Houston City Beat was on the scene this Saturday at the “Gratitude and Giving” holiday food drive, witnessing firsthand the powerful impact when community partners unite to support neighbors in need.
We spoke with Amy Corron, President & CEO of Wesley Community Center, who shared how their longstanding partnership with Reliant made this event possible. “Thanks to a generous $30,000 donation from Reliant, 700 families will now experience the spirit of the season with a complete holiday turkey dinner, fully prepared with all the trimmings, that they can enjoy in the comfort of their own homes”.
Pat Hammond, Senior Director of Communications at Reliant, joined the volunteer efforts, helping distribute meals alongside a very special guest, Santa himself, who brought extra holiday cheer to the families arriving at Wesley’s Workforce and Adult Education Center on Cochran Street.
This distribution comes at a critical time when many families face tough choices between putting food on the table and covering other essential bills. The event follows parent company NRG’s “Meals for Millions” initiative, which recently packed over 2 million meals for local nonprofits and donated an additional $400,000 to food banks nationwide.
How You Can Help
The Wesley Community Center has been investing in the potential of Houston’s Near Northside residents for over a century. Beyond food assistance, they provide financial stability coaching, early childhood education, and senior services.
If this story inspires you, here is how you can support their mission:
- Volunteer: Wesley frequently needs hands-on help in their food pantry and for special events. You can view open shifts at wesleyhousehouston.org.
- Donate: Financial contributions allow Wesley to purchase food in bulk and fund their critical workforce development programs.
