Better the City
1. The Fort Bend Women’s Center provides free support to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, including a 24/7 crisis hotline. Sample activities include office and administrative support, helping with fundraising events, assisting with special projects and working with PennyWise Resale Center. The center accepts donations of money, paper products and diapers.
Application, Orientation, Background check required, Under 18 allowed
501 E. Hwy. 90, Richmond
281-344-5750
www.fbwc.org
Empower Children
2. Dream Keepers is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young women through building lasting relationships. It focuses on creating support networks to help them achieve goals. Sample activities include mentoring, chaperoning tours and volunteering to set up events. Donations accepted include money, nonperishables, books and water.
Application, Orientation, Background check required, Under 18 allowed
8440 Greenhouse Road, Cypress
346-843-5639
www.dream-keepers.org
3. Fort Bend Partnership for Youth Inc. focuses on the growing issue of juvenile delinquency in Fort Bend County. The nonprofit works closely with youth and their families that are involved with the Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation Department. Sample activities for volunteers—who must be at least 21 years old—include mentoring juveniles in the detention center and one-on-one adult/juvenile mentoring in the community. The nonprofit accepts monetary donations.
Application, Orientation, Background check required
122 Golfview Drive, Richmond
281-633-7317
www.fbpfy.org
4. Joe Joe Bear Foundation is a children’s charity focusing on providing teddy bears to sick children for comfort. It also helps educate parents of sick children. Sample activities include bear drop-offs, event photography, social media and marketing help, and help with events. Donations accepted include money, but it is not accepting bears due to COVID-19 concerns. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old.
Application, Orientation, Background check required, Under 18 allowed
1846 Snake River Road, Katy
281-398-4522
www.joejoebear.org
Care for the environment
5. The Coastal Prairie Conservancy works to preserve and protect the acres that make up the Coastal Prairie for the well-being of the wildlife and people in the area. One of its main goals is land conservation and restoration. Volunteers can collect seeds, plant new flora and take care of a plant nursery. It accepts money and land donations.
Application, Background check required, Under 18 allowed
Field office: 31975 Hebert Road, Waller
713-523-6135
www.coastalprairieconservancy.org
Feed the Hungry
6. Hope Impacts is a nonprofit that combats homelessness. It provides individuals experiencing homelessness access to food, showers and computers. Sample activities include office assistance, sorting and collecting donations, cooking and serving meals, driving individuals to appointments, hosting events, helping with move-ins and building relationships. It accepts donations of money, shower items, clothing, sleeping bags, tents and Gatorade.
Application required, Under 18 allowed
802 Dominion Drive, Ste. 900, Katy
713-705-7884
www.hopeimpacts.org
7. Lunches of Love is a nonprofit dedicated to ending childhood hunger in Fort Bend County. It provides packed lunches during school holidays and weekends. Sample activities include packing and delivering lunches. The organization accepts donations of money, gift cards and plastic zippered bags.
Application, Orientation, Background check required, Under 18 allowed
1416 Radio Lane, Rosenberg
832-586-6995
www.lunchesoflove.net
8. Food for Families is a program within Katy ISD that identifies families in need who live within the school district. The program purchases food gift cards and gives them to families. Community members can donate money.
Application, Orientation, Background check required, Under 18 allowed
281-396-2645
www.katyisd.org
Help Animals
9. Special Pals Rescue Resource Center is the oldest no-kill shelter in Houston. The nonprofit animal welfare organization facilitates adoptions, fostering, low-cost vaccinations and rescue boarding. Volunteers can take care of animals and clean. The center accepts donations of money, dog and cat food, trash bags, puppy pads, laundry detergent, carabiners and disposable rubber gloves.
Application, Orientation required, Under 18 allowed
3830 Greenhouse Road, Houston
281-579-7387
www.specialpals.org
Support Families
10. The Arc of Katy helps provide opportunities in the community for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The nonprofit has many different programs for teens and adults. Volunteers can serve on the board of directors, lead arts and crafts, assist at social events and conduct informational workshops. It accepts monetary donations.
Application, Background check required, Under 18 allowed
934 Jordan Ranch Blvd., Brookshire
832-754-9802
www.thearcofkaty.org
11. The Ballard House provides temporary housing for individuals and families who are receiving medical treatment or are hospitalized. The 34,000-square-foot housing can hold multiple families. Volunteer activities include greeting visitors, doing yard work, cleaning the house and cooking meals. The organization accepts donations of money, water bottles and household items.
Application required
21421 Cinco Park Road, Katy
281-717-4670
www.theballardhouse.org
12. Christ Clinic serves low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients in the Greater Houston area. Some of its services include wound care, physical therapy, patient education classes and an on-site pharmacy. Volunteers can serve as a Spanish and English interpreter, screen patients for COVID-19 and take temperatures. The clinic accepts donations of money, toiletries and office supplies.
25722 Kingsland Blvd., Ste. 111, Katy
281-391-0190
www.christclinickaty.org
13. Clothed By Faith provides a week’s worth of gently used clothing to people in need in the Houston area, free of charge. Staff and volunteers sort, select packages, and deliver shoes and clothes for clients. It asks that all clothing donations be washed and that only new socks and undergarments be donated. It also accepts monetary donations.
Application, Orientation required, Under 18 allowed
802 Dominion Drive, Ste. 100-300, Katy
281-676-8837
www.clothedbyfaith.org
14. Katy Cares provides counseling, coaching, mentoring and training programs for single-parent families. Secondary support services include free legal counsel, affordable health care, financial guidance, career orientation and basic household necessities. Sample activities include child care, organizing donation drives, collecting donations, and organizing and facilitating financial support. It accepts monetary donations.
Application, Orientation required, Under 18 allowed
6725 S. Fry Road, Ste. 700-507, Katy
832-517-1636
www.katycares.org
15. Katy Responds is a nonprofit dedicated to helping families in the aftermath of natural disasters. The group helps restore houses that have been destroyed or damaged. Sample activities include painting, demolition, lawn work, fencing and construction. It accepts money and furniture donations.
Under 18 allowed
2500 Ave. D, Katy
281-305-8545
www.katyresponds.org
16. Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship provides an individualized approach to interaction with horses. These interactions can be therapeutic for people with physical and cognitive needs. Volunteers can walk along riders, lead and prepare horses, and do office administration. The organization accepts donations of money, usable horse tack, paper towels and toilet paper.
Application, Orientation required, Under 18 allowed
7126 FM 359, Richmond
832-451-6874
www.reiningstrength.org
Nonprofit Spotlight
For the past 38 years, Katy Christian Ministries has provided food, shelter, counseling and support services to West Houston residents with the greatest need.
The nonprofit’s mission to transform lives through God’s grace and the generosity of the community is executed through collaboration with community partners, KCM Executive Director Deysi Crespo said. The organization operates with more than 2,000 volunteers annually, she said.
“We do this [work] with our partner churches; we do it with businesses, corporations, individuals and anyone willing to join forces with us and do local missions together,” she said. “Without the volunteers, we would not be able to accomplish what we do on a daily basis.”
KCM has three main functions: as a crisis center, social services and a food pantry.
Its crisis center provides free support for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse; its social services programs include financial assistance for rent, mortgage, utilities, gas, prescriptions and vouchers to KCM’s resale store.
Meanwhile, KCM also maintains a food pantry to address food insecurity. Its community garden provides fresh produce, and food items are collected in red barrels at local grocery stores and through monthly community donation drives at area churches.
“Each program offers an array of services designed to help our families build resiliency, ultimately, so our families can be self-sufficient,” Crespo said.
Katy Christian Ministries
3506 Porter Road, Katy
281-391-5261
www.ktcm.org
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Fri.-Sun. closed
