The Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) offers shelter, meals, and compassionate assistance to homeless families who are screened by NAM. The program is non-denominational and about 30 churches participate. Over 70% of those helped find their way back to a normal life within the 90 days that they may stay in the program. 

Host Congregations. Provide overnight lodging and meals in the churches.St. Ignatius co-hosts with Emmanual Church of Christ in Old Town Spring for 1 week every 3 to 4 months. 

Volunteers. Provide meals or stay overnight with the guests in the church. Volunteers interact with the guests by talking with them, listening to them and treating them with respect. There are about 30 to 50 volunteers at each congregation.

Social Service Providers. These people refer guests to the Network. They also assist the guests with obtaining housing, employment, government entitlements and other services.

Day Center. The Day Center is housed at NAM and serves as a guests' mailing address. The guests are there during the day and have lockers, showers and day time assistance with finding jobs, monetary issues, parenting skills classes, counseling, etc. 

Transportation. An IHN van transports the guests to and from the host congregations and take children to school.

NAM Volunteers

What is NAM?

Northwest Assistance Ministries is a non-profit organization established to help the needy of Northwest Harris County. Governed by a board of business professionals, clerics, and other concerned people, NAM offers some of the following services:

Second Chance Retail Shop

This serves as a place where clients whose needs are assessed in the assistance office are able to select basic household necessities and clothing for no cost. Volunteer activities vary from merchandising and sales to marking, sorting and pricing goods, assisting customers, clients and donors. No experience is required and training takes place on the job. Fund raising proceeds from sales cover the overhead of the ministries plus a significant proportion of assistance monies. A low-cost store is housed at NAM's headquarters where everyone in the community can find good values at bargain prices.

Rotary Learning Center

The Center needs volunteers to teach students basic literacy, math, and English as as Second Language and to prepare students for the GED and citizenship. After attending a short training session, students will observe and participate in on-the-job training at the learning center.

Food Pantry

It takes many volunteer hands in the Food Pantry to achieve NAM's goal that no neighbor leaves hungry. Pantry workers handle all of the details involved in its operation including organizing the donated food on shelves and filling grocery orders to distribute food to those who come for grocery orders to distribute food to those who come for assistance. The assistance counselor determines during the client interview who receives food assistance; pantry volunteers prepare the order. Volunteers may work as is convenient but are encouraged to commit to a regular day and shift time.

Community Gardens

Located at Plymouth United Church of Christ and Klein United Methodist Church, volunteers are needed to plant, pick, water, weed, etc. All food grown is distributed to needy clients through NAM's Food Pantry. Two to three hours per week is requested, at the convenience of Garden Coordinators and the volunteer.

Meals on Wheels

NAM's Meals-On-Wheels program delivers hot nutritious lunches to the area's homebound, elderly, and disabled using scores of volunteers. The Meals on Wheels office is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 2 PM. The volunteers drive once a month (or more often if they choose). The meals are ready to be delivered by 11 AM, so it is important for the driver to be punctual. This is a volunteer area in which a couple or parent and child can work together.

In order to volunteer, please call 281-885-4609 or visit the NAM site at www.NAMonline.org.