The goal of LEOH Service Projects is to assist those in need in our surrounding communities. Projects are selected based on needs identified by a non-profit organization. Assistance can be in the form of donated items, and/or monetary donations. The organization and its needs are generally communicated to LEOH members at the beginning of a LEOH session, so that donations can be accepted each week that LEOH is in session. Please see below for brief descriptions of previous projects, and click on available links for photos and more information.
The Women’s Home – Spring 2026
The Women’s Home offers residential treatment and transitional housing to women striving to rebuild their lives. LEOH members were asked to provide needed personal items and/or monetary donations. At the close of LEOH’s Spring session, many items plus funds had been donated. A check for $200, along with the items, were delivered to Emily Meister, manager of The Cottage Shop, 811 Westheimer. The shop, located near The Women’s Home, is a resale shop owned and operated by The Women’s Home.
Emily (on the left) accepts the check from LEOH board member Nina Quartaro (center of photo) and Treasurer Rosalie Thurbon.
Rosalie and Nina unload the many bags of items for delivery.
Toys for Tots donations were received as the “admission price” for members at a December 4th luncheon at Candelari’s Italian Restaurant. Please see the link below.
Candelari’s Holiday Lunch and Toy Drive – LEOH – 12-4-25
Healthcare for the Homeless (HHH) non-profit organization was the service project for Fall 2025. HHH provides a variety of health and social services to the homeless, which assist in helping them become and stay housed, with the potential to lead improved and meaningful lives.
Howard Dabney, M.Psych, Manager of Programs & Outreach, spoke to LEOH at the October 23 Fall meeting. Beginning with our first meeting in September, members were encouraged to donate monetarily, either at a meeting, or via their Amazon Wishlist link on their website (homeless-healthcare.org). The total amount donated at LEOH meetings was presented to the Caroline St. clinic in November, in the form of a check for $440! Below left, Howard is pictured next to Kathryn Rogers, MSW, Executive Vice President, who is accepting the check from LEOH treasurer Rosalie Thurbon. The next photo shows Howard with staff and clinicians, while the third photo is of one of the HHH dental chairs. Rosalie also enjoyed a tour of their impressive facility. At this writing, some of their federal funding had been cut, so donations are needed more than ever.
Books were donated to the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, at the close of the Spring 2025 LEOH session. A prior donation to the VA was from our own LEOH book cart. This time, members were asked to donate books (while giving everyone the opportunity to dust their bookshelves)! Thanks to generous members, a total of 194 books were donated!
Texas Art Asylum – many, many upcycling items were also donated by very generous members during the Spring 2025 LEOH session! The items were delivered to the Asylum following the end of the session. Members who delivered the items also enjoyed viewing the many and varied items in the store itself. Upcycled items are used in the creation of beautiful works of art by very talented and creative artists!
The Seafarer Christmas Shoebox initiative aids seafarers docked at our Port of Houston or at sea during the holidays. These seafarers appreciate gifts of needed/desired items during the holiday season, when they are far from home and loved ones. Click on the following link to view photos of the project! Service Project – Fall 2024 – LEOH
Books were donated to the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center at the close of the Fall 2024 LEOH session. A total of 58 books from our own LEOH book cart were gratefully received!
The HAWC (Houston Area Women’s Center) assists survivors of sexual and domestic abuse. Generous LEOH members donated needed clothing items plus monetary donations. Service Project – Spring 2024 – LEOH
The Landing of Houston assists survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. It provides a drop-in center for survivors, outreach to ensure survivors are aware of services available to them, and youth advocacy. LEOH members provided clothing and monetary donations to assist these survivors. Service Project – Fall 2023 – LEOH
The Interfaith Ministries Resettlement of Refugees Program assists in resettling refugees fleeing their homeland in fear of political, religious, or social persecution. The refugees in the program have been approved for legal relocation in the U.S. The program works with them for approximately 6 months, with the aim that of ensuring they become self-sufficient during that time. Household items and monetary donations are welcome, to assist in accomplishing this goal. Many of the generous members who donated funds and/or items are pictured here with the items. Service Project – Spring 2023 – LEOH
The Houston Food Bank accepts food and monetary donations to provide food to needy families and individuals. By way of a network of more than 1,000 hunger relief charities, it services 18 counties in southeast Texas. During the pandemic, LEOH enjoyed a socially-distanced “Party in the Park” luncheon and lecture at the Hana and Arthur Ginzbarg Nature Discovery Center. Admission to lunch consisted of a canned good for donation to the Food Bank. Service Project – Spring 2022 – LEOH
