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Cypress Assistance Ministries – Our Cypress Non-Profit for the Month of May

May 1, 2012 -

Each month on Cypress Homes TX, we want to bring attention to one of our area non-profits. This month we’ve chosen to highlight Cypress Assistance Ministries. We were honored to talk with Assistant Director, Kelly Thomas.

Kelly, could you please give me a bit of background about Cypress Assistance Ministries?

CAM focuses its efforts on helping families in financial and/or emotional crisis become self-sufficient by offering a variety of life-enhancing services including the CAM Food Pantry, financial assistance, Operation Jobs, GED/ESL classes and Angels’ Attic Resale Shop.  We interview families in need to determine specific areas of need.  Utility and rent assistance, groceries, school supplies, clothing, furniture and Christmas gifts are a few examples of the help that we provide.  Donations from area churches, civic organizations, corporations and individuals, as well as proceeds from Angels’ Attic fund this ministry work.

What are the requirements to volunteer?

Over 250 volunteers help with our mission each week.  CAM is a rewarding and fun volunteer experience and there is something for everyone here.  Opportunities include clerical work, sorting food in the pantry, processing donations from the community and more.  We ask that you be 16 years or older, enjoy performing a variety of tasks and do it with a smile!  Most jobs include some physical activity.

Other than volunteering, how else can Cypress residents help?

We appreciate the support of Cypress residents!  Monetary donations are always welcome and can be given online at www.cypressassistance.org.  We especially need your household donations, clothing, toys, books, furniture, home décor, etc.　 Items may be dropped off at 11202 Huffmeister (behind Hartz Chicken).  Tax receipts are available.  Supporting our award-winning resale shop, Angels Attic, is another great way to help CAM families. 

Thank you so much to Kelly for taking time to share information with us about Cypress Assistance Ministries. If you’d like to learn more about Cypress Assistance Ministries, please call Kelly at 281-955-7684 or visit their website www.cypressassistance.org. If you know of a non-profit in Cypress, TX that you would like to see highlighted, please send us the info through our contact page.

Filed Under: Cypress Texas, Cypress TX, Cypress TX Homes, Cypress TX Non-Profit

Child Advocates – Our Cypress Non-Profit for the Month of November

November 22, 2011 -

Each month on Cypress Homes TX, we want to bring attention to one of our area non-profits. This month we’ve chosen to highlight Child Advocates. We were honored to talk with Claire Sabatier, who is in charge or recruiting and training volunteers for Child Advocates, and Child Advocates volunteer Barb Kelley.

 

Claire, could you please give me a bit of background about Child Advocates?

Child Advocates has become a leader in the ongoing fight against child abuse. Twenty-five years ago, three individuals, armed with $5,000 and using a kitchen table as headquarters, created the organization. We served 18 children that first year. This year we plan to serve more than 2,000. Our vision is to help every abused child in Harris County who needs us. Our challenge is to find the volunteers, resources, commitment and compassion that will get us there.

 

What one thing do we need to know about your mission?

Child Advocates, Inc. mobilizes court appointed volunteers to break the vicious cycle of child abuse. We speak up for abused children who are lost in the system and guide them into safe environments where they can thrive.

 

What are the requirements to volunteer?

STEP ONE: Register for orientation 
Sign up now to attend a one-hour orientation session at our office. You will get all of the information you need to get on your way to making a difference for an abused child.

STEP TWO: Attend orientation
You’ll be introduced to our program and find out the requirements for becoming a court appointed advocate volunteer. Have all of your questions answered and begin your paperwork to enroll in Advocacy University (AU).

STEP THREE: Attend Advocacy University
Our 30-hour training course is offered several times each year and will prepare you for this incredible volunteer experience. You must attend an orientation session prior to beginning AU.

 

Barb, what is it like to be a volunteer for Child Advocates?

I’ve been a Court Appointed Child Advocate for 2 and half years.  My case involves 4 teenagers.  They were abandoned by a drug using mother and their father had made a new life in California. Neither of them attempted to complete CPS’s ‘Family Plan’ to reunite the family and therefore all parental rights were terminated.

 

These children had not been in school for two years and had to fend for themselves most of their lives.  When they came into CPS custody, they didn’t even have a toothbrush.  Now, they are all doing well in school, are involved in extracurricular activities and have adapted quite well in their foster home.

 

There is much more to the story, but suffice it to say, it has been a very frustrating road for all of us, but being a volunteer and working in so many capacities shows the Judges that we are only advocating for the children. In most cases, they support our recommendations which is very rewarding.

 

Every Child Advocate and the entire organization ARE making a difference in the lives of thousands of children. I believe that ending the cycle of abuse and neglect, one child at a time, is crucial to our society and that all of my children will become responsible adults with bright futures.  In addition, they will always be ‘my kiddos’.

 

Claire, other than volunteering, how else can Cypress residents help?

Our special events are excellent opportunities to participate in done-in-a-day volunteer roles. Whether you choose to volunteer a few hours per week in our office, or provide volunteer support for one of our special events, your time and talents are valuable to us. (toy drives/run in the marathon/join Friends or YPC)

 

Thank you so much to Claire and Barb for taking time to share information with us about Child Advocates. If you’d like to learn more about Child Advocates, Claire will be speaking to the CYFEN Chapter of American Business Women’s Association. Visit the CYFEN website for more information and to RSVP to attend that meeting. If you know of a non-profit in Cypress, TX that you would like to see highlighted, please send us the info through our contact page.

Filed Under: Cypress Texas, Cypress TX, Cypress TX Non-Profit

MBJ Foundation for SIDS- Our Cypress Non-Profit for the Month of October

October 31, 2011 -

Each month on Cypress Homes TX, we want to bring attention to one of our area non-profits. This month we’ve chosen to highlight MBJ Foundation for SIDS, started by Randy and Jaime Connell in memory of their daughter, Jordan. I talked with them about their vision and their mission.

Please give us a bit of background about MBJ Foundation for SIDS:

Here is a little history behind our drive to raise funds for S.I.D.S .

2 years ago Randy and I had our first daughter Jordan Patricia Connell born on June 16, 2009. Jordan was born within a week of her full term due date as healthy and perfect as can be, 8lbs  3oz with flaming red hair and chubby cheeks just like her older brother.

Our sweet angel was a vibrant, loud healthy baby girl and focal point of all our lives. Chase was so excited about his baby sister and about being a big brother. She grew over the next couple weeks eating and barely sleeping like most newborns. Jordan doubled her birth weight smiled and made our lives complete……….Then less than a week after her three month doctor’s appointment on August 21, 2009 Randy and I received the WORST phone call of our lives. Our daughter had stopped breathing during her nap at the sitters with no sound, and no warning.

In the next few surreal hours there were seemingly endless waves of doctors and nurses working feverishly on our Baby Jordan at the hospital as we watched and prayed frantically to no avail. After the doctors concluded what we feared the most Randy and I had a quiet moment alone with our Baby and a couple of our dear friends to say goodbye one last time when Randy had to do what no parent should ever have to do and that is covering Baby J’s lifeless body with the bed sheet. The hours after seemed like days and months as friends, family, and neighbors gathered to pray and remember her short time with us, and all I remember knowing at that moment is that life would NEVER be the same…..

After a complete autopsy the medical examiners informed us our daughter died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. All organs were perfect and there was no indication as to WHY which is exactly what S.I.D.S is – the silent killer that has yet to be recognized before death is the outcome. This is exactly our reason to call attention to the unknown cause and hopefully find a cure, an explanation, warning signal, and spread awareness to all new mothers.

Life has slowly gone on and became worth living again we now have two children having Hope Elizabeth last year. We see Jordan every day through Chase and Hope and they help us get through each day. Our life altering experience has led us to the people and parents that we are today, we truly believe in living for the moment and day as you never know when that opportunity will be gone.

The M.B.J. (My Baby Jordan) Foundation for S.I.D.S allows Jordan the opportunity for everyone else to know who she was and for us to be able to give back and maybe save someone else from going through the same tragedy.  Randy and I thought there just simply isn’t enough attention on S.I.D.S. awareness and research.  Why are these babies just quietly dying?

I have met several mothers, fathers, sibling and grandparents over the past couple of years who have experienced this same painful loss. As hard as this letter has been to share our experience with all of you I sincerely hope it proves to be beneficial in helping to spread awareness, finding a cure, and cause.  I think we all share the same wish to put an end to S.I.D.S. and find out why? This event is for all the babies yet to be born, our newborn babies, grandchildren, nieces and nephews – our future.

 What are you plans for the Foundation for the upcoming year?

Our plan for the upcoming year is to hold a Golf Tournament (“Birdies for Safe Sleep”) sometime in April, a Walk (“Footsteps for Safe Sleep”) to be held in June, and our 4th Annual Benefit BBQ/Auction in October. (Event titles have not been confirmed yet.)

 What one thing do we need to know about your mission?

Our primary goal is to bring public awareness and prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by Joining Organizations, Doctors, and Researchers together for Answers Now and not giving up until we find a cause and cure.

 How can Cypress residents help?

 Cypress residents can help through volunteering their time and/or participating at any of our events throughout the year.  We are always looking for local business sponsors to help with our events.  They can also help us spread the word by sending new mom’s to our website at www.mbjsids.org.  Residents can also contact us directly at info@mbjsids.org with any questions they may have.

 

Thank you so much to Randy and Jaime for taking time to share information with us about their organization. If you know of a non-profit in Cypress, TX that you would like to see highlighted, please send us the info through our contact page.

Filed Under: Cypress Texas, Cypress TX, Cypress TX Homes, Cypress TX Non-Profit