Jeans & Jewels, NAM's premier fund raising event, has announced that they will host a Jeans & Jewels Luncheon & Fashion Show. The 2023 Jeans & Jewels Luncheon & Fashion Show will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 11:30 am at Shirley Acres.

"We are excited to be bringing the luncheon and fashion back to help celebrate NAM's 40th Anniversary", said Brian Carr, NAM Chief Advancement Officer. "The committee has been working really hard to make this year's Jeans & Jewels very special", added Carr.

More details and ticket information will be released very soon. Please visit the Jeans & Jewels Event Page for more information.

Northwest Assistance Ministries needs volunteers to deliver meals to inbound seniors through the Meals on Wheels program. Drivers are needed at all three of the NAM meals on Wheels distribution offices: NAM @15555 Kuykendahl Rd., 77090, Windwood Presbyterian Church @ 10555 Spring Cypress Rd., 77070, LifePath Church @ 17703 W. Little York, 77084

Volunteers are needed Monday - Saturday. "Our biggest needs are volunteers that can deliver meals during the week", says Allison Booker-Brooks, NAM Chief Operations Officer. 

Volunteers are asked to commit about 2 hours of time on the day(s) they deliver meals. The volunteers will pick up the meals at one of the three distribution offices. They will then drive a predetermined and mapped route to deliver 11-15 meals to inbound seniors. These deliveries are sometimes the opportunity for these seniors to have social contact with others.

For more information or to begin the volunteer registration process visit: https://www.namonline.org/volunteer

Northwest Assistance ministries Adult Learning and Vocational Training Center releases the new class schedule. The schedule lists information for certification classes in Pre-Apprenticeship Electrical, Forklift, Phlebotomy, Sterile Processing Technician, Medication Aide and Certified Nursing Aide.

"We are excited to offer so many great certification classes that will give graduates tremendous career opportunities", says Allison Booker-Brooks, NAM Chief Operations Officer.

For more information or to begin the registration process: https://www.namonline.org/learning

HCA Northwest Medical Center hosted a cereal drive for NAM's Joanne Watford Nutrition Center collecting 722 boxes of cereal.

"With the hot summer months here and kids home from school, items like cereal, peanut butter, jelly, and canned goods are in high demand" , says Allison Booker-Brooks, NAM Chief Operations Officer. "Every donation counts and helps NAM's food pantry continue to provide food to 50-60 families daily ", adds Booker-Brooks.

Anyone can donate food to the Nutrition Center Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. For a list of the most needed items please follow the link; https://www.namonline.org/nutrition

Northwest Assistance Ministries and Workforce Solutions will host a Summer Job Fair July 12, 2023 at NAM's Harrell Family Opportunity Center located at 15702 Bammel Village Dr., Houston, TX 77014. The event will be open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. 30 - 35 area employers will be present.

Northwest Assistance Ministries' 2nd annual Bowl-a-Thon is underway. NAM announced the official details for their annual fundraising event last week. Here is everything you need to know.

NAM's annual Bowl-a-Thom will take place on Friday, August 4th and Saturday, August 5th. Times TBD. The event will be held at the Bowlero Lanes Willowbrook on TX 249. There is an entry fee of $50 per bowler with a maximum of 5 members per team. Bowlers may also register as individuals. There are three age divisions; adults 18 and over, teens 13-17, and kids 12 & under.

There will be trophies for top fundraising individual and team. There will also be trophies for individual and team high scores in each category. This year's event is once again sponsored by H-E-B and Loyalty Plumbing.

"The Bowl-a-Thon is one of NAM's favorite events of the year." says Chief Advancement Officer, Brian Carr. "We are planning to make this year's event even more special in honor of NAM's 40th Anniversary."

To sign up for the 2023 Bowl-a-Thon, Please visit https://www.namonline.org/bowl or contact Samantha Anchia at [email protected] / 282-885-4609.

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.