Archbishop Daniel N. DiNardo challenges Houston to “be attentive” to the homeless
More than 200 worshippers heard clergy from many faith traditions, as well as lay people, explain the importance of ending homelessness at the first annual “Call to Commitment,” sponsored by SEARCH’s Council of Congregations September 21 at South Main Baptist Church.
Entering the church, they were greeted by 14,000 paper people, representing the number of homeless men, women and children in the Houston community. The paper people were illustrated by children from all across Houston, as well as by SEARCH clients. Members of the Call to Commitment Planning Committee and SEARCH volunteers spent all afternoon placing them in the ground on sticks, where they stood as a silent reminder of what the service was all about.
Welcoming the worshippers was the Reverend Dr. Steve Wells, pastor of South Main. Dr. Wells also read a proclamation from the City of Houston naming September 21, 2006, “Council of Congregations Day.”
After being introduced by Rabbi Roy Walter, senior rabbi of Congregation Emanu El, The Most Reverend Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, delivered the message for the evening.
Using a true story about a developmentally disabled young man named Eric and his role as the innkeeper in a Nativity Play, Archbishop DiNardo made his point about the importance of helping the homeless.
Eric, it seems, had difficulty staying in character as the innkeeper who turns away the pleas of Joseph and Mary for a room with the famous line, “There is no room in the Inn.” Eric was required to say the line three times. He was able to manage it twice, but after the third tearful plea, he got caught up in the story and ended up saying, “You can have my room.”
Archbishop DiNardo said that although Eric’s generosity as the innkeeper may have ended the play, his words actually reflected its true spirit.
“Eric, in his own inimitable way, had said something about homelessness, about his responsibility,” said Archbishop DiNardo. “In his tried and true way . . .,he actually stated what the Nativity story is all about – which is about home and about us finding a home and when we are, like Eric, powerfully involved in the lives of people, [and] they ask and look at us, we’ll say ‘You can have my room.’”
SEARCH president and CEO Laurence J. Payne told the group that ending homelessness in Houston is possible, recalling the city’s help for the thousands of people made homeless by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Houston can certainly do the same for its own homeless people, he said. “We gather here this evening, and we are the beginning of the voices of a city-wide dialogue. All of us from our respective vineyards can eradicate homelessness from the streets of Houston.”
City Council Member Ada Edwards spoke of the responsibility of the politician to address homelessness, as well as her personal feelings. “When we become a community, a society, where homelessness doesn’t grab us . . ., when we can see children in the streets and women and families in the streets, and it doesn’t make us hesitate, and we roll our windows up and turn our eyes, then that young man, Eric, has to rise up in all of us,” she said.
Music for the service was provided by the Houston Choral Society, directed and accompanied by Daryl Robinson, who also serves as organist/music associate of South Main Baptist Church.
If you would like to browse and buy pictures from the event, visit www.daltondehart.com. Click on "Browse & Buy." Click on SEARCH Call to Commitment event.
During the Call to Commitment, SEARCH CEO Laurence J. Payne announced the formation of a new giving society, the Repairers of the Breach. The following verse from Isaiah is the inspiration for the new giving society to help support the mission and ministry of SEARCH.
And the Lord will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones,
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.Isaiah 58:11-14
If you would like more information about the Repairers of the Breach, please download a brochure or contact Margot Dimond, Vice President of Development, at mdimond@searchproject.org or 713-739-7752, ext. 165.
Laurence Payne, SEARCH’s new President & CEO, and Thao Costis accept a grant from Doug Schantz, President of Sequent Energy Management, AGL Resources' Houston-based subsidiary primarily involved in asset optimization and energy marketing and trading.
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SEARCH has many events coming up in the next few months. From golf tournaments to galas, there is something for everyone.
Wednesday, October 25
Karpas Properties’ 8th Annual Marti Shlenker Memorial Golf Tournament
Location: Wildcat Golf Club
Registration: 9:30am
Shotgun Start: 11:00am
Four Person Texas ScrambleFor more information call Maria Taylor or Dovie Morgan at 713-850-1777.
Wednesday, November 8
Holiday Bazaar at Congregation Emanu El
Congregation Emanu El’s Sisterhood is having a Holiday Bazaar on Wednesday, November 8, 2006 from 10:00 a.m – 3:00 p.m. A variety of Vendors (jewelry, purses, stationery/invitations, skincare, art and more) will be there to help with your Holiday shopping list. Emanu El is located at 1500 Sunset. We hope to see you there!
Sunday, January 14
Houston Marathon
If you are running in the Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon, or Houston Press/Smart Financial 5K please consider running for SEARCH. You may register on-line at www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com
Create an Active Giving account when you register. Designate a Personal Charity – SEARCH. Login to www.activegiving.com and begin to create your webpage.
If you are not running, but would like to make a contribution to SEARCH for the marathon, please visit http://www.active.com/donate/search.
Friday, January 19
SEARCH's "And Dignity for All" Luncheon
Chair Nicole Perdue invites you to the newly remodeled Hotel ZaZa Houston (formerly the Warwick Hotel) on January 19, 2007. Author and advocate Dr. Robert Fuller will give meaningful insight to the plight of the homeless and creating a dignitarian society. His best-selling books All Rise and Somebodies and Nobodies have brought attention to the ranking system that exists in all cultures and the abuses and discrimination that can result. Robert is changing the way we view not only others, but ourselves as well. With your help, SEARCH can bring dignity back to the lives of the homeless men, women and children in our area.
Saturday, May 5
SEARCH's 10th Annual "Celebrate the Children" Gala
Daynee & Ed Heller and co-chairs Jan & Alan Selbst invite you to join them on Saturday, May 5, 2007, at Hilton Americas for a high-flying evening of acrobatic audacity and limitless imagination, by none other than true Cirque performers! Your support brings self-worth and stability to the lives of Houston’s homeless children through our Tiny Treasures Programs. SEARCH cultivates the skills needed by these children to reach their maximum potential and break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. You don’t want to miss this spine-bending, mind-tingling spectacle!
On September 18, Outreach Coordinator Don Hall sent the following email to the staff at SEARCH:
Sometimes it only takes a phone call for us to remember why we work here. I just got a call from one of the clients MOP worked with extensively in the past, a lady named Mary.
When MOP met Mary (about 1999 or 2000) she was trying to take care of her three teenage grandsons (the mother was in trouble) but they had gotten evicted and were living in Moody Park. We helped them get into a small apartment and over time into a couple of other places that got larger as Mary got more resources. Mary got back with her husband, but he died and she eventually got his pension and was able to provide a real home for the boys. All this time the boys were in school and studying.
Well, Mary called me today. She said that she had seen me on TV and it reminded her of all that SEARCH had helped her. I asked about the boys. The oldest one is studying at UT, The middle one is at U of H, both on scholerships, and the yougest is serving our country in the Marines. She has asked us to come visit her so she can show us pictures of the boys, and listen to her story.
I'm sure we will go get her story, but in the meantime I wanted to remind all of you and myself why we do this.
Thanks for your time
Don
There were many responses to his email, including other staff members remembering Mary. The following day, he sent this:
WOW. Was kind of amazed at the response. I just wanted to remind everyone why we do this kind of work. And most of the time, it is because we can work together and trust and support each other that we are able to help other people make changes in their lives.
It is amazing to work with such an incredible team.
Thanks for all you all do.
Don
The staff at SEARCH make everything we do here possible. This month's success story is dedicated to the devotion, excitement, and compassion of our team. Each client success story owes its success not only to the client and all the hard work they put in to changing their lives, but also to the staff for making the opportunity possible.
Read SEARCH's Client Success Stories
Holiday Group Volunteer Opportunities
SEARCH will be participating in numerous expos and fairs in the upcoming months! Be sure to check us out and tell your friends and family. We will be sharing SEARCH information and selling SEARCH house pins and cookie houses. This will serve as a great opportunity to start shopping early for the holidays.
Wednesday, October 18th – 11am – 7pm - Fort Bend Business Expo; Stafford Civic Center, 1415 Constitution. Stafford
Wednesday, November 8th 10a.m. – 3p.m. – Hannukah Market at Congregation Emmanu El, 1500 Sunset, Houston
Sunday, November 19th – 8a.m. – 4p.m. - Alternative Giving Market at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston
For more information about volunteer opportunities, please visit the Volunteer section of our website or contact Nancy Rocha, 713-739-7752 ext. 160 or nrocha@searchproject.org.
The holidays are quickly approaching, and as you can imagine the holidays are the most difficult time of year for homeless individuals and their families. We hope to serve and provide each of our clients with at least 2 wish list items of their choice, but we can’t do it without your assistance. You can help SEARCH spread holiday cheer to those less fortunate and ensure that no one is forgotten this holiday season. Please consider conducting a drive for an item listed below, providing a holiday project/activity, or choosing to adopt a family or one of our programs! If you, your family or company/organization would like to learn more, please contact Nancy Rocha via email at nrocha@searchproject.org.
Holiday Drive needs:
These items may seem basic; however they are essential to individuals trying to pull their lives together. We only accept new items to give to our clients during the holidays.
Donations are accepted Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at SEARCH. Please contact Nancy Rocha prior to donation delivery or should you have any questions or concerns. For more ways to help, please visit the Get Involved section of our website.
Helping the Homeless
FOX 26 News aired a story on SEARCH and the WorkSource Midtown in a September 27 broadcast.
Vagrancy, Drug Abuse, Taxes
In a letter to the editor, SEARCH CEO Laurence J. Payne responds to an editorial letter about the civility ordinance in Houston.
If you would like to receive our FANS Newletter, please send
an email to info@searchproject.org or call 713-739-7752.
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