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The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast — Society & Culture
The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast

Want to find a Houston-area place to volunteer that is right for you? Listen along as your host Paul H. Cannon interviews local Houston-area mission leaders and participants about their mission and how you can be a part of something bigger right here in Houston, Texas.

When Paul H. Cannon was in his late 20s, He was the missions coordinator for a bible study class of 165 people at Second Baptist Westway Campus in Houston. One of the challenges he ran across was finding local mission projects for the class to participate in. “If only there was a website where you could go and learn about a large group of opportunities at once,” Paul thought.

It was from this idea that Meet Houston Missions was born. As a partner and the marketing manager for Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., Injury & Accident Lawyers, Paul now had the means to create what he was missing. It started out as a simple series of Zoom videos and has not evolved into a weekly podcast.

If you are in the Greater Houston Area and a Mission looking for volunteers, I want to talk to you! If you are someone in the GHA who needs volunteer hours for a school group, or church group project, or you just want to be a part of something bigger, this show is for you.

Follow our podcast and visit: https://www.simmonsandfletcher.com/meet-houston-missions/ to learn about the opportunities that are literally surrounding you!

Meet Houston Missions guests do not have to be affiliated with any group or religion. If your organization is boot-on-the-ground helping people in our area, email Paul at pcannon@simmonsandfletcher.com for guest opportunities.

Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., Injury & Accident Lawyers is a personal injury law firm based in Houston, Texas. Learn more about the firm at: https://www.simmonsandfletcher.com. It has been serving the Houston community since 1979.

Latest Episodes:

Meet Houston Missions: Redeemed Ministries Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of Meet Houston Missions and the Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast,

Bobbie Mark, the Executive Director of Redeemed Ministries, discusses how they have helped over 150 women escape from the bonds of human trafficking. Since 2010, Redeemed Ministries has operated one of the longest-running safe houses for victims of human trafficking in the United States. They work with rescues directly to provide shelter for women ages 18 and older seeking to escape the life of sex trafficking and labor trafficking.

History

In 2005, Bobbie Mark and her husband began doing outreach to women in the commercial sex industry. In 2010, they saw the need for safe houses and opened the Sparrow House, an 8-bedroom home in Harris County, with the goals of giving survivors a safe place to receive education, empowerment, and healing as well as be introduced to Jesus Christ.

The Program

Redeemed Ministries has enjoyed success like few other rescues in that their recidivism rate is only 25%, whereas the national rate is around 80%. They do this by employing a program that not only educates and empowers survivors but also rewards survivors for staying longer. The first year is largely an education and rehabilitation phase where they help them see themselves as a valued life. After a year, they are given the opportunity to work outside the rescue while still living there rent-free. When they make it to 18 months, the rescue will match up to $1500.00 to help them purchase a car. Graduates who stay the full 2 years have an extremely high rate of escaping the life forever.

Volunteer Needs

Redeemed Ministries has 12 regular team members. Everything they do requires volunteer help. Teachers and mentors are needed to help the survivors develop life and employment skills. Volunteers to help upkeep the house and the clothing boutique where survivors can obtain clothes. Additionally, the property is located in Northwest Harris County, where they have an 8-bedroom home that sits on some fenced-in property. Volunteers are needed to maintain the property and build a garden. In addition to these opportunities, if you would like to volunteer to help with the fundraiser events, opportunities are posted on their website here: https://www.redeemedtx.org/new-page-2.

Donations & Fundraising Opportunities

In March, they hold their annual Golf Fundraiser, Golf for Good, at The Woodlands Country Club. You can join a team, sponsor, or volunteer to help set up. Also, in March, Redeemed Ministries will host Just Ride for a Just Cause, a cycling event in West Houston to raise funds. Redeemed Ministries also hosts an annual GALA to raise money and awareness of the human trafficking problem.

Direct monetary and in-kind donations are also accepted. They can always use toiletries, laundry supplies, and basic needs items.

Contact:

Volunteer Opportunities: laura@redeemedtx.org

Redeemed Ministries

4008 Louetta Rd., Ste. 289

Spring, TX 77388

(832) 447-4130

https://www.redeemedtx.org/

Meet Houston Missions is presented by Simmons and Fletcher, P.C.

Meet Houston Missions: Rescue America Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

On Meet Houston Missions and The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast, your host, Paul Cannon, talks with Allison Meier Madrigal, the founder and CEO of Rescue America. Rescue America started as Rescue Houston in 2014 and, in 2019, experienced such an outpouring of nationwide need for its services that it rebranded as Rescue America. They are now based out of Denver, Colorado, but their humble beginnings as a vision of Allison to help human trafficking victims escape the lifestyle started right here in Houston, and its roots remain with an abundance of opportunity for people to get involved and truly make a difference in the lives of human trafficking victims who are being exploited across the entire United States.

Rescue America is responsible for the 24/7 nationwide human trafficking hotline 833-599-FREE, as well as numerous outreach hubs that proactively reach out to pluck human trafficking victims from their captors.

Rescue America Programs & Services

When a victim calls the Rescue America hotline, this sets into motion a process aimed at rescuing that victim when they are ready to escape. The victim is comforted and educated about how they are being victimized, yet there is still hope. When the victim is truly ready to escape the lifestyle, Rescue America makes the arrangements to send an Uber and remove them from their present situation. The victim is provided with a hotel, food, and necessities until a more permanent human trafficking shelter can be coordinated for them to be taken to so they can start the journey toward exiting the lifestyle and healing.

In order to encourage the victims to call the hotline, Rescue America scans the internet for ads promoting the sale (prostitution) of the victims and compiles the numbers. They are then delivered to Outreach Hubs run by volunteers across the nation who call and follow up on the leads to give the victims a message of hope and an opportunity to escape.

Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers for both the hotline and the outreach hubs are needed, as well as funding. Many of the hotline workers are full-time staff. The Hub is entirely volunteer-based and fielded over 2000 calls last year, resulting in 225 people being rescued from slavery in America. If you are interested in volunteering, you can learn more on the website. Volunteers can either join existing hubs or create new ones. The typical hub gathers one day a month for 2 hours to make the phone calls and to pray for the victims. You can choose to simply be a prayer team member if you prefer. Men and women alike are needed for the hubs. In fact, there is a better response to men than women calling.

Financial Needs

Rescue Houston is greatly in need of private funding and support. You can also visit the website to donate towards the cost of Uber rides, food, hotel rooms, and other necessities that are required in order to serve the survivors, as well as for the cost of full-time call takers on the hotline.

Contact & Info

The website address is https://rescueamerica.ngo/. On the site, you can find out more information on how to sign up to volunteer or how to create a hub. For security reasons, background checks are required on all volunteers. You can also email them at info@rescueamerica.ngo or by calling 888-977-8001.

Rescue America is a 501©(3) non-profit organization. All donations made are tax deductible as per the IRS guidelines.

Meet Houston Missions and The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast is presented by Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. Your host, Paul H. Cannon is a partner in the firm.

Meet Houston Missions: The Landing Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

Today's guest on Meet Houston Missions & The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast is Lea Byrd, the Mobilization Manager, for The Landing. The Landing is an organization dedicated to “walking alongside of victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.” They are located on Bissonnett Street in Houston, Texas in an area where human trafficking is a known problem.

Drop in Center

The Landing has three main programs to help fight the human trafficking epidemic in Houston. The primary program is their daily open Drop-in Center located on Bissonnet where people trapped in the life can drop in for a meal, clothing, and necessities. In addition to providing for basic needs, The Landing provides a safe space for people trying to escape the life or empower themselves to overcome it.

The Landing serves as a resource to help human trafficking victims and sex trade workers get an education, proper identification, find housing, prepare for careers, and ultimately change their lives. The Landing offers a multi-week program to help them prepare themselves for work which includes a graduation, mock job interview, and work attire. They also provide case managers to help them overcome challenges and succeed.

Youth Advocacy

As part of their program, the Landing provides advocacy for at-risk youth and youth rescued from the human trafficking lifestyle. This includes sending advocates to the police station or hospital to provide the victims with their options on how to change their lives.

Outreach

Another service that The Landing offers is Outreach. With their location in an area of Houston where sex trafficking is very active, The Landing trains volunteers to send out into the community to raise awareness that they are there to help. In fact, Lea Byrd began her journey with The Landing as a volunteer doing outreach three years ago and is now the Mobilization Manager—in charge of far more than just the volunteer teams.

Volunteer Opportunities

The Landing has about 20 employees and relies heavily on volunteers for their daily Drop-in Center and their Outreach program. If you want to get involved as an outreach person or something more low-key like hanging out or serving meals at the Drop-in Center, they can use your help. To volunteer, visit the website at: https://thelanding.org/ or call them at 713-766-1111. They offer regular training for outreach. They also invite groups of 5 to come to provide and serve meals during the day for group opportunities.

Giving Opportunities

There are many ways that you can give to The Landing including their Amazon wish list, donating at their Share the Love collection sites, donating to their events like Back to School, Thanksgiving Dinner, and Christmas wish lists. All of these opportunities can be discovered on their website or by signing up for their prayer text and newsletter on the website.

Meet Houston Missions and The Simmons and Fletcher Local Podcast are brought to you by Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. Host Paul H. Cannon is the Managing Partner.

Meet Houston Missions: Kailee Mills Foundation Feb 22, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Meet Houston Missions & The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast, meet Briana McCulloch, Executive Director of the Kailee Mills Foundation. The Kailee Mills Foundation was formed in 2017 to spread awareness of the importance of always wearing your seatbelt while riding in a vehicle at any speed to any place since you never know when a car accident might occur. The Kailee Mills Foundation is based in Houston, Texas but they have evolved into a national campaign acting as the spokespersons for the national Clicket or Ticket campaign.

Background

Kailee Mills, at the age of 16 was riding as a rear passenger in a vehicle on her way to a neighborhood Halloween Party. She was only about 400 yards from her home when she decided to take off her seatbelt and slide over to take a quick Selfe with her friend. She had every intention of putting the seatbelt right back on as she always wore it. But fate would play out differently on this tragic day when the driver veered off the road going at a slow speed around a sharp curve. The car rolled. Kailee was tossed out of the vehicle. All other occupants were belted and walked away with only minor physical injuries. Kailee Mills was killed in the tragic accident. Kailee’s family and friends realized that the best way to keep Kailee’s memory alive was to spread the word about the importance of always wearing your seatbelt. The mission was born.

Advocacy

The Kailee Mills Foundation leaders regularly appear at schools to talk to kids about the importance of wearing a seatbelt at all times. They have created an educational program that can be taught in the schools as well as online that they use to teach with. Additionally, they provide family assistance to families who have lost a loved one in an accident due to seatbelt non-use. The Kailee Mills Foundation further provides student scholarships to students active in promoting seatbelt use and awareness.

Opportunities to Get Involved

The Kailee Mills Foundation raises funds for its awareness campaigns and educational programs through a number of events that allow companies to create sponsorships and individuals to come together as teams and compete in fun events for a great cause. To sign up to volunteer, compete as a team, or be a sponsor, visit https://www.kaileemillsfoundation.org/.

Events

The Kailee Mills Foundation hosts three separate events including a Purse Bingo event, a golf tournament, and a Repelling event. The Galentine’s Purse Bingo is held near Valentine and gives people a chance to win designer purses while playing bingo for a cause. The Annual Drive to Save Lives Golf Tournament is held in Kingwood in May. Lastly, the new event they are introducing this year is the Kailee Mills Over the Edge Rappelling event where you can rappel down the side of an office building in Downtown Houston! (Or you can just choose to sponsor it and watch others.)

Contact:

The best way to reach out to the Kailee Mills Foundation is to contact them through the website or via email at info@kaileemillsfoundation.org. Their mailing address is:

25003 Pitkin Road, Suite C100
Spring, TX 77386

Meet Houston Missions and The Simmons and Fletcher Local Podcast are brought to you by Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. Host Paul H. Cannon is the Managing Partner.

Meet Houston Missions: Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries (T.E.A.M.s) Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Meet Houston Missions & The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast, hear from Barry Hart, the Executive Director of Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries, a/k/a T.E.A.M. Mr. Hart tells us how T.E.A.M. partners with local businesses to serve low income, individuals and families that live in the Tomball area or are members at T.E.A.M. sponsor churches.
Missions Projects
T.E.A.M. operates a food pantry and also coordinates food delivery for elderly and disabled qualifying persons in need. They fill over 3300 grocery orders each year. In addition, they operate a resale shop at the Main Street location in Tomball which helps to fund the food pantry. They also offer a jobs ministry to help people find jobs and rebuild their lives.
Volunteer & Giving Opportunities
T.E.A.M is a large mission operation requiring workers a the food pantry and resale shop as well as volunteer drivers, packers, and stockers. In addition to your time, financial contributions and donations for resale items can be made. Additionally, you can participate in giving by their shopping rewards program: https://teamtomball.com/shopping-rewards/.
Location & Contact:
T.E.A.M. is located at 300 West Main Street, in Tomball, TX 77375. Volunteer information can be found on the website at https://teamtomball.com/volunteer/ You can also get more information on volunteering by emailing team@teamtomball.com.
The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast is presented by Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. Host Paul H. Cannon is a partner at the firm. Visit https://www.simmonsandfletcher.com to learn more.

Meet Houston Missions: Bread of Life Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Meet Houston Missions Podcast, we talk to Dr. Monique Williams, the Chief Advancement Office of Bread of Life, Inc. Bread of Life, Inc. has been operating as a mission to help feed and rehabilitate Houston’s homeless for over three decades. They operate in conjunction with a sister mission, Tominos, that provides housing in 5 different residences for homeless persons.

Background

The Bread of Life was started 31 years ago when St John’s United Methodist Church in downtown Houston began feeding and providing assistance to the homeless of Houston. They quickly recognized that the need was greater than could be handled as a side role, and the Bread of Life 501c was formed.

Bread of Life Now

What started as a mission to feed has grown into a comprehensive organization dedicated to not just feeding the homeless but also helping them gain the skills and education they need to escape the cycle of homelessness. Bread of Life today provides education, training toward certificates, food, community outreach, and education via a radio broadcast on 102.5.

Educational Opportunities

In addition to providing basic education such as life skills and working towards a GED, Bread of Life has several skilled certifications for which they provide training. These include a Phlebotomist Certification and a CISCO computer certification, thanks to strategic partnerships.

Volunteer Needs and Donations

Bread of Life has many volunteer opportunities that range from working in the warehouse to prepare food boxes of which hundreds are delivered to the community, drivers to deliver the food, people involved in all levels of education, and other opportunities which can be found on their website: www.breadoflifeinc.com. Financial contributions may also be made via the website. Donations of canned goods are also accepted at their warehouse located at 2019 Crawford, Houston, Texas. However, with all they have going on, I would recommend you contact them first via the website and schedule a good drop-off time.

Meet Houston Missions is presented by Simmons and Fletcher, P.C.. Host Paul H. Cannon is a partner at the firm.

Meet Houston Missions: Mesa Outreach Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

Hear from Lisa Modglin, the Administrative Manager of Mesa Outreach, as Host Paul H. Cannon interviews her about the various programs Mesa Outreach provides to less fortunate families in Bear Creek and the surrounding zip codes. They are located on the campus of Bear Creek United Methodist Church and, like many missions, were born from the church but grew to the point of becoming a separate mission.
Missions & Volunteer Opportunities
Mesa Outreach is a mission that simply cannot operate without its volunteers. They come from local churches, businesses, organizations, and individuals who have the heart to serve. Last year, they had over 820 volunteers on their various missions. They can provide individual or group volunteering opportunities and documentation for service organization requirements.
Food Bank Partnership
Mesa Outreach partners with the Houston Food Bank to supply non-perishables, frozen meats, and produce to folks with emergency needs through their local food pantry. They serve approximately 600 families a month. Help is always welcome here. They also assist in Food Bank programs such as Share the Table.
Childrens Scholastic Programs
Books to Kids is a program operated by Mesa Outreach that encourages young children to read by providing them with books of their own. Stuff the Bus is an annual drive by Mesa to provide school supplies to the underprivileged kids in the area. Additionally, Mesa provides 4-year college scholarships to some lucky kids in need each year.
Location & Contact
To contact Mesa Outreach, please send an email to info@mesa-outreach.org or visit the website mesa-outreach.org for more information.
Mailing address:
MESA-OUTREACH, INC.
P.O. Box 841075
Houston, TX 77284-1075
Physical address:
Bear Creek United Methodist Church
16000 Rippling Water Drive
Houston, TX 77084
Meet Houston Missions and the Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast are produced by Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., a group of Christian personal injury attorneys located in Houston, Texas, who serve accident victims recovering from the negligent actions of others.

Meet Houston Missions: Magnificat Houses Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of Meet Houston Missions & The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast, meet Victor Hay, the Director of Magnificat Houses. Magnificat Houses began in 1968 with one woman dedicating one hose to provide shelter, food, and support for women on the streets of Houston with mental health issues who had nowhere to go. Today, there are 15 houses that house 5-10 adult men and women with mental health care needs per house who would otherwise be homeless. Magnificat Houses provides food, shelter, mental health care access, vocational training, and so much more to people who have nowhere else to go.
Volunteer Opportunities

House Sponsors

Magnificat Houses have 15 homes that all require maintenance and upkeep, from basic yard care to remodeling and construction work. Individuals or companies wishing to adopt a home are invited to reach out. Most of the homes are purchased in need of repair and fixed up to make them habitable, so anyone with home construction and remodeling skills is highly encouraged to volunteer.

Feeding the Homeless

Magnificat Houses operates the Loaves of Fishes Soup Kitchen where they provide 300-400 meals Tuesday through Sunday to Houston’s homeless. The Soup Kitchen is located at the 2009 Congress and runs on the love of volunteers who give their time to serve.

St. Joseph Clubhouse

The St. Joseph Clubhouse is located at 3307 Austin St. It is the only mental health-accredited clubhouse in the entire Houston area. They provide daily activities, support, and services to people in need of long-term mental care. Teachers of life skills and vocational skills are always needed. Guests can actually gain help working towards earning their GED here.

The Anawim Thrift Store

At 2102 Common Street, Magnificat Houses operates a thrift store. Volunteer opportunities and donations are always available.

Contact

If you are interested in volunteering or assisting, please visit the website: https://mhihouston.org/. For Soup Kitchen volunteering, you can also reach out to Volunteer Coordinator Shun Johnson at 713-529-4231 to discuss how to get yourself or your organization involved.

Magnificat Houses, Inc. is a faith-based, non-profit, charitable 501(c)(3) organization, in adherence with the Federal Internal Revenue Code and chartered by the State of Texas in 1968. Our EIN is 23-7003471.

Meet Houston Missions is presented by Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. Host Paul H. Cannon is a partner at the firm.

Meet Houston Missions: Katy Cares, Inc. Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, Paul H. Cannon talks with The President of Katy Cares, Dr. Dawid J. Pieterse, Th.D., M.M., A.P., Lt. Col.. Katy Cares is a Christian Faith-based mission that provides mentoring, counseling, coaching training programs as well as other essential support services to single-parent families that have been disrupted by unexpected, traumatic, and life-changing events ranging from abuse issues to traumatic car accidents. Many of the people they help come from abusive relationships and are looking to rebuild their lives after escaping the danger.

Katy Cares is a non-profit that was founded in 2016 to serve the Katy Area. It has since expanded to Serve Harris, Waller, and Fort Bend Counties.

Additional Services

If you are a single mother coming from an abusive or otherwise disruptive situation, please feel free to call Katy Cares at 832-517-1636 or email Dr. Pieterse at president@katycares.org. Ready Set Go is a nine-module parenting class aimed at providing counseling and teaching skills for healthy relationships.

The Safari Adventure is a social skills development class for children coming from troubled single-parent families. Teens may continue on in the Grow Through Life program which has four modules of teaching.

Giving & Volunteer Opportunities

Most of the assistance provided by Katy Cares requires trained professionals. However, there are fundraisers that volunteers may be able to assist in as well as participation in the events themselves.
Giving Hope Gala

The Giving Hope Gala is an annual event put on in November to raise money for the families they support. Information on how to get involved can be found on their website.

Contact

The business address is 6725 South Fry Road, Ste. 700-507, Katy Texas 77494. However, the meetings and counseling take place through local churches and other undisclosed organizations in order to provide for the safety of the women and families. On the Web, you can follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Katycareshome or visit their website for more information: https://katycares.org/.

Meet Houston Missions: Cy-Hope Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

In This episode of Meet Houston Missions and the Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast, we meet Lynda Dierker, the Executive Director of Cy-Hope. Cy-Hope serves as a catalyst to bring needs and solutions together for at-risk children. Services provided include:

Providing food to underprivileged children in the Cy-Fair area.
Operating after-school centers (Hope Centers) in low-income areas.
Offering counseling and play therapy to all children, individuals, and families at Cy-Hope Counseling.
Helping underprivileged high school students succeed by assisting with Dual Credit, Advanced Placement, and Certification fees.
Giving underserved children an opportunity to experience summer fun at Camp Lemonade.
Encouraging students through the magic of music by offering band camp, sponsoring a 5th-grade choral festival, and providing private instruction to underserved students.
Providing baseball instruction in a family-friendly, positive environment through Dierker’s Champs.
Providing skills for life in select secondary schools through the Ambassadors of Compassion mentoring program.

Volunteer Opportunities & Donations

Cy-Hope operates several mission-oriented services to serve the local community. These include:

Hope Chest Resale Market is located at 12015 Barker Cypress Road. (Contact Amy Vern, amy.vern@cy-hope.org) and Hope Chest Katy is located at 6545 Stockdick School Rd Katy 77449. (Contact Anne.carruba@cy-hope.org.) The Hope Chest needs groups to help with projects at the resale market and individuals to help on a consistent basis.

Backpack Feeding Program (Contact: essence.martin@cy-hope.org.) This program requires volunteers to help with loading vehicles or driving food donations to CFISD schools on a weekly basis during the day during the school year.

The Hope Centers (Contact: genna.peard@cy-hope.org.) Hope Centers are located at Longhorn Mobile Home Community, Trails of Windfern Apartments, Pointe at Steeplechase Apartments, and The Enclave at Copperfield. A new Hope Center is planned for the Waller area soon. The Hope Centers provide after-school activities and are open from 4:30-6:30 PM on weeknights. Volunteers are needed to assist and/or teach crafts.

Fundraisers

Cy-Hope holds four main annual fundraisers to raise financial support for their mission. These include:

The Cy-Hope Clay Shoot at Westside Sporting Grounds in April.
Cypress Market @ Cy-Hope in April.
Larry Dierker Celebrity Golf Shootout at Blackhorse Golf Course in November.
Gala & Auction in November.

In December, they have a Christmas Tree Lighting event to bring the community together, which has lots of fun things for the family, from cookie decorating to a visit from Santa himself.

Cy-Hope is located at 12715-Telge Rd., Cypress, TX 77429. To inquire about volunteer opportunities or obtain more information, please call 713-466-HOPE or visit https://www.cy-hope.org/.

Meet Houston Missions is presented by Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. Host Paul H. Cannon is a partner at the firm.

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