The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast
Want to find a Houston-area place to volunteer that is right for you? Listen along as your host Paul H. Cannon interviews local Houston-area mission leaders and participants about their mission and how you can be a part of something bigger right here in Houston, Texas.
When Paul H. Cannon was in his late 20s, He was the missions coordinator for a bible study class of 165 people at Second Baptist Westway Campus in Houston. One of the challenges he ran across was finding local mission projects for the class to participate in. "If only there was a website where you could go and learn about a large group of opportunities at once," Paul thought.
It was from this idea that Meet Houston Missions was born. As a partner and the marketing manager for Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., Injury & Accident Lawyers, Paul now had the means to create what he was missing. It started out as a simple series of Zoom videos and has not evolved into a weekly podcast.
If you are in the Greater Houston Area and a Mission looking for volunteers, I want to talk to you! If you are someone in the GHA who needs volunteer hours for a school group, or church group project, or you just want to be a part of something bigger, this show is for you.
Follow our podcast and visit: https://www.simmonsandfletcher.com/meet-houston-missions/ to learn about the opportunities that are literally surrounding you!
Meet Houston Missions guests do not have to be affiliated with any group or religion. If your organization is boot-on-the-ground helping people in our area, email Paul at pcannon@simmonsandfletcher.com for guest opportunities.
Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., Injury & Accident Lawyers is a personal injury law firm based in Houston, Texas. Learn more about the firm at: https://www.simmonsandfletcher.com. It has been serving the Houston community since 1979.
The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast
Meet Houston Missions: West Houston Assistance Ministries
This episode of The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast features Mark Brown, CEO of West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM). WHAM is a place of hope and respite for those in need. By providing responsive support through short-term assistance with food, rent, utilities, disaster relief, seasonal programs (eg. Thanksgiving and Christmas Meals), as well as access to education/employment resources, WHAM moves families from crisis to stability, and toward self-sufficiency, and away from crisis and homelessness.
More Information About WHAM
In the fiscal year 2020, WHAM provided services to 115,857 individuals, compared to 42,000 served in 2019, demonstrating how disastrous the pandemic has been to the livelihoods of local families. Since March 2020, when WHAM jumped into action in response to COVID-19, WHAM has helped over 200,000 individuals, with over $1.7M, to prevent evictions and disconnections. From its inception, WHAM has partnered with churches that contribute financially and refer their parishioners to WHAM for help. WHAM also collaborates with community partners like the Houston Food Bank, grocers, and restaurants that provide WHAM with food for the food pantry, as well as organizations and corporations that provide funds, drives, and volunteers.
Locations Supported
WHAM primarily helps zip codes 77036, 77042, 77057, 77063, 77072, 77077, 77082, 77083, and 77099 with financial assistance for rent, mortgage, and utilities; however, they can help those in other Harris County, Fort Bend, and Montgomery County zip codes on a limited basis, depending on the types of grants available.
WHAM Office Locations
WHAM administration offices, Resale Store (Second Blessing Resale Store), Client Services, and Food Pantry are located at 10501 Meadowglen Lane, Houston, TX 77042. WHAM also has a Satellite Food Pantry at Church at the Cross, located at 3835 South Dairy Ashford, Houston, TX 77082. Financial assistance and employment and job literacy assistance are also provided virtually and over the phone.
WHAM Benefits
WHAM’s Annual Faith, Hope, and Love Benefit Luncheon is held in November. WHAM also holds two drive-thru Shred Days. The Chevron Houston Marathon’s Run for a Reason program benefits WHAM by allowing people to participate and fundraise for WHAM. Runners can sign up and choose West Houston Assistance Ministries as their charity and fundraise--WHAM will pay for their registration. Finally, there is the Spring Dash, a 5K/1K held anytime between April and June.
Donor and Volunteer Information
Monetary donations can be made online at https://www.whamministries.org or by mailing a check to our address. However, WHAM also constantly needs donations of food and supplies for our food pantry to keep up with the great need we see every day at our doors. WHAM also needs donations of furniture, clothing, household goods, books, etc., for their resale store.
WHAM has a constant need for volunteers, especially in the food pantry, and during the 3x/week drive-thru food distributions (where WHAM feeds between 160 and 250 families at each). WHAM also needs volunteers in their Employment and Adult Literacy program, as well as interviewers to help vet clients who request financial assistance. Finally, WHAM always needs volunteers to work in the resale store and warehouse.
Contact:
Volunteer Coordinator, Ella Clark e.clark@whamministries.org,
or visit https://whamministries.org/volunteer
