A Kieth Harrow, which opened in March, and their annual Boots, Buckles and Bolos Gala, which will be held Oct. 12.
To make a contribution or volunteer, please call 281-859-8655 or visit www. hnwcc.org.