Volunteering in Katy This Summer
As the warmth of summer starts to simmer and the school year has come to a close, families in Katy are given the gift of time and a perfect opportunity to connect on a deeper level with their community. From children to adults, volunteering during the summer break can bring immense benefits, not just to the community, but to the volunteers themselves.
According to the National Institute of Health, volunteering offers numerous benefits, improving social, mental, and physical health, and enhancing overall well-being. It also provides significant economic advantages to organizations and helps welfare services reach deprived communities. Volunteering also helps to stimulate personal growth, build stronger bonds with others, and develop new skills.
Here are some of the organizations in Katy that you can contribute your time to this summer and beyond:
Clothed By Faith
Clothed By Faith is committed to providing gently-used clothing to those in need throughout the Greater Houston area, with the aim to dignify and empower individuals through tangible expressions of love. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Sorters: Sorting donations and organizing clothes by gender and size.
- Personal shoppers: Shopping and filling orders for clients.
- Recycling and Donation bins: Taking recycling out of the warehouse and gathering clothes from donation bins.
- Drivers: Delivering orders or picking up donations in the Houston area.
To learn more, visit clothedbyfaith.org/volunteer or contact volunteer@clothedbyfaith.org.
CAP (Citizens for Animal Protection)
Citizens for Animal Protection shelters, rescues, and places homeless animals for adoption with loving families. They advocate for respect and compassion for animal life and provide humane education. Their volunteering opportunities are:
- Storytime Program: Reading to shelter animals.
- Teen Service Day: Volunteering to walk and socialize homeless dogs.
- Long Term Volunteer Program: Committing to volunteering twice a month for a six-month period.
To learn more, visit cap4pets.org/volunteer or contact volunteer@cap4pets.org.
Youth volunteers reading to dogs at CAP. (Source: CAP)Coastal Prairie Conservancy
The Coastal Prairie Conservancy works to conserve the coastal prairie for both people and wildlife. They protect over 30,000 acres of coastal prairie and work actively towards land conservation. Volunteers can contribute by:
- Stewardship Saturdays: Contributing to the success of the program at the Indiangrass Preserve.
- Seed Collecting: Collecting seeds of native prairie plants for various projects.
- Preserve and Native Nursery Volunteers: Participating in activities critical to the success of restoration and public access programs.
To learn more, visit coastalprairieconservancy.org/volunteer or email volunteer@coastalprairieconservancy.org.
Katy Christian Ministries
Katy Christian Ministries offers emergency financial assistance, resiliency programs, food pantry services, and crisis centers for the community. They also have community garden initiatives. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Resale Stores: Assisting customers, sorting donations, and preparing merchandise.
- Food Pantry: Receiving and sorting donations, assisting customers with curbside grocery pickup.
- Community Gardens: Assisting in maintaining and expanding the garden.
To learn more, visit ktcm.org/volunteer or email Diana.Miller@ktcm.org.
Brookwood Community
The Brookwood Community in Brookshire provides vocational training and a nurturing environment for adults with disabilities. They offer volunteer opportunities in areas like the café, horticulture, retail gift shop, and activities. Opportunities are:
- Brookwood Café: Volunteering at the café as a hostess or server assistant.
- Horticulture: Assisting with planting, propagating, and pricing plants.
- Retail Gift Shop: Assisting customers and staff with various responsibilities.
To learn more, visit brookwoodcommunity.org/volunteer or email volunteer@brookwoodcommunity.org.
Ballard House
The Ballard House provides free temporary housing to patients and their families facing medical crises. They offer varied volunteering opportunities including, but not limited to:
- Administrative Support: Assisting with administrative tasks in the office.
- Yard Work: Tasks include planting flowers, weeding, and mulching beds.
- Pantry Stocking: Organizing supplies and hosting donation drives.
- Cooking Meals: Prepare or order a meal and serve to residents.
To learn more, visit theballardhouse.org/volunteer or email Naomi.williams@theballardhouse.org.
Volunteers serving a home cooked meal at The Ballard House. (Source: The Ballard House)Lunches of Love
Lunches of Love is dedicated to helping end childhood hunger in the Katy area by providing free, nutritious sack lunches. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, and some of the opportunities include:
- Preparing lunches: Assembling and packing sack lunches, decorating lunch sacks.
- Delivery: Distributing lunches to designated locations.
To learn more, visit lunchesoflove.net/volunteer or email lunchesoflove@att.net.
Hope Impacts
Hope Impacts serves the homeless community in Katy by providing resources, relationships, and opportunities. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Administrative Support: Helping in the office with administrative duties from Monday through Thursday.
- Donation Sorting: Organizing and distributing donated items.
- Homeless Outreach: Various positions at Cross Road Church on Tuesdays and Thursdays to serve supper, fellowship, distribute basic necessities and clothes to homeless
- On-Call Move-In Team: Help move clients into their new homes when they transition from homeless to housed.
To learn more, visit hopeimpacts.org/volunteer or email tina@hopeimpacts.org.
Special Pals
Special Pals is an animal adoption center that rescues and rehabilitates pets, aiming to find them loving homes. Volunteers can contribute by:
- Animal Care: Feeding, cleaning, and caring for animals.
- Adoption Events: Assisting with setting up and running adoption events.
- Administrative Support: Helping with office tasks and customer service.
To learn more, visit specialpals.org/volunteer or email info@specialpals.org.
Take advantage of this summer to give back to the community and foster personal development. Every act of volunteering shapes our community and helps Katy become a better place for everyone.
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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.
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