This episode of The Simmons and Fletcher Local Missions Podcast features Mark Brown, CEO of West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM). WHAM is a place of hope and respite for those in need. By providing responsive support through short-term assistance with food, rent, utilities, disaster relief, seasonal programs (eg. Thanksgiving and Christmas Meals), as well as access to education/employment resources, WHAM moves families from crisis to stability, and toward self-sufficiency, and away from crisis and homelessness.

More Information About WHAM

In the fiscal year 2020, WHAM provided services to 115,857 individuals, compared to 42,000 served in 2019, demonstrating how disastrous the pandemic has been to the livelihoods of local families. Since March 2020, when WHAM jumped into action in response to COVID-19, WHAM helped over 200,000 individuals, with over $1.7M to prevent evictions and disconnections.  From its inception, WHAM has partnered with churches that contribute financially and refer their parishioners to WHAM for help. WHAM also collaborates with community partners like the Houston Food Bank, grocers, and restaurants that provide WHAM with food for the food pantry, as well as organizations and corporations that provide funds, drives, and volunteers. 

Locations Supported

WHAM primarily helps zip codes 77036, 77042, 77057, 77063, 77072, 77077, 77082, 77083, and 77099 with financial assistance for rent, mortgage, and utilities; however, they can help those in other Harris County, Fort Bend, and Montgomery County zip codes on a limited basis, depending on the types of grants available.

WHAM Office Locations

WHAM administration offices, Resale Store (Second Blessing Resale Store), Client Services, and Food Pantry are located at 10501 Meadowglen Lane, Houston, TX  77042.  WHAM also has a Satellite Food Pantry at Church at the Cross, located at 3835 South Dairy Ashford, Houston, TX  77082.  Financial assistance, and employment and job literacy assistance are also provided virtually and over the phone.

WHAM Benefits

WHAM’s Annual Faith, Hope, and Love Benefit Luncheon is held in November. WHAM also holds two drive-thru Shred Days. The Chevron Houston Marathon’s Run for a Reason program benefits WHAM by allowing people to participate and fundraise for WHAM.  Runners can sign up and choose West Houston Assistance Ministries as their charity and fundraise--WHAM will pay for their registration.  Finally, there is the Spring Dash, a 5K/1K held anytime between April and June.

Donor and Volunteer Information

Monetary donations can be made online at https://www.whamministries.org or by mailing a check to our address. However, WHAM also constantly needs donations of food and supplies for our food pantry to keep up with the great need we see every day at our doors; WHAM also needs donations of furniture, clothing, household goods, books, etc. for their resale store.

WHAM  has a constant need for volunteers, especially in the food pantry, and during the 3x/week drive-thru food distributions (where WHAM feeds between 160 and 250 families at each). WHAM also needs volunteers in their Employment and Adult Literacy program, as well as interviewers to help vet clients who request financial assistance. Finally, WHAM always needs volunteers to work in the resale store and warehouse.

Contact:

Volunteer Coordinator, Ella Clark e.clark@whamministries.org,
or visit https://whamministries.org/volunteer