Heights - River Oaks - Montrose Edition | November 2025

Community Volunteer Guide

BY ROO MOODY & KEVIN VU

• 4660 Beechnut St., Ste. 102, Houston • www.girlsempowermentnetwork.org

• 3830 Greenhouse Road, Houston • www.specialpals.org BARC Houston

2025

Community aid

Montrose Grace Place The organization aims to provide a safe place for individuals ages 13-24 of all sexualities and genders experiencing homelessness in Houston. • Sample activities: Providing and serving dinner, facilitating creative group activities, helping clean the clothing closet, providing direct mentorship • Donations accepted: Monetary contributions, Amazon wishlist purchases, new and gently-used clothing for ages 13-24, unopened packages of underwear and socks Covenant House Texas The nonprofit serves as a shelter for homeless youth between 18-24, providing services such as substance abuse counseling, education and vocational training. • Sample activities: Hosting activities, street outreach, serving as a mentor, clerical and administrative support, serving meals • Donations accepted: Monetary contributions, holiday gifts and gift cards, new clothing and shoes for young men, women and children, diapers • 2515 Waugh Drive, Houston • www.montrosegraceplace.org

The animal shelter is dedicated to helping animals in Houston and provides sheltering and veterinary care for pets, as well as adoption and live release initiatives. • Sample activities: Animal care, administrative help, working at special events, fostering, assisting with adoptions • Donations accepted: Monetary contributions, personal checks, dog and cat food, toys, treats, leashes and collars, flea shampoo, towels, detergent, litter, unopened rubbing alcohol, dish soap • 3300 Carr St., Houston • www.houstontx.gov/barc

retailers and delivers it to local nonprofits. • Sample activities: Assisting drivers with food rescues, helping with PopUp Grocery Stores • Donations accepted: Surplus food, monetary contributions • 8825 Knight Road, Houston • www.secondservingshouston.org Plant It Forward The Houston-based nonprofit works with growers across Houston to cultivate food and transform underutilized land into thriving farms. • Sample activities: Various volunteer opportunities are available throughout the year, purchase produce at Houston farmers markets, attend events • Donations accepted: Click the donate button on the website (for other donor options, reach out to shellyn@plantitforward.farm) • 4030 Willowbend Blvd., Houston • www.plantitforward.farm

Community aid

Animals and wildlife

Houston Area Women’s Center This organization works to end domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking. Services include crisis intervention, support programs and violence prevention. • Sample activities: Join a volunteer fundraising committee, help at events, offer holiday gift items to survivors and their families, assemble essential supply kits to aid women and children • Donations accepted: Monetary contributions, food items, brand new clothing for women, infants and toddlers, toys, diapers, hygiene products, beauty products, first aid items, luggage, detergent, smaller appliances • 3077 El Camino St., Houston • www.hawc.org

Coastal Prairie Conservancy The nonprofit land trust is dedicated to conserving and restoring more than 33,000 acres of prairies, wetlands, farms and ranches throughout the Greater Houston region. • Sample activities: Volunteers can help with habitat restoration, seed collection, native plant propagation, stewardship activities throughout the year • Donations accepted: Online donation, check or cash Special Pals Rescue Resource Center The organization is the oldest no-kill shelter in Houston. The organization facilitates adoptions, fostering, low-cost vaccinations and rescue boarding. • Sample activities: Take care of animals, complete administrative duties • Donations accepted: Monetary contributions, dog and cat food, trash bags, laundry detergent, bleach • 5615 Kirby Drive, Ste. 867, Houston • www.coastalprairieconservancy.org

Houst on F ood Bank The nonprofit collects, inspects, sorts, stores and distributes food to the community through pantries, soup kitchens and schools. • Sample activities: Sorting food, packing Backpack Buddy sacks, building Senior Boxes and disaster boxes, assisting with preparation and packaging of hot meals, distributing food • Donations accepted: Monetary donations, food, vehicles, stocks and volunteer hours • 535 Portwall St., Houston • www.houstonfoodbank.org/volunteernow

Youth and families

Girls Empowerment Network The organization advances self-efficacy—or the belief in oneself to succeed—in girls in grades third through 12th through programs that foster confidence, coping skills and collaboration • Sample activities: Writing role model letters, creating bookmarks, signing up to volunteer at Radiant G Conferences or in-school Radiant G Circle programs • Donations accepted: Monetary donations, merchandise sales, car donations, stock donations

• 1110 Lovett Blvd., Houston • www.covenanthousetx.org This list is not comprehensive.

Second Servings of Houston The nonprofit rescues surplus perishable food from

HOUSTON SUPERSTORE 2410 Smith Street (713) 526-8787

SHEPHERD 1900 S Shepherd (713) 529-4849

WESTCOTT AND MEMORIAL 5818 Memorial Dr (713) 861-4161

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