This rodeo season, NAM has set a goal to collect 40,000 lbs in food donations to help continue to feed our 50-60 families who need meals daily.

Northwest Assistance Ministries' Joanne Watford Nutrition Center will host a community food distribution on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the NAM campus located at 15555 Kuykendahl Rd, Houston, Texas 77090. The distribution of food, including fresh vegetables and fruit will begin at 8:00 am and continue until food supplies run out. This is a drive-thru distribution so families will need to stay in their cars.

Northwest Assistance Ministries hosted a "Young at Heart" Senior Bazaar for seniors in our area. Nearly 30 seniors attended the event where they enjoyed a free lunch, gathered information about available programs and participated in Bingo and other fun activities. NAM is planning more of these type of events to recruit new members to our Young at Heart Program.

NAM's Family Violence department spent the day at the Texas State Capitol as part of Family Violence Awareness Day at the Capitol on Thursday, February 16, 2023. "We were able to have very successful meeting with some of our State leaders" said Hannah Theiss, Director, NAM Family Violence Center. NAM's team joined members of Texas Council of Family Violence and Texas Association Against Sexual Assault to inform State Legislators on the seriousness of Domestic Violence and to advocate for laws to better protect Domestic Violence survivors.

With 1 in 3 teens impacted by teen dating violence & abuse, and only 33% disclosing these experiences, NAM is working to empower teens to not only report the behavior, but to also learn how to recognize the early signs and red flags that could indicate future abusive behaviors. By educating teens early, it is a goal to prevent domestic violence and abuse before it ever happens with the Violence Education Prevention program that NAM’s Family Violence Center offers. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, or TDVAM, is the month that NAM amplifies these efforts in alignment with awareness campaigns created by national organizations, such as Love Is Respect. 

Each February, young adults and their loved ones across the nation raise awareness about the issue of teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This annual, month-long effort focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.

Tuesday, February 7th, teens and adults are asked to wear orange in support of Teen Dating Violence Awareness. #wearorange

For more information visit namonline.org/family-center

NAM’s Learning & Vocational Training Center has released its Spring 2023 schedule of adult educational offerings to empower our neighbors to seek new job opportunities and achieve financial independence.

"Its my first time receiving food this year.”

“By the time I pay my rent, I’m almost out of money - so receiving this food is everything.”

"After rent and other bills are paid, I can't afford food because the food prices are sky-high."

These are some of the reasons neighbors are coming to NAM for food. 

Even though life has returned to normal and many of us no longer feel the economic impacts of the pandemic - still many of our neighbors are struggling to recover. 

The global prices of food and fuel continues to fluctuate, along with rent increasing nationwide. For those living paycheck to paycheck, the rising price of living requires that they seek help, many of them for the first time. 

Our food pantry has not seen a slowdown in the number of clients. An average of 70 families come through each day. On one day this past week, we served a record amount - with over 100 families coming to NAM in need of grocery assistance. 

How are we able to continue serving this many families? 

Financial contributions help us purchase food in bulk, at heavily discounted prices. To keep up with the daily demand, donations of food from our community help us immediately replace our depleted food storage supplies. Many of these donations go directly into the hands of clients soon after being unloaded from donors cars.

We are grateful to those who have answered our calls for donations.

To continue meeting the consistent need for food, we are in need of your help to keep our shelves stocked for our clients. 

Here are some ways people have organized food drives in their communities:

• Youth groups shopping and gathering groceries for a service project

• Local businesses asking their employees to contribute a few extra food items at their place of business

• Near-by churches and congregations calling on their members to contribute towards a special collection

• Gyms hosting special classes, with a few cans of food the cost of participation

• Individuals acting on their own and gathering food from their friends and family

We are grateful for each and every food donation, no matter the size! 

If you have any questions about hosting a food drive, email [email protected]

𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐀𝐌 𝐉𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 - 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟗 𝐚.𝐦. - 𝟑 𝐩.𝐦.

On October 8th, 2022, NAM hosted a benefit concert as part of the annual Jeans & Jewels events. LONESTAR, the band that sings that iconic song “I’m Already There,” performed for NAM’s supporters and local country music fans. 

"When I see all the things that NAM is doing and all the lives they are creating positive change for - it's pretty impressive!"  said Dean Sams, LONESTAR band member. Throughout the concert, the band also urged those attending to donate in support of NAM’s programs.

 Staff, supporters and volunteers had a great time listening to the live music of LONESTAR, as celebrations begin in 2022 of all the ways our community helped our neighbors in need this past year. 

Thank you to all who came out to Dosey Doe for the LONESTAR concert! We look forward to seeing everyone at the Jeans & Jewels gala on October 28th at Shirley Acres. 

NAM is delighted to welcome new members Crystal Hollier and Dr. Lupita Hinojosa to its Board of Trustees.

Crystal Hollier (O-Lee-Ay) holds a master’s degree in Social Work and began her career working with geriatrics and their families at a non-profit nursing and rehabilitation center in Memphis, TN. Crystal and her family came to Houston in 2009, where she began her hospital career at HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center as a social worker for senior care services. She then transitioned into physician relations and business development, joining HCA Houston Northwest in 2015, where she currently serves as Vice President of Business Development. She has had an instrumental role in growing service lines and connecting with community leaders and partners serving the Northwest Houston Community. On a personal note, Crystal enjoys spending time with her family, connecting with her church groups at Saint Martha’s Catholic Church in Kingwood and traveling and trying new restaurants.

Dr. Lupita Hinojosa began her career in 1988 as an elementary bilingual teacher in HISD, moving on to serve as an elementary, middle, and executive principal, a school services officer, and then assistant superintendent in the district. Throughout her career, Dr. Hinojosa has worked with the most vulnerable and needy students, and led school teams through meaningful change to achieve success. With more than 30 years in public education, she joined Spring ISD in 2014 as the Chief Schools Officer and later served as the district’s Chief of Innovation and Equity, where she worked to create opportunities for students of all backgrounds to ensure excellent and equitable outcomes – securing more than $40 million in grants for school and district transformation efforts. In January 2022, Dr. Hinojosa was named Superintendent of Schools, the position she currently holds, becoming the first Hispanic woman to hold the top leadership position in Spring ISD.

NAM is appreciative of all of its board members, from members who have served for decades to those who have become part of the NAM family in recent years. Les Cave, NAM President and CEO, expressed gratitude to Jim Fryfogle for stepping into the role of Interim Board Chair after Board Chair and former Spring ISD Superintendent, Dr. Rodney Watson, moved to Austin to take on a new role as Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Association of School Boards. “We congratulate Dr. Watson on this exciting career opportunity, and are grateful for Jim Fryfogle’s leadership and dedication to NAM to take on the role of interim chair,” Cave said. “With all that our board members bring to the table, there is no doubt NAM can do great things.”

For the complete list of NAM's Board of Trustees click here.

The Joanne Watford Nutrition Center is looking for NAM clients to enroll in its Fresh Food for Families program, now running monthly sessions through July of 2023.

The purpose of the program is to positively impact clients’ wellness by providing nutritional education through the distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables, along with corresponding informational food preparation cards.

Sessions will feature a food preparation and/or cooking demonstration by a local chef or nutritionist. Sessions may also include special raffle drawings or giveaways from partner establishments.

For more program and registration information, clients should contact their case manager.