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Seasons of Sharing pairs HAAM and YMCA for holidays
  
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By JENNIFER SUMMER
Turkey, dressing and a variety of different side dishes are symbolic of Thanksgiving, but there are a few families who have a hard time affording at least one of those things.
In order to bring the joy of the holidays to these families and others around the community suffering hardship, Humble Area Assistance Ministries and the Lake Houston Family YMCA have partnered to begin collecting food for “Seasons of Sharing.”
“Every year we have ‘Seasons of Sharing’ which encourages families around the community to donate food items that we will sort, sack and distribute to HAAM clients,” said Millie Garrison, HAAM resources and development coordinator. “Last year, we provided holiday meals to over 2,000 families from our community.”
The Lake Houston Family YMCA began helping HAAM three years ago after hosting their own food drive for several years. They decided to have their food drive at the same time and all donations benefit HAAM and their “Seasons of Sharing.”
“Our members are very giving and having the boxes near the entrance of the YMCA helps teach children around the community how important it is to help others and give back to the community,” Carol Sutton, director of marketing, said.
Besides the YMCA, food donation boxes have been placed at most of the churches around the community that help HAAM throughout the year and at Atascocita Ace Hardware.
The East Montgomery County YMCA in Splendora will also have several boxes placed near their entrance to benefit HAAM, as the organization serves all families in the Humble and New Caney school districts.
HAAM is still in need of volunteers to help with sorting and sacking which starts Nov. 14, and is still asking people to help with distribution a few days before Thanksgiving.
“‘Seasons of Sharing’ is very important this year because between problems with the economy and Hurricane Ike we have started to serve more people and we have a lot of new clients,” Garrison said. “Since the YMCA and HAAM are both faith-based organizations, it is great to partner and serve those who are less fortunate in our community.”
In addition to “Seasons of Sharing,” resident Deborah Kinder read an article in The Observer about how hard HAAM was hit by Hurricane Ike and started to search for ways to help the community, especially with the holidays around the corner.
“In the days following Hurricane Ike, we spent time helping our neighbors and others without power. We did not have power but did have a generator,” Kinder said. “I knew that there had to be some way that we could help others in our community who are less fortunate and affected by the storm.”
The Kinders decided to come up with a unique idea to use reward points earned by American Express, Mastercard or Visa card members to earn a gift card that can be donated to HAAM and used for necessities they or their clients might need.
“My husband owns a small business so he does use his credit card frequently and earns reward points so we thought about it, and using reward points for a gift card for HAAM is just one way we can help,” Kinder said.
“This keeps donations local and anyone could use a gift card for a variety of things they need. Anyone who wants to help does not have to donate all of their points; any little bit will help to help those less fortunate this holiday season.”
Gift Card donations
For more information, e-mail deborahkinder@embarqmail.com.
Seasons of Sharing
Call Millie Garrison at HAAM at 281-446-3663, ext. 121.
In order to bring the joy of the holidays to these families and others around the community suffering hardship, Humble Area Assistance Ministries and the Lake Houston Family YMCA have partnered to begin collecting food for “Seasons of Sharing.”
“Every year we have ‘Seasons of Sharing’ which encourages families around the community to donate food items that we will sort, sack and distribute to HAAM clients,” said Millie Garrison, HAAM resources and development coordinator. “Last year, we provided holiday meals to over 2,000 families from our community.”
The Lake Houston Family YMCA began helping HAAM three years ago after hosting their own food drive for several years. They decided to have their food drive at the same time and all donations benefit HAAM and their “Seasons of Sharing.”
“Our members are very giving and having the boxes near the entrance of the YMCA helps teach children around the community how important it is to help others and give back to the community,” Carol Sutton, director of marketing, said.
Besides the YMCA, food donation boxes have been placed at most of the churches around the community that help HAAM throughout the year and at Atascocita Ace Hardware.
The East Montgomery County YMCA in Splendora will also have several boxes placed near their entrance to benefit HAAM, as the organization serves all families in the Humble and New Caney school districts.
HAAM is still in need of volunteers to help with sorting and sacking which starts Nov. 14, and is still asking people to help with distribution a few days before Thanksgiving.
“‘Seasons of Sharing’ is very important this year because between problems with the economy and Hurricane Ike we have started to serve more people and we have a lot of new clients,” Garrison said. “Since the YMCA and HAAM are both faith-based organizations, it is great to partner and serve those who are less fortunate in our community.”
In addition to “Seasons of Sharing,” resident Deborah Kinder read an article in The Observer about how hard HAAM was hit by Hurricane Ike and started to search for ways to help the community, especially with the holidays around the corner.
“In the days following Hurricane Ike, we spent time helping our neighbors and others without power. We did not have power but did have a generator,” Kinder said. “I knew that there had to be some way that we could help others in our community who are less fortunate and affected by the storm.”
The Kinders decided to come up with a unique idea to use reward points earned by American Express, Mastercard or Visa card members to earn a gift card that can be donated to HAAM and used for necessities they or their clients might need.
“My husband owns a small business so he does use his credit card frequently and earns reward points so we thought about it, and using reward points for a gift card for HAAM is just one way we can help,” Kinder said.
“This keeps donations local and anyone could use a gift card for a variety of things they need. Anyone who wants to help does not have to donate all of their points; any little bit will help to help those less fortunate this holiday season.”
Gift Card donations
For more information, e-mail deborahkinder@embarqmail.com.
Seasons of Sharing
Call Millie Garrison at HAAM at 281-446-3663, ext. 121.
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