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.

St. Albert of Trapani SVdP Food Fair - Friday, August 7th, 10 am - 12 pm
11027 S Gessner Rd, Houston, TX 77071

Baker Ripley 713-590-2327
Chinese Community Service Center 713-271-6100
Christian Community Service Center 713-871-9741
My Brother’s Keeper 281-498-9933
Salvation Army of Greater Houston 713-752-0677
Wesley Community Center  713-223-8131 or 713-821-8917
Catholic Charities 713-526-4611 
Utility Assistance Program 713-590-2327
Texas Covid-19 Electricity Relief Program 866-454-8387
Catholic Charities Immigration 713-874-6570
Catholic Charities Blessed Beginnings 713-874-6760

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