Stepping up, helping Huntsville families

Huntsville Item - 2/26/2017

Feb. 26--For more than 200 families with students in the Huntsville Independent School District, and many more throughout the Walker County community, daily hot meals and access to basic needs is not always guaranteed.

To help these families receive much-needed items such as groceries and hygiene items, HISD and the Promoting Our Positives committee is hosting a gift-card drive to benefit those families designated as "homeless" or "housing insecure."

"For years, we have always needed assistance to help out our needy families, as well as our homeless families," said Juanita Hill, HISD's home-school liaison. "Over the course of time, the community really became aware that we had a major need with families within our community. It was during that time that POP heard about it and started things to help us with our children and our families. Since then, we have gotten a lot of support from the community in reference to the gift cards."

Sally Dowis, social worker for HISD, added, "POP has really been the driving force that got everything organized. We individually have sought help from different churches and organizations, but it has never been anything that has been organized communitywide. They decided that gift cards were something that could be distributed as needed. Before, myself and Juanita would go out and buy things with our own money."

Dowis says they are accepting gift cards to local fast-food restaurants, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Dollar General, gas cards and other stores in the $20 to $25 range. Visa gift cards are not encouraged, but Dowis says they will be accepted. Those wanting to donate can drop off the gift cards at the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce or the office of Shannon Duncan, director of communications for HISD, located in the Hawkins Administration Building.

Just last week, First United Methodist Church Pastor Scott Dornbush presented Dowis and Hall with approximately 100 gift cards to two local businesses, which were donated by the FUMC congregation.

Dowis explains that when working with families, she and Hall try to teach the families how to stretch their bucks a little bit further by opting out of buying convenient and pre-packaged food and buying ingredients to make meals.

"We are trying to show them easy things to make with simple ingredients," Dowis said. "The gift cards are nice because we'll be able to take them shopping or allow them to go shopping on their own to buy things that food stamps don't cover like diapers, paper goods and gas. Sometimes families that don't have a car, if they can buy gas for somebody then they are able to get to town. These gift cards, no matter where they are from, are convenient and having that is going to be great."

Not only do the gift cards help acquire everyday needs, they also help those families who have to travel to Houston for medical services and are unable to afford food at surrounding restaurants.

"We have a lot of kids that have to go to specialists in Houston," Dowis said. "For them to be able to have that gas money to go and be able to eat while they're there by using a McDonald's gift card is helping these families out so much. We got the gift cards from (FUMC) last week and we are hoping to get another variety of cards."

Even though their work focuses on mostly HISD families, Dowis and Hall extend their services to any families in need. Their hope is to educate families throughout the community about budgeting and utilizing the resources around them through a number of local agencies, such as the Good Shepherd Mission, Meals on Wheels and more.

"We appreciate the community support and any small donation is always appreciated, and our families appreciate them as well," Hall said. "To see the children's gratitude when you pull up to their home with something simple such as paper towels and toilet paper or a few food items, that is so rewarding for us."

Dowis added, "We are so fortunate to live in a such a supportive community."

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