Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) celebrated the much-anticipated 2018 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday, April 12.   NAM could not exist without its faithful volunteers and that’s why every year it recognizes their efforts with a heart-felt and fun-filled luncheon.

This year, NAM celebrates 35 years of service and honored its volunteers with a “Back To The 80’s” themed luncheon, complete with 80’s décor, 80’s costumes, and 80’s music.

Over 350 volunteers had a “totally rad” time thanks to the hospitality of Bobby Shirley, owner of Shirley Acres.  The volunteers enjoyed a delicious lunch and beautiful atmosphere served up at the venue, Shirley Acres, located at 217 Woerner Road, Houston, Texas.

Carole Little was also honored at the luncheon in recognition of 17 years of service as NAM’s President and CEO.  She was presented with a proclamation from the office of Harris County’s Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle.  Displays of gratitude from NAM staff, board members and volunteers were also showered upon Carole.

“It’s been the greatest honor for me to work with such a dedicated staff, such supportive volunteers, and such a wonderful board,” said Carole.  “This community is very, very blessed.  It’s a giving community, and for 17 years I’ve had the pleasure of watching a problem come in one door and the solution come in another.  And the solution was you.”

Thanks to the sponsors that made this event a success for NAM including Party Props Inc. and Shirley Acres. The next Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon will come back in the spring of 2019.

More than 2,000 volunteers serve NAM on a regular basis.  They are young and old, Boys & Girl Scouts, executives, young moms and great-grandfathers.  They bring experiences and abilities as varied as the world around us, and put those skills to work in hundreds of roles at NAM.  The federal government assigns a dollar value to volunteer hours, and NAM’s volunteers contribute more than $1 million worth of service annually.

Northwest Assistance Ministries is a non-profit, community-based social service agency that strives to meet basic human needs through Neighbors Helping Neighbors. NAM provides assistance in areas such as food, shelter, health, education and domestic violence awareness and intervention. During its last fiscal year, NAM touched the lives of more than 129,000 people through its many programs and services.

To learn more about volunteering at NAM, community members should contact Courtney Frost-Tadlock, Community Relations Coordinator at (281) 885-4604 or [email protected].  For more information, please visit http://www.namonline.org/volunteer or call (281) 885-4555.

See more pictures on Facebook.