"why i volunteer"

Sarah, Love Box Leader

"WE’VE BEEN MATCHED! I know what you’re thinking ... 'for what?!'

​We’ve just been officially approved through Houston Angels to support a local foster family with love, consistency and community over the next year. A month long process of background checks and trainings and introductions is complete and we’re so excited to share with our friends and family!

Last month was National Foster Care Month, and we started learning about how deeply intertwined the foster care system is with other social issues like human trafficking, homelessness, incarceration, poverty, low education and teen pregnancy. We may not be in a position just yet to open our own home but with extra time on our hands recently and after months of searching, we’ve found the population our hearts have a deep desire to serve and are hopeful we can really make an impact!

But speaking of making an impact, y’all taught me a few months ago with our $500 donation to Houston Food Bank that alone Stephen and I can make a ripple but together, we can really make a wave! Which brings me to the next obvious question - 'why are you sharing and what can we do?'

1. PRAY FOR US - that we may find the right words and do the right things to be the support this family so desperately needs

2. CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING - recent events have dramatically increased the needs of the local Foster Care community and Houston Angels are in search of volunteers. They do incredible work, make the process so easy and the smallest commitment could make the biggest difference in the life of a traumatized child. At the very least, maybe go check out this beautiful mural they just commissioned in Downtown to help raise some awareness! #BeAHoustonAngel
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3. WATCH FOR MORE - fostering and volunteering isn’t for everyone but later this week I’ll share more about our foster family and how we plan to support them and how you can help in super small ways, if you’d like to!

We love y’all and when the “job description” suggested having a strong network of family and friends to leverage for maximum support, we knew it was the perfect fit! Y’all are the best and we have so much more to come! XOXO"
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Jake, Dare to Dream Mentor

"Helping people has been something that was instilled in me as child, and has been something I have kept with me now as an adult.⁠
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As a Texas Highway Patrol State Trooper, I come in contact with thousands of people every single year. Some of those contacts leave lasting memories, where some are good, ones that you want to remember forever... and some are tough, and sometimes I wish I never saw them in the first place. All around, the hardest situations I have to deal with are ones that involve children and teenagers.⁠
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Even though some situations can be extremely hard, both mentally and emotionally, I always try to leave them with something positive. I know that some of the children and teenagers that I come in contact with may not have a strong support system, or stability, or a number of other things that can negatively impact their growth and identity. ⁠
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I decided to mentor with the Houston Angels because I know that in this type of setting, I can actually try and make a positive impact on the youth’s lives outside of a “Police Officer” role. Mentoring a youth in the foster system is just another way for me to give back and try to do something else positive inside my community.⁠
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There is a strong need for mentors in the greater Houston area, especially males. I hope that other males and other First Responders see this as an opportunity to make yet another difference in our communities!"