Non-Profit

More than 70 volunteers gathered at the Katy Elks Lodge on September 12 and turned three hours of teamwork into 1,500 care packages for seniors in Katy-area care facilities. The effort brought students, families and community organizations together through Hearts for Elders, a Katy-based nonprofit working to reduce senior isolation.

For co-founder Angel Owens, a Seven Lakes High School student, the packages are part of a larger commitment: building connections with older adults who may have few visitors and making sure those relationships continue beyond a single event.

A Community Effort With a Personal Impact

Five local sponsors supported the September gathering. Volunteers from across Katy helped assemble the packages for delivery to local seniors, bringing together people of different ages around a shared project.

The organization’s invitation to the event called for care packages with handwritten cards, socks and everyday comfort items. Those small, personal touches reflect its broader approach to service: giving seniors something useful while reminding them that someone is thinking about them.

Owens recalled one response shared by an activity manager at a partner facility after a delivery: “One resident walked around with her bag for two days!”

Connections That Continue After Delivery

Hearts for Elders’ work extends beyond packing events. Volunteers spend time with seniors through conversation, music, art, games and educational activities. The focus is on developing relationships through repeated interaction, rather than treating a visit or a gift as the end of the connection.

Since December 2025, the organization has partnered with 14 senior care facilities across Katy and raised more than $15,000. Its members have also attended more than 15 Chamber of Commerce events, connecting with local businesses and building support for the work.

The student-led effort has expanded beyond its Katy roots, growing to 20 chapters across six continents, with chapters in places including California, Kenya, Spain and Japan. In Katy, the local care-facility partnerships remain a way for students, families and businesses to participate close to home.

How Katy Residents Can Get Involved

Residents interested in volunteering can visit the Hearts for Elders website to explore volunteer opportunities, support the organization or learn about starting a chapter. Businesses can also connect with the group about sponsorship.

For information about upcoming opportunities, contact Owens at angel@hearts4elders.org or follow @hearts.forelders on Instagram. The September project offers one example of how a few hours of shared effort can carry a personal message to seniors throughout the Katy community.

By Johnny Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Johnny Krenek has been connected to community news since childhood, growing up alongside the family business his parents founded—Krenek Printing. Today, he serves as Vice President and lead developer for My Neighborhood News, where he drives the digital experience and supports the team across a variety of technical and operational roles. He is passionate about building tools that help connect neighbors and strengthen communities.

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