For the sixth year, NARTS Conference attendees will take part in a Community Service Event (CSE) benefiting those in need in our host city. Our Community Service Events are designed to enhance the Conference experience while giving back to the community we visit. This year in Houston, we are excited to announce that MAM - Memorial Assistance Ministries and St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church will both receive our assistance through Project Gratitude.
 
For MAM we will be collecting items for their hygiene kits. Travel sized toiletries to include: deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, feminine products, shampoo, soap, hand lotion, disposable razor blades (men’s and women’s).

For St. Christopher’s we will be collecting items for snack packs to include: Granola bars, cookie & cracker snack packs that are individually wrapped, any brand or flavor. They are also in need of socks…men’s, ladies’ & children's.

Please bring some of these items with you or purchase them once you arrive. Tables will be set up all weekend to collect these donations. In past years our tables were over-flowing due to the generosity of our NARTS members. We are excited to see how full our tables will be in 2023!  

MAM - Memorial Assistance Ministries  has a  mission to build stable families, a dynamic workforce and vibrant communities...together! They envision a Houston of boundless opportunities, filled with hope, stability and belonging. Since 1983, families have been turning to MAM for help during times of crisis, including hurricanes, floods, fires, loss of jobs, medical emergencies, etc. The hygiene kits are distributed to their clients in crisis situations. They help homeless clients, victims of fires or families fleeing domestic abuse situations. They are in the top 4 percent of nonprofits in the country to receive Charity Navigator’s highest 4-star rating over 8 years.

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church has a resale shop dedicated to providing affordable items to their customers and using their resources towards the betterment of the community... always working to support families and individuals in their area. They give time, talent and treasure to many organizations such as Houston Hospice, Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church, Memorial Assistance Ministries and Mission Yahweh to name a few. Part of their mission is to fund and distribute snack packs. The bulk of the snack packs they make go to Lord of the Streets (LOTS www.lots.org) for the homeless in downtown Houston. They also distribute snack packs to those in need form their resale store and church office.

We have the opportunity to brighten the lives of those at two deserving charities this year. For many of us Conference is a chance in a lifetime to better ourselves and grow. Our generosity during this Community Service Event could help do just that for others.

Let us all be generous in the giving back and show of respect for those who could use a little help from a friend as the NARTS Community becomes a volunteer of friendship and understanding to those who so deserve a second chance.   

Thank you!
The Board & Staff of NARTS  

“At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished...it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.    ~Denzel Washington