Charity does good job of helping others
Memorial Assistance Ministries rated fiscally responsible by Charity Navigator
When Alicia Tema’s northwest Houston rental home flooded after the April 18 deluge, she and her two children lost everything. Fortunately, they were able to move in with Tema’s older daughter, but the full-time babysitter did not have flood insurance and had to start from scratch.
She turned to the agency, Memorial Assistance Ministries in Spring Branch, that had helped her once before and was met with nothing but kindness and care.
“I don’t know where I would be right now if it wasn’t for them,” Tema said. “When I sought help, they never said no to anything.”
Tema received vouchers to buy furniture and help with rent, allowing her to find some semblance of order and eventually move back into her home.
Tema’s was one of the almost 100 families that MAM, located at 1625 Blalock Road, was able to assist following the devastating floods, thanks to donations from the commu-
nity that exceeded the nonprofit’s $25,000 fundraiser goal for flood victims.
President Martha Macris said the group helped families in and around Spring Branch by providing Metro cards for transportation, gift cards for Walmart and Target, money for hotel rooms, rent and utilities and furniture vouchers for a total of almost $30,000.
“Our community was so responsive to this,” Macris said. “I want the community to know how grateful we are — we couldn’t have provided these needed services if it wasn’t for the generosity of our donors.”
The agency, a coalition of local congregations that help people in temporary crisis who need assistance get back on their feet, recently received the highest rating for the fourth consecutive year from Charity Navigator for being fiscally responsible.
Charity Navigator rates charities across the country on criteria, including transparency, accountability and the percentage of revenue spent on programs and services.
“What that says is we are in the top 95 percentile of all charities in the country in performance,” Macris said. “We are here for the public good and the public has to know we are doing the public good.”
MAM provides a host of services and programs and continues to adapt to clients’ needs.
A financial education program, including classes and one-on-one coaching, has taken off since it was introduced last fall. The program is designed to help clients manage their money, establish a budget, plan for the future and improve their credit score.
“Usually people know they have financial problems, but they are not willing — or they are struggling to make any changes,” said Paola Castro, MAM’s financial coordinator who conducts classes in Spanish and English. “We offer a comprehensive program — this process is helping them to be aware of their financial situation and plan for the future.”
As well as providing help with rent, utilities, medical needs, transportation and clothing, MAM offers employment services, English classes, computer training, citizenship classes, immigration and legal services, GED classes, tax preparation and mental health counseling.
A resale store featuring new and gently used clothes, furniture, toys, books and household items, provides a revenue stream for the nonprofit.
“The important thing is to stabilize income so that families can move forward,” Macris said. “Our programming is now rounded out to help people gain employment so they have a regular income.”
Meanwhile, MAM is on a mission to raise $200,000 to provide school supplies and school uniforms for up to 6,000 students in Spring Branch, CypressFairbanks, Houston and Aldine school districts.
To make a donation, visit www.helpherehelpnow.org.
For more information about MAM, visit www. maministries.org.