Text: FOOD                                        Envie el Texto: ALIMENTOS
To 855-308-2282                                a 855-308-2282

Houston Food Bank (HFB): The website lists 250 food distribution partner sites, summer meal sites, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) application assistance.

HFB help line: 832-369-9390

VSC (Vincentian Services Center), 6654 Gulf Freeway, Houston, Texas 77007
Hosts a food fair 1st, 3rd and 4th Saturday of the month 8am to 10am.

HISD transitioning to student summer meals program on June 1:

As the school year comes to a close, the Houston Independent School District is transitioning from its community food distribution efforts to a curbside summer meals program for students.

Beginning June 1, families will be able to pick up boxed student meals twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays at one of 68 designated schools across the district. Boxes may be picked up by students, parents, or other adult family members.

If you need help paying bills, the Texas COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program can help. This program is designed to help those who can’t pay bills due to unemployment or economic hardship caused by COVID-19.

Click here for  FAQs on the Texas COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program (CERP) and how to apply.

Take care of yourself: At different times we all feel the stress and strain of social isolation.  Below are numerous organizations' phone numbers and websites to support you and your loved ones during this time.

◦ Catholic Charities Crisis and Mental Health Support line at 713.874.6590.
◦ Texas Health and Human Services: toll-free at 833-986-1919
(24/7 statewide mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
◦ Harris Center/Mobile Crisis Outreach Team: 713.970.7000 and press #1 for the Crisis Line (they operate 24 hrs)
◦ Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone: 1-800-273-TALK
◦  NAMI HelpLine, 1-800-950-6264, M-F, 9 am - 5 pm
◦  For immediate crisis, call 911

◦Maintaining Positive Mental Health During COVID-19 Outbreak – MHA of Greater Houston
◦Mental Health And COVID-19 – Information And Resources – MHA of Greater Houston
◦MHA Resource Guideline and Phone Numbers [PDF] – MHA of Greater Houston
◦FAQ on COVID-19 and mental health [PDF] – NAMI
◦Harris County Public Health – Mental Health Matters
◦Healthy Ways to Deal with Mental Stress [PDF]
◦Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks [PDF]

Houston Food Bank - Suggests doing virtual food drives (where people donate money that can be used to buy food to give to people) - Houston food bank is looking for volunteers as well! More info below:

If You Want To Help 
Make A Donation
If you are able to make a donation to support those impacted, your gift will fill boxes with food for our neighbors across our 18-county service area. Because of our partnerships with manufacturers and distributors, we can turn one dollar into providing someone with access to three meals.

Volunteer Activities

Currently, we have a need for more volunteers to help us perform necessary tasks. Below are the many ways you can help:

◦Warehouse Projects at 535 Portwall – Please sign up for a shift today!
◦Sorting and packing product
◦Packing disaster boxes
◦Packing Quarantine Food Kids
◦Packing fresh produce bags

◦Kitchen Projects at 535 Portwall – Please sign up for a shift today!
◦Packing shelf-stable meals
◦Prepping meals

◦Desk duty at 535 Portwall – Please sign up for a shift today!
◦Call Center Operator

◦Offsite – Sign up via Crowdsource Rescue, a Houston-based disaster response non-profit
◦Help deliver food to elderly, isolated, and those who are in need. (will need to use own car)

Catholic Charities Guadelupe Center - Help with emergency food distribution (bagging, distribution or clean up).

Face Masks (Make & Donate)
I know many of you are also maintaining contact with your parish organizations.  Some are searching for ways to help.  A parish home-based project could be to make face masks.  People could make masks for parishioners and our neighbors. Here is a link and PDF about How to Sew a Face Mask.

https://www.nytimes.com/article/how-to-make-face-mask-coronavirus.html?referringSource=articleShare