CCSC - Christian Community Service Center

09/12/2020

Harrison Scott, of St. Martin’s Troop 354, focused his Eagle Scout project on helping those in need by collecting items for and packaging 130 hygiene kits benefiting CCSC’s Emergency Services programs. “I chose CCSC for my project because my church is a member church and CCSC is such a helpful organization—it helps poverty in Houston, and I think that’s a great thing.” We think you’ve done a pretty great thing yourself, Harrison. Thank you to you and your brother William, at left, for delivering these much-needed hygiene items to our Emergency Services-Central location.

09/11/2020

2 DRIVE-THRU FOOD DONATION DROPS tomorrow, 9/12
Thank you, EVERYONE! Every can, box and bag of nonperishable food helps feed Houston families in need.
-- St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 10 a.m.-Noon, 4807 San Felipe. Please do not enter at the traffic light at San Felipe and Hallmark, use one of the other entrances (by Yia Yia Mary’s restaurant or the church’s electric sign).
-- St. Luke's UMC - Houston, 9 a.m.-Noon, 3471 Westheimer

09/11/2020

It was a GREAT Labor Day drive-thru food drive at St. Luke's UMC - Houston last Saturday. The youth choir ran its own competition starting Friday night (thank you all!) and there was a wonderful turnout on Saturday.

Thank you to all the donors and volunteers, your continued efforts are lightening the burdens of families in need. Click on the pictures for more information.

09/10/2020

CCSC’s volunteers make the mission happen! Every day and in every way, with kindness, respect and a true generosity of spirit, you help those in need. We are SO blessed to have each one of you on the CCSC team. Thank you!

09/09/2020

Thank you to Aimee Wood and her children for dropping off one of many grocery donations from our partner National Charity League, Inc.-Post Oak. CCSC appreciates you!

09/09/2020

HISD’s virtual classes began today but there is still time to support CCSC’s Back To School program. Many of the 6,500 Pre-K through 12th-grade students served by Back To School already have their new school supplies and clothing vouchers, others will receive their supplies later in the semester per their school’s choice.

This year your support of Back To School is especially important as families continue to struggle with the economic effects of the pandemic. School staff at our partner schools are in more direct contact with their students following spring semester virtual learning, and they know firsthand that many families are in great need of support.

A gift of $50 provides one child with brand-new academic supplies and a voucher for clothing and shoes, but a gift of any amount will make a difference for these students. Will you make a gift today and help a child in need? http://bit.ly/BTSFund

09/08/2020

Monday team members filling bags with groceries and getting them to CCSC’s clients at our Emergency Services-Southwest food pantry. Thank you to Nancy Bunin and Tim Conner in the pantry and Charlene O’Shea working the cart.

09/07/2020

Tomorrow won’t feel like Tuesday, but it will be 😀
And Tuesdays are St. Luke's Presbyterian Church's drop-off food drive day. Please help fill the red cart and stock CCSC’s food pantry shelves. Just drop your nonperishable food donation into the red grocery cart in front of the church doors at 8915 Timberside Drive from 10 a.m-2 p.m. and the church will get it to CCSC's food pantries and those in need. Please share on social media and Nextdoor.com. Thank you, everyone!

09/05/2020

The Texans' Toro made a surprise visit to CCSC volunteer Annette Tarver’s home to personally deliver her Community Quarterback jersey. In pre-pandemic times Annette would have been honored at an event, but the Texans had to call a COVID audible and Toro made the play!

CCSC Executive Director Michelle Shonbeck was on hand for the surprise and to congratulate Annette, who won the 2019-2020 grand prize BHP-Texans Community Quarterback Award developed by United Way of Greater Houston, the Houston Texans and BHP.

Annette, who serves CCSC in many ways, including as its Building Project Liaison, received the Community Quarterback Award for volunteer leadership in the community. The prize carried a $25,000 donation to CCSC in Annette's name. Thank you for all you do for CCSC, Annette! And thank you to the Houston Texans, BHP and United Way of Greater Houston.

Click on the link to see a a fun video of Annette and Toro!
https://www.houstontexans.com/video/bhp-and-ccsc-community-qb-award

09/05/2020

Happy Labor Day weekend to all the CCSC volunteers and supporters who labor to make our mission happen. In honor of Labor Day, CCSC’s programming and administration office will be closed Saturday, September 5, and Monday, September 7. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

09/04/2020

Please help get the word out that CCSC’s NEW Professional Home Caregiver Training Program will launch via Zoom on October 13. The program is FREE and begins with a Zoom interest session on September 21, 24 or 30. Share the information anywhere you think those interested will see it. THANKS!

09/04/2020

Start your holiday weekend off with a LABOR of LOVE for your neighbor, take a trip through St. Luke's UMC - Houston's drive-thru food donation site this Saturday, 9/5.

Your generosity continues to feed 5X MORE families.
Please spread the word on social media. Let’s fill the CCSC truck! See you at St. Luke’s UMC, 9 a.m.-Noon at 3471 Westheimer.

09/03/2020

Difficult to believe, but it’s already time to start prepping the Garden for fall planting. Food pantry clients will continue to enjoy the last of the eggplant, melon, peppers and basil as the beds are readied for kale, carrots, onions, beets and cabbage. Thanks to our Garden volunteers for another plentiful spring and summer growing season.

09/02/2020

JobNet client James Hary makes use of the computer lab to search for job leads and apply online. “I like the personalized nature of JobNet,” Hary said. “It’s not a herd mentality. JobNet cares about the individual.” Good luck, James!

09/01/2020

CCSC deeply appreciates the donors, volunteers, member churches and community partners who continue to keep food on the shelves of our food pantries by running drive-thru food drives in these difficult times.

Your devotion to helping your neighbors in need has been unflagging and we could not feed as many families as we are feeding without your help. Thank you! And a special shout out to this week’s food drive hosts: St. Luke's UMC - Houston, St. Luke's Presbyterian Church, and St. Mark's Houston.

08/31/2020

Happy Tuesday, everyone!
Tuesdays are food donation drop-off days at St. Luke's Presbyterian Church. Please drop your nonperishable food donations into the red grocery cart in front of the church doors at 8915 Timberside Drive from 10 a.m-2 p.m. and the church will get them to CCSC's food pantries and those in need. Please share on social media and Nextdoor.com. Thank you, everyone!

08/28/2020

08/27/2020

It absolutely takes a village!

CCSC’s Back To School Committee, donors and volunteers--and our partner-school teachers, WrapAround specialists and nurses--have worked hard to make sure that 6,500 grade-appropriate school supply kits and clothing vouchers will be in the hands of students who need them. Thank you to everyone for being open to all the different ways needed to make Back To School 2020 happen. Click on the pictures for more information.

Donations may still be made to Back To School 2020 on CCSC's secure website at https://www.ccschouston.org/donations/

08/26/2020

08/25/2020

#CommunityInAction helping to fill CCSC’s food pantry shelves so we can continue to serve a 5-fold increase in clients needing groceries. TOGETHER we are putting food on the tables of our fellow Houstonians.

Thank you to all the donors and volunteers, and a special shout out to NCLincheartoftexas' members for driving through and donating at the St. Luke's drop-off site. Our gratitude to Saturday's food drive hosts:
St. Luke's UMC - Houston and its Open Arms Sunday School Class, St. Mark's Houston and Saint Thomas' Episcopal Church. We couldn’t do it without YOU!

Click on the pictures for information about these wonderful volunteers, many of whom have worked almost every food drive since March!

08/24/2020

It was great to see Iglesia Católica Holy Ghost's Father Bill and Damaris Figueroa recently when they stopped by Emergency Services-Southwest with nonperishable food donations for those in need. Thank you Father Bill, Damaris and the Holy Ghost Catholic Church community for furthering our shared mission to help our neighbors in need.

08/21/2020

What's New at CCSC?

What's New at CCSC?

08/21/2020

3! DRIVE-THRU FOOD DONATION DROPS on 8/22
Your Generosity FEEDS Families in Need
If you are able, please donate nonperishable food to
CCSC - Christian Community Service Center's food pantries.
Please SHARE on Social Media & Nextdoor.com
-- St. Luke's UMC - Houston, 9 a.m.-Noon, 3471 Westheimer
-- St. Mark's Houston, 9-11 a.m., 3816 Bellaire Blvd.
-- Saint Thomas' Episcopal Church, 12-2 p.m. 4900 Jackwood St., go to the side gate on Endicott Lane
Thank you donors and volunteers!
#CommunityComingTogether

08/20/2020

CCSC’s employment programs continue to find creative ways to adapt to the pandemic. Martha’s Way recently wrapped up its first fully virtual class with nine graduates. Students participated in 16 hours of class per week for approximately three weeks via Zoom, and practiced their skills in their homes. Pictured, clockwise, are graduates Leivy Chevez, Nair Traywick, Adriana Zarco and Karen Velazquez receiving their graduation certificates and supplies to start or expand their housekeeping businesses. Congratulations to all! To hire a Martha’s Way graduate to meet your housekeeping needs, please contact Ana at 713-961-3993.

08/19/2020

The St. Luke's Presbyterian Church red cart was filled with donations when David Elledge stopped by to transport the nonperishables to CCSC’s Emergency Services-Central food pantry. Thank you, from CCSC and those we serve, to Rev. Harbison, Mary Ann White, David, the St. Luke’s congregation and all the donors.

08/18/2020

It's Tuesday, and that means it's drive-thru food donation day at St. Luke's Presbyterian Church. Drop your nonperishable food donations into the red grocery cart in front of the church doors at 8915 Timberside Drive from 10 a.m-2 p.m. and the church will get them to CCSC's food pantries and those in need. Please share on social media and Nextdoor.com. Thank you, everyone!

08/17/2020

This hardworking St. Luke's UMC - Houston volunteer team spent Saturday morning taking in donations to help stock the shelves of CCSC’s food pantries. BIG thanks to the team, left to right: Jim Mayo, Erin Verducci, Jack Verducci, Wyatt Moody and Nick Verducci. #communityinaction

08/14/2020

More and more Houstonians are facing food insecurity and hunger. Some were in crisis prior to the pandemic and others are newly in need, or in greater need, because of it.

CCSC is grateful to provide, with your help, basic necessities to those in need. DONATE NONPERISHABLE FOOD to CCSC this Saturday, 8/15, at the following drive-thru food donation sites:
-- St. Mark's Houston, 9-11 a.m., 3816 Bellaire Blvd.
-- St. Luke's UMC - Houston, 9 a.m.-Noon, 3471 Westheimer
THANK YOU!

08/13/2020

Every year in August, Kroger asks that you reconnect your Kroger card to continue to earn money for CCSC while shopping at Kroger through its Community Rewards program.

Visit www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com and follow the instructions to connect or reconnect your card. CCSC’s organization number is 80790.

You can also support CCSC when you shop at Randalls by linking your Randalls' card at https://www.randalls.com/yourstore/good-neighbor.html
Once enrolled, you do not need to re-enroll your Randalls' card annually. THANK YOU!

08/12/2020

In the first six months of 2020, CCSC’s dedicated Garden volunteers harvested 3,800 pounds of fresh vegetables for our Emergency Services food pantry clients. Thank you to the Garden team for putting fresh food on the tables of those we serve.

08/11/2020

KUDOS to this week’s drive-thru donation hosts: St. Mark's Houston, St. Luke's UMC - Houston, First Christian Church of Houston, St. Luke's Presbyterian Church, and West University United Methodist Church partnering with West U Baptist/ Crosspoint Church - Bellaire. CCSC thanks the clergy, organizers, volunteers, donors and church communities that make these food drives possible. Your generous gifts of both time and donations are keeping food on the tables of those in need. The churches and their wonderful volunteers are tagged in each picture. THANK YOU, everyone! #communitylove
#fooddrive

08/10/2020

“If it weren’t for JobNet providing a place to look for a job, I wouldn’t have a job,” said Sheila Downing, a JobNet client who used CCSC’s computer lab to apply for a Census Bureau position during breaks from her Uber driving gig.

After landing the census job, Sheila used CCSC’s computer lab for another purpose—required online training for her new job. After working diligently for a week to complete the training, Sheila started her new census job last week. Congratulations, Sheila!

08/09/2020

2 Opportunities to Start Your Week Helping Your Neighbors
Mon. & Tues. DRIVE-THRU & DROP OFF
Nonperishable Food Drives Benefiting CCSC's Food Pantries
Please social media share.
-- MONDAY, 8/10, 10 a.m.-Noon, 3611 University Blvd. West University United Methodist Church is partnering with West U Baptist/ Crosspoint Church - Bellaire.
-- TUESDAY, 8/11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 8915 Timberside Dr. Drop donations in the red grocery cart outside St. Luke's Presbyterian Church's front door at its weekly Tuesday food drive. Thank you, everyone!

08/07/2020

In July, CCSC provided 5x more food packages to those in need than it did last July. That’s why every can, box and bag helps.
If you are able, please drop off nonperishable food donations at one of these Saturday, 8/8, drive-thru food donation drop off points—and please share this post on social media and Nextdoor.com
-- St. Mark's Houston, 9-11 a.m., 3816 Bellaire Blvd.
-- St. Luke's UMC - Houston, 9 a.m.-Noon, 3471 Westheimer
-- First Christian Church of Houston, 9 a.m.-Noon, 1601 Sunset Blvd.
THANK YOU to all the clergy, members, volunteers and donors! #CommunityInAction!

08/06/2020