June 2021 Issue:
A Note from our CEO
Winter Storm Recovery
Hands of Hope Highlight
Thank You to Our Group Volunteers
Save the Date - Upcoming Events
Top Needs & Ways to Help
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Summer is in full swing at Casa de Esperanza, and it is heartwarming to see our children playing on the playground and our weekly volunteers return to the neighborhood. Water play and picnics are common activities at this time of the year, and our children thrive with the interaction.
Another sure sign that summer is here is the arrival of a new group of Hands of Hope House Parents, ready to jump into their service year at Casa de Esperanza. At the beginning of the month, 7 new House Parents arrived from five states and completed their two week training. We look forward to welcoming additional House Parents in July and August.
Hands of Hope House Parents are the primary caregivers of the children that come to Casa de Esperanza for a safe, loving place to live while their parents receive the help and guidance they need from our caseworkers to improve their living situations. Every new House Parent will undergo intense training for two weeks followed by a total immersion in the Casa de Esperanza neighborhood to learn about everything from keeping a child safe, to the effects of childhood trauma, to daily care of children and more. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for House Parent highlights and stories, and please help us welcome our new House Parents when you are in the neighborhood.
As I retire after 27 years of service at Casa de Esperanza, I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support of our mission. I leave knowing that Casa de Esperanza is in good hands with a dedicated staff, board of directors, and the leadership of Melissa Simon, our new Chief Executive Officer. I wish you all the best.
With sincere love and gratitude,
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Shelley M. Starr
Chief Executive Officer
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Winter Storm Recovery & Returning to the Neighborhood
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As Casa de Esperanza slowly reopens to volunteers and visitors, we have been hard at work getting the Residential Neighborhood and Program Center Campus in tip top shape. Like many in the Houston area, Casa de Esperanza experienced damage related to Winter Storm Uri. Thanks to a grant from Reliant, an NRG Company, damage to Casa de Esperanza's homes, office and playground were repaired, landscaping was restored, and emergency kits were replenished.
The Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) continued their annual spring tradition of planting flowers in the Residential Neighborhood. See a photo of their team in the volunteer section below. GHBA also connected us to David at ACES Builders' Warranty who installed engraved bricks to the path near our offices.
Thank you to Reliant, GHBA, and ACES for ensuring our neighborhood and office areas are safe and beautiful for our children, families, staff and visitors!
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Meet Claudia, a Duke University graduate from Waconia, Minnesota!
Why did you decide to come to Casa de Esperanza?
During my senior year of college, I received an email from my school’s pre-health department highlighting opportunities to do during a Gap Year. The Hands of Hope program was featured in the email, and it immediately caught my eye. As I read the description, I knew in my heart that this program was the perfect post-grad opportunity for me. It seemed to combine so many of my interests and passions. For example, I have always enjoyed working with children, and I am especially interested in pediatric health and medicine. Additionally, after learning about the brokenness of the foster care system as my parents navigated the process of becoming licensed foster parents, I have maintained a special concern for kids in foster care in particular. Ultimately, I believed Casa de Esperanza had a revolutionized vision of foster care, and I wanted to be a part of it.
Share a favorite memory.
One of my favorite memories was on St. Patrick’s Day. I had wanted to do something special with our toddlers to celebrate the day and decided they would enjoy making green cake pops. I thought they would have a blast squishing the cake and frosting together with their hands and rolling it into little balls. So after baking a green cake and letting it cool, I gave both of them a bowl with some crumbled cake and some frosting and showed them how to squish it together to form a cake ball. After looking away for a second, I returned my gaze to find them giggling as they put fistfuls of frosting and cake into their mouths. They knew they were supposed to form balls before eating the cake, but they could not resist the gooey deliciousness of the green cake and frosting in their bowls. I could not help but join in on their laughter. My vision of the special cake pops was shattered, but instead I got an even more special memory filled with pure joy and laughter. And I learned a valuable lesson: at the end of the day, kids are kids – if you put a bowl of frosting and cake in front of them, they can’t refrain from eating it.
What is one thing you learned since arriving at Casa de Esperanza?
I have learned about the true dichotomies of children, especially those in Casa de Esperanza’s care. Children are incredibly resilient, but they are also extremely fragile. They are strong, but vulnerable. Children express immense joy, but they can also reveal profound sadness. They are so brave, but they often also hold onto deep-rooted fears. Children are complex individuals, but most importantly, they all crave and deserve to be loved deeply and unconditionally.
What is one piece of advice, guidance, or recommendation for someone who is considering the Hands of Hope Service Year?
- Be prepared to arrive as one person and leave as another. Your experiences here and the kids you care for will likely change you forever.
- Soak in the little moments. After you leave Casa de Esperanza, who knows the next time you will be able to rock a baby to sleep or comfort a child after a bad dream.
- Be intentional about building friendships with other house parents. Their support will become incredibly important because no matter how close you are with your family or friends, the only people who will ever be able to fully understand your experiences here are current and former house parents.
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Thank You to Our May Group Volunteers
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A big thanks to all of our groups who purchased items from our Amazon Wish List, helped stock the pantry, donated a meal, or provided other support in May!
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Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA)
Individual Donors
National Charity League - Memorial
Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund
Palazzo's
Prelude Music Foundation
Rooms To Go
St. Martin's Episcopal Church
UT Cizik School of Nursing
West End Church
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Until we are able to resume normal group volunteer opportunities, if you or someone you know would like to schedule a restaurant meal delivery with their corporate or community group, email Mikaela.
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REGISTRATION OPEN
Join us for m Strategic Partners'
annual sporting clay event
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
at Westside Sporting Grounds
benefiting Casa de Esperanza de los Niños
Sign up as an Underwriter, Sponsor or Team at
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Join Casa de Esperanza's Young Professionals as we bring the Houston community together for tasty chili, friendly competition, and red-hot fun all in support of providing hope and a home for children in crisis.
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If you would like to get involved with the planning and host committee, please contact Erika DuBose at edubose@casahope.org.
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- Home Goods (please see top of Amazon Wish List)
- Cooking & Food Prep Supplies
- Grocery store and Wal-Mart gift cards
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