Basic Needs Services Impact Update Final ~

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston – Houston

Mamie George Community Center

Basic Needs Services Impact Update

Submitted to Henderson – Wessendorff Foundation

Page 1 of 6

Basic Needs Services Program – SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN

THEIR TIME OF NEED

The vision of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston –

Houston is “People of Faith, Helping People in Need Achieve Self –

Sufficiency.” Within Mamie George Community Center’s second

year, the staff and volunteers of the Basic Needs Services Program

have worked with seniors and individuals living in Fort Bend

County to address critical needs that help them in becoming more

food secure, maintain housing and utilities and manage illnesses

through the obtainment of medication.

Capacity Building - RESPONDING TO THE DEMAND

Throughout 2012, The Basic Needs Services Program management

worked together with Center management to develop capacity to

strengthen the provision of services. We are proud to report the

following:

Through fund – raising activities, we leveraged awarded

grants and donations to secure a supplemental grant in the

amount of $100,000 from the Henderson – Wessendorff

Foundation to support the salary of a Warehouse

Associate/Driver position and the purchase of a box truck. The new warehouse/driver position

assists with the management of the client – choice market and help with securing food and

personal items donations. Another major grant that increased

program capacity was the receipt of a grant in the amount of

$81,700 awarded by CCUSA through a Wal – Mart Collaborative

Proposal that supported the salary of a Lead Case Manager

position, purchase of a forklift and purchase of food and personal

items. The Lead Case Manager position is responsible for assisting

with the oversight of case management activities and supervision

of volunteer case managers.

Benefits of Increased Capacity - EXPANSION OF REACH

Comprehensive Food Assistance Program enrollment

target of 1,600 was exceeded by a margin of 114%. A

total of 2,877 individuals completed a collective 6,767

shopping visits at our Trini’s Corner Market (1,060

individuals were enrolled in the program prior to January

1, 2012).

2012: BY THE NUMBERS

1,817 individuals were

enrolled in our Comprehensive

Food Assistance Program and

were able to self – select

nutritious food at our Trini’s

Corner Market.

13,934 individuals received

151,871 pounds of free

groceries through the

coordination of 15 community

food fairs.

265 individuals received one –

time financial assistance to

assist with rent, utilities,

medication, and other critical

needs.

DEMOGRAPHICS OF

INDIVIDUALS SERVED AT A

GLANCE

Females are the largest

gender demographic

representing 59%.

Individuals 19 – 65

years old are the largest

age demographic

representing 47%.

Hispanic individuals are

the largest race

demographic

representing 60%.





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At time of discharge from our Comprehensive

Food Assistance Program, 96% of the 479

individuals whose cases were closed reported that

their supplemental food needs were met.

Community Food Fairs Program number of

individuals served target of 5,500 was exceeded

by a margin of 253%. Individuals participated in

sessions covering topics including financial

literacy, fair housing, nutrition and wellness, tax

preparation and disaster preparedness.

In-kind Food Assistance target of $250,000 was

exceeded by a margin of 190% by year – end in

2012 through the receipt of in-kind food

donations valued at $475,324.

o Monthly we receive in – kind food

donations from St. Laurence Parishioners

in an effort to help offset costs and

sustain food resources.

o For the second, consecutive year the

Basic Needs Services Program received

more than 8,000 pounds of food donated

by Goya Foods in an effort to end

hunger.

The Nutrition First! Program was launched.

Eleven families were enrolled with 91% of them

graduating from the program and participating in

all educational workshops on nutrition, health and

financial literacy as well as hands – on

experiences that prepared them to take steps in making healthy lifestyle changes.

With the tremendous support of the Boy Scouts Troop 828 and the Girl Scouts Troop

561, the Mamie George Community Center staff and volunteers broke ground on the

center’s community garden. Six garden beds were constructed along with the building of

a fence. In Spring 2013, community groups and volunteers will lead the planting

activities in hopes of producing fresh fruit and vegetables for families shopping at our

Trini’s Corner Market.

VENDOR’S SNAPSHOT

In 2012, Houston Food Bank’s

purchases represented $37,609 or

21% of the total food and

personal items expenditures.

Fiesta, Brenham Wholesale, Wal

– Mart and other local vendors’

purchases represented $144,227

or 79% of the total food and

personal items expenditures.

Benefits from long-term vendor

relationships include:

1. Houston Food Bank (HFB) –

offers discount prices and

one staff person to register

clients into the Supplemental

Food Assistance Program

(SNAP) on a weekly basis.

2. Fiesta – offers in-kind

equipment and supplies for

market and warehouse and

donated food for food fairs

and special events.





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Key Partners – MAKING A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER

The successes and impact the Basic Needs Services Program

accomplished in 2012 would not have been possible without the

support of our key partners including: St. Laurence Social Concerns

Ministry, St. Teresa Catholic Church, St. John Fisher Catholic Church,

Enterprise Rental, Fiesta Mart Inc., Houston Food Bank, Order of

Malta Association, Sophia Grace Community Center, Commissioner

Richard Morrison, Judge Vacek, Houston Urban League, Fort Bend

County Office of Emergency Management, Boys Scouts Troop 828,

Girl Scouts Troop 561, Helping Hands, Fort Bend County Social

Services, Second Mile Mission, Youth in Philanthropy, Goya Foods,

Frito – Lay, Fort Bend Focus, and Jack and Jill of America – Sugar

Land Chapter.

Timeline for Supplemental Grant Request

Did you know?

In 2012 and 2013, more than 700 miles

were driven during twelve pick-ups and

deliveries to secure food and personal

items for Basic Needs Services Program.

Did you know?

In 2012 and 2013, approximately five

food and personal items drives were

made possible by the generosity of The

Girl Scouts of America, Fort Bend County

Fair, Lamar Consolidated Independent

School District, Youth of Philanthropy,

and Jack and Jill of America – Katy

Chapter.





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Other 2012 Highlights at Mamie George Community Center – SERVING FORT BEND

COUNTY

An average of 129 individuals visited the Mamie George Community Center for social support

and activities offered during the week.

An average of 100 volunteers per week along with the help of community, social and corporate

groups dedicated 23,432 hours of service in support of programs at the Mamie George

Community Center.

Approximately 830 seniors ages 55 years and older were enrolled in senior services and wellness

activities. Approximately 768 or 93% of the seniors enrolled visited the Mamie George

Community Center at least two times a week to access health checks, medical, and exercise

consultations, educational and art classes and the fitness area.

An average 69 seniors a day enjoyed a hot, nutritious meal at our Patty’s Café.

Looking Ahead – 2013: YEAR OF FAITH

In 2013, we will continue with the promotion of our marketing campaign, “WE PUT OUR FAITH IN

YOU” to increase awareness about the services Catholic Charities offers in the community including

those provided at the Mamie George Community Center. Our focus is to continue with the

implementation and sustainability of services at the center by accomplishing the following goals:

Provide 70 daily nutritional meals (lunch) to seniors as a complimentary meal site supported by

Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC) and the Area Agency on Aging (AAA).

Restructure the “Healthy Transformation = Healthy Living” program in phases to continue

helping seniors manage their chronic health problems while building program capacity and client

participation by serving 135 individuals.

Continue to increase capacity of food and volunteers for the Basic Needs Services Program by

serving 1,800 individuals who can shop twice a month for nutritious foods at our client – choice

market.

Continue to distribute free groceries to 8,800 individuals residing in Fort Bend County through

our monthly community food fairs.

Enhance volunteer recruitment and retention to support the center and programs by maintaining

1,900 volunteer hours per month and 22, 800 annually.





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Story of Impact – “CHANGING LIVES THROUGH HEALTHY EATING AND LIVING”

Mr. Davis (not client’s real name) is the father of three children. Currently, he does not work because of a

disability. The family is supported by Mrs. Davis income from cleaning houses and performing other odd

jobs, and help from agencies such as Catholic Charities. Several years ago, Mr. Davis worked as a

security professional for a high-end retail store in California. Mrs. Davis was a stay-at-home mom, and

the family was proud of the home that they owned and the savings they had. When the company down-

sized after 9/11 and as the national economy began to weaken, Mr. Davis was laid off and obtained

employment as a truck driver. As a truck driver, Mr. Davis began to suffer with back pain and discovered

he had a herniated disk. Because of his condition, he had to stop working and currently receives disability

income. Doctors told him that he may need to have surgery on his back in the future.

The Davis family receives assistance from the Basic Needs Services’ Comprehensive Food Assistance

Program, Community Food Fair program and Nutrition First! Program. Mr. Davis shares that being able

to shop in the market “helps beyond explanation.” He refers to the assistance as “manna from Heaven”

and he says it gives his family “hope for tomorrow.” He adds that before receiving assistance from

Catholic Charities, his family was very restricted in terms of what they could buy at the grocery store.

They would buy milk and eggs during one shopping visit and fruit and vegetables during a subsequent

shopping visit. “We could not get it all,” he says. Shopping at Trini’s Corner Market gives the Davis

family the ability to get a larger variety of basic food items, and nutritious food items. Mr. Davis says

coming to the market feels like someone has given him a $100 bill. Mr. Davis refers to Catholic Charities’

community food fairs as the “cherry on the cheesecake.” He especially appreciates the valuable

information that is provided to clients through various speakers who make presentations during the fairs.

Mr. Davis and his son and daughter also love being involved in the Nutrition First! Program offered at the

Mamie George Community Center through the Basic Needs Services Program. He says that he and his

family have a better understanding of the importance of balanced meals, portion sizes and how food

preparation affects nutrition. It is “eye-opening”, he says. Mr. Davis states that he heard about healthy

eating, but no one explained why he and his family should be eating better and how to do it. The Davis

family enjoys the interactive nature of Nutrition First! Program, like tasting things they have never tasted

before. Mr. Davis’ son and daughter think the program is fun, he reports. Mr. Davis says that his family’s

involvement in the Nutrition First! Program came at the right time, as his son, age 10, is at a critical age

in terms of nutrition and healthy eating. Mr. Davis and his son struggle with their weight and Mr. Davis

wants his son to take control of his eating habits now, so that he will live a healthier life as an adult. Mr.

Davis and his family are very grateful for all they have received from Catholic Charities. Even though it

is not forever, he says, it is still very much appreciated. He comments that the help that the agency

provides has an impact on families, not just one person. Mr. Davis shares that they pray as a family for

people who have even less than they do, as well as for Catholic Charities to have the resources to help

others for years to come.



Basic Needs Services 2012 Impact Report

Page 6 of 6

2012 BASIC NEEDS SERVICES PROGRAM EXPENDITURES

Item(s) Amount Expended Percentage

Food Assistance $171,898 78%

Personal Items $9,938 5%

Medical Assistance $2,338 1%

Shelter Assistance $19,772 9%

Utilities Assistance $11,975 5%

Financial Assistance (Gift Cards) $2,750 1%

Specific Assistance $113 0%

Food Supplies (brown paper, plastic and

produce bags)

$2,965 1%

Total $221,749 100%

*Note: Expenditures displayed represent actual costs for client assistance and food supplies.

Documents

Basic Needs Services Impact Update Final ~