Stoebner is one of thousands of volunteers each year who assist with NAM operations. Senior Services Director Kristi Slawinski, who runs the Meals on Wheels program, said their services not only meet basic needs, but support socialization and engagement.
“Our faces might be the only ones that they see, so that’s something that’s really valuable to the community,” Slawinski said.
About the organization
Headquartered in Spring, NAM has served thousands of Northwest Houston residents with food, housing support and health care services since its founding in 1983. The faith-based organization provided services to 117,032 residents in fiscal year 2023-24 and received help from over 3,000 volunteers, according to its annual report. Programs and services include:
- Meals on Wheels deliveries, which feed about 800 people per day, and a food pantry
- Behavioral health services and a federally qualified health center
- Vocational training and financial counseling
- Family violence support
- GED and ESL courses in partnership with the Harris County Department of Education
“The major thing that we’ve been talking about is longer-term stability,” Scamp said. “We really want everyone in our community to have the opportunity to find their hope, purpose, wellness, stability and reach their full potential in life.”
The need
According to last year’s report, 88% of NAM recipients were below the poverty level. Scamp said everyone comes through NAM’s doors with a unique story and set of circumstances, but the organization always sees a higher demand for support during the summer months when living expenses increase.
Many low-to-moderate income households in the Greater Houston area have to make spending sacrifices to keep the power on, according to a June study by the Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute. The survey found that 63% of respondents cut back on essential spending, like groceries and health care, to afford their energy bills. These sacrifices are exacerbated in the summer as energy costs climb.
Low-income families are also more likely to need assistance when kids are out of school, Scamp said.
“Many times [children] may have been receiving free meals during the lunch hour at school, and they don’t have that same access all the time during the summer months, so food costs have gone up,” she said.
What’s new?
NAM launched several new programs in July to meet higher demand and diversify its services, Scamp said.
Veterans, as well as their dependents and spouses, can now receive support through the organization’s veteran services program, which launched at the start of July. Services include:
- Rent/mortgage assistance
- Utility assistance
- Transportation assistance
- Food pantry access
- Access to walkers, wheelchairs, crutches and other assistive devices
- July 26
- Aug. 23
- Sept. 27
- Oct. 25
- Nov. 22
- Dec. 13
Scamp said she’d like to transition back to choice “shopping” in the food pantry within the next year, allowing clients to come inside and browse the aisles. The organization had to switch to a drive-thru voucher system during the COVID-19 pandemic, Stoebner said. Scamp said she also wants to be more intentional about developing youth services, such as mentorship opportunities.
NAM will host a public event at its facility—located at 15555 Kuykendahl Road—on Sept. 6 where community members can share feedback about the organization’s strategic planning process.
“Anyone that has an interest in determining NAM’s future is able to come and share their voice,” Scamp said. “We want to take all the different perspectives and use that as we move forward.”
