Holiday meal, toy drives get underway across area
For a growing number of financially unstable families in northwest Harris County, holiday meals are beyond their budget.
That’s why the nonprofit Northwest Assistance Ministries is working to help.
The nonprofit will provide at least 800 area families with a complete holiday meal.
And NAM’s sign-up list for meals is already full. Though NAM is still taking registrations and will provide meals to families on the wait-list if they receive additional donations.
“We guarantee 800 families Thanksgiving food — turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, yams, all of the traditional holiday food,” said Debbie Peterson, director of NAM’s assistance department. “It’s for families who really can’t afford to purchase their own food. We register more than 800 because we want to help as may people as possible. It all depends
on the donations we get.”
NAM receives much of its donations from its member churches and area businesses. In addition, the nonprofit receives donations from area school drives, including schools in Spring, Klein and Tomball, along with area organizations such as the Boy Scouts.
Thanksgiving meals will be distributed on Nov. 21 and Nov. 23 at its headquarters at 15555 Kuykendahl Road. NAM seeks volunteers to help package the items and distribute the meals.
NAM has also begun its December toy and meal drive and has started registering families for both of those drives.
“A lot of our families come to us every year for our holiday drives and back to school drive,” Peterson said. “They are at the poverty level. It gives them an opportunity to not have to worry about toys for their kids and a holiday meal for their family.”
The number of financially unstable households in northwest Harris County continues to grow along with the population. At NAM, the biggest demand is for food, with a 3 percent increase from a year ago, said Rebecca Landes, vice president of program services at NAM.
Last year, the number of families seeking holiday assistance increased, Peterson said. NAM provided 1,175 meals to families last December and 2,005 toys.
“There is an increase in demand,” Peterson said.
NAM plans to distribute at least 1,000 meals in December and 2,000 toys. The biggest needs are toys for boys and girls ages 10 to 12.
“We really appreciate all the donations we get,” Peterson said. “The biggest thing we always run out of are toys for 10 to 12 year olds.”
NAM will distribute the toys and meals on Dec. 19 and Dec. 21.
Through all of its programs and services, NAM reached more than 131,000 people in fiscal year 2013 to 2014.
NAM is close to reaching its capital campaign goal to start construction of a $5.37 million retail and training facility to help the area’s growing needy population, said Carole Little, president/CEO of NAM.
NAM plans to start construction of the facility in early 2016. The facility, which will be located behind NAM’s headquarters building at 15555 Kuykendahl Road, will in part serve as a workforce-training center.
For more information or to donate or volunteer for the holiday drives, call 281-885-3914 or visit http:// namonline.org.