Houston City Beat spent Saturday morning at the “Gratitude and Giving” holiday food drive, watching neighbors step up for neighbors. The event showed what happens when community partners work together for families who need a little extra support.
We spoke with Amy Corron, President & CEO of Wesley Community Center. She explained that their long-standing partnership with Reliant helped turn this idea into reality. Thanks to a $30,000 donation from Reliant, Wesley can provide 700 families with a full holiday turkey dinner. Each meal comes ready to heat and serve, complete with all the trimmings, so families can enjoy it at home.
On site, Pat Hammond, Senior Director of Communications at Reliant, joined volunteers in handing out meals. In addition, Santa stopped by Wesley’s Workforce and Adult Education Center on Cochran Street, bringing smiles, photos, and a little extra holiday magic for kids and parents.
This support arrives at a critical time. Many families are stretching every dollar and choosing between groceries, rent, and other essential bills. Meanwhile, the event also ties into parent company NRG’s “Meals for Millions” initiative, which recently packed over 2 million meals for local nonprofits and contributed $400,000 to food banks across the country.
How You Can Help
For more than 100 years, the Wesley Community Center has invested in the people of Houston’s Near Northside. Their work goes beyond food assistance and includes:
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Financial stability coaching
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Early childhood education
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Services and support for seniors
If this story inspires you, there are two simple ways to get involved:
Volunteer
Wesley often needs extra hands in the food pantry and at special events. You can find current volunteer shifts and opportunities at wesleyhousehouston.org.
Donate
Your financial support helps Wesley buy food in bulk and fund key programs, such as workforce development and coaching. As a result, families gain not only meals for today but also tools for a more stable tomorrow.
