Cy-Fair Helping Hands Offers Essential Support to Area Homeless During Freeze
On a day that was meant to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the local chapters of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity had planned to serve at Cy-Fair Helping Hands, a local nonprofit dedicated to serving the homeless and the hungry. However, Mother Nature had other plans, delivering record low temperatures for the first major freeze of the year. Unfazed and with hearts warmed by a spirit of service, many showed up in full force to give back to their community, despite the freezing temperatures.
Cy-Fair Helping Hands’ warehouse quickly came alive that day with the hustle and bustle of helping hands. From sorting through generously donated clothing to diligently organizing the food pantry, everyone dove into their tasks headfirst. While the volunteers carried out their assignments, a dozen dedicated volunteers braved the icy conditions to open the Cy-Fair Helping Hands' Day Center for the homeless.
Volunteers at Cy-Fair Helping Hands bundled up and eager to serve on Monday, January 15, including members of local Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity chapters. (Source: CFHH)According to Cy-Fair Helping Hands staff, some homeless guests arrived at Cy-Fair Helping Hands on their own, while Dave Auer, Day Center volunteer driver, made the rounds to pick up clients from the streets. "They were just so appreciative, so grateful," he shared.
Day Center Director, Randi Lewis, reached out to volunteers to help staff the Day Center. They provided hot coffee and doughnuts and a comforting hot meal favorite, Frito Pie, for the 10 guests. While taking refuge at the Day Center, some guests took showers and played games, while others simply visited and stayed warm. As is customary at Cy-Fair Helping Hands, a devotional was shared.
Over the weeks leading up to the freeze, Cy-Fair Helping Hands put out requests to the community to donate sleeping bags, blankets and other warm items for our homeless neighbors. Donations continued to come in from generous individuals and organizations like the Cypress Fairbanks Rotary Club, who delivered a trunk full of winter clothing and blankets. With news of the impending freeze, Cy-Fair Helping Hands rallied volunteers to distribute these essential items to homeless individuals in the area for additional protection in the frigid temperatures.
Jean Dreyer with Cy-Fair Helping Hands, left, with Emi on behalf of Cypress Fairbanks Rotary Club, right, as Emi was dropping off donations compiled by her fellow Rotarians in advance of the freeze. (Source: CFHH)Although homelessness is often believed to be an inner-city issue, it’s a growing concern in suburban areas like Cy-Fair, where the homeless population continues to rise. For Jean Dreyer, CFHH founder and Homeless Services Senior Director,
“We saw over 50 homeless individuals on our outreach today. We weren’t in Fifth Ward, Acres Home, or Carverdale. We were right here where we live, in Cy-Fair. I have done homeless outreach for more than 13 years and have never seen as many homeless as we have now,” said Dreyer.
On Monday, each guest left Cy-Fair Helping Hands with extra blankets, jackets, food, and prayer. But the kindness extended to those guests isn’t only offered when disaster strikes.
Throughout the year, Cy-Fair Helping Hands offers an array of support services to those experiencing homelessness in the area, including emergency shelter for families with children, scholarships for underprivileged students, homeless street outreach, a homeless day center, programs for CFISD students, and events and programs during the holidays and at back-to-school time. In 2023, 840 Day Center visitors took showers, did laundry, enjoyed fellowship and hot meals. Overall, Cy-Fair Helping Hands provided 6,325 meals to the homeless via sack lunches, Compassion Bags, and hot meals throughout 2023.
Cy-Fair Helping Hands’ outreach during the freeze is not merely one of service; it is a living example of unity, resilience, and an unwavering spirit of community. As the Cy-Fair region grapples with the ongoing issue of homelessness, organizations like Cy-Fair Helping Hands serve as a reminder that each of us has a crucial role to play in supporting the community as a whole. To learn more about their mission and to lend a hand, visit their website at cyfairhelpinghands.org.
 |
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
|
