Serving Hot Meals to the Homeless: South Houston, TX
Members of the Sri Sathya Sai Center of South Houston have collaborated with Hope Impacts Organization in Katy, TX to serve the homeless. Hope Impacts is a nonprofit that offers a place for the homeless to shower, have a meal and do laundry. It also offers clean clothing and help with services, such as applying for food stamps and accessing stimulus checks. Sai volunteers team up with Hope Impacts periodically to provide supplies such as clothing, hygiene kits and food supplies. In addition, once a quarter, they arrange to cook and serve a hot meal for the homeless.
Most recently, a hot meal service for the homeless was jointly carried out in March 2022. Sai volunteers cooked a meal that consisted of pasta, salad, bread, roasted potatoes, brownies, pies, and cookies and served it at the Crosspoint Community Church in Katy, TX. Hope Impacts, on their part, arranged to pick up homeless from various locations and transported them to the church for the meals.
The menu was planned three weeks in advance, with a sign-up list created for various dishes on the menu. Food items were prepared and delivered to the church on the day of the service. Dinner service began at 6:00 p.m. when the guests were brought in by Hope Impacts volunteers. As the guests enjoyed the meal, volunteers interacted with them to make them feel welcome. Leftover food items were packed in take-out boxes for the guests. About 25 Sai volunteers of all age groups participated. In all, over 70 homeless people were served.
Michelle Peddicord, a volunteer, and Ministry Director at Hope Impacts, said:
“We are really grateful to the Sai volunteers coming out to help with serving the homeless who come in just to get a break from being on the streets. We really appreciate their support. The Sai group has been amazing, and we love having them. Thank you!!”