The Season of Giving is Upon Us and...

Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) has a great need for volunteers to coordinate its holiday projects, sort toys or food, and for donations of food and toys or other gifts for children and teens.

NAM expects to serve 800 families in November and 1,000 families in December. The main Thanksgiving distribution date is November 21st from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. for Thanksgiving turkeys and food. The last day for people needing Thanksgiving food to apply is November 13th. The holiday gift and food main distribution dates are December 19th and 21st from 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. The last day for people to apply for holiday gifts and food is December 11th. To apply for either distribution, call the Assistance appointment line at 281-583-5600 at 9:00 a.m. Monday-Friday.

We are appreciative that many congregations, corporations, and individuals are pulling together to provide much needed cash donations, food, or toys and gifts.

To donate online by credit card, please go to http://mail.namonline.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.namonline.org/ and click on “Special Projects” and select either “Holiday Food Drive” or “Holiday Toy Drive.” To hold a food or toy drive or to volunteer at NAM, contact Linda Fullerton at 281-885-4609 or at lfullerton@namonline.org.

Community Steps Up for NAM

Northwest Assistance Ministries’ (NAM) 11th annual Jeans & Jewels Gala was held the evening of Saturday, October 24, at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott. Over 500 guests were in attendance.

Among those present were Gala honorees Jackie and Pat Riley, Gala co-chairs Dana Hines and Diane Porter, and major sponsors Ultra Petroleum Corporation, Valerie and John vonBerg, Linda and Joe Fowler, Citation Oil and Gas, Linda and Harlan Martens, Jackie and Pat Riley, and Joanne and Mike Watford.

The evening began with a cocktail hour, featuring a signature turquoise cosmopolitan created and donated by Grey Goose Vodka. Guests enjoyed drinks, appetizers, and a silent auction and Big Boards.

The program was emceed by Deborah Duncan of Great Day Houston and included presentations to the gala honorees and co-chairs, a video of NAM’s services, and an invocation led by NAM President & CEO Carole Little.

The live auction, led by auctioneer Judge Eric Andell, began as guests enjoyed their desserts. The live auction featured: two round trip, first class tickets on Continental to any of their worldwide destinations; an 11 x 15 Persian rug; a luxury suite for 18 at Reliant Stadium for the Texans vs. Titans game; a handmade quilt; and sponsorship of NAM”s Interfaith Hospitality Network. After dinner, guests danced to the sounds of Yvonne Washington & The Mix.

The event grossed over $430,000 for NAM’s programs and services.



NAM is a nonprofit, community-based social service agency that is supported by 43 congregations, 18 Service Partner organizations and more than 160 businesses Community Partners.

NAM Legislative Breakfast

Approximately 150 community members gathered on August 27th for an informative Legislative Breakfast. Panelists were (left to right): State Rep. Debbie Riddle, State Rep. Allen Fletcher, Constable Ron Hickman, City Councilman Ron Green, State Rep. Sylvester Turner, District Attorney Pat Lykos, State Rep. Patricia Harless, State Rep. John Zerwas, City Councilman Jarvis Johnson, and Sheriff Adrian Garcia. NAM Executive Board Chair Tom Forestier (right) served as moderator.

Community, public officials gather for NAM Legislative Breakfast
On Thursday, September 2nd, Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) hosted its second annual Legislative Breakfast. The informative community event featured a panel of ten public officials from both sides of the aisle. Panelists were: State Rep. Sylvester Turner, State Rep. John Zerwas, State Rep. Debbie Riddle, State Rep. Patricia Harless, State Rep. Allen Fletcher, Harris County District Attorney Patricia Lykos, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Harris County Constable Ron Hickman, City Council Member Jarvis Johnson, and City Council Member Ronald Green.

NAM Executive Board Chair Tom Forestier served as moderator. NAM President & CEO Carole Little welcomed the audience, and thanked the panelists and event sponsors. NAM Executive Board member and Public Policy Committee Chair Rev. Ginny Brown Daniel provided the invocation. Questions were posed to the panelists on the following topics: Children's Healthcare, Energy Assistance, Domestic Violence, Healthcare Reform and the Federal Stimulus Package’s impact on Harris County.

A continental breakfast was served prior to the program, and tours of NAM were offered afterwards. Event underwriters and sponsors included: Starbucks, Chick Fil A, HEB, TXU Energy, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, The Harris County Sheriffs Department, and an anonymous donor.

NAM’s Public Policy Strategy Committee was established in 2007 to help formulate public policies that support and enhance the organization’s mission of Neighbors Helping Neighbors. The Committee serves as a voice for NAM clients and the community by collaborating with legislators, remaining informed of legislative issues, and being a resource on social issues.

Area Ministries Work Together to Level the Playing Field for Area Children

For any child, it can be daunting to face all of the challenges that come with a new school year, but for children who don't have the necessary supplies the experience is bound to be especially difficult. Houston's area ministries know that, which is why they work to help parents provide the necessary supplies and clothing to ensure area children start the school year off right. This year, many area ministries collaborated to help even more children with the aid of Nourish America, a nonprofit organization based in Ojai, California, that partners with organizations across the country to provide impoverished American children, families, pregnant moms, seniors, and others in need with the nutritional supplements and essentials required to lead productive, successful lives.

This year, with help from Nourish America, Northwest Assistance Ministries received almost 7,000 back packs from the Office Depot Foundation and a year’s supply of organic children's vitamins from New Chapter Organics.




Photo: Teresa Jackson (left) and DeAnna Bosch of Emergency Aid Coalition collect back-to-school supplies, backpacks and vitamins from Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) to distribute to children in their organizations. The vitamins were donated by New Chapter Organics and the backpacks were donated by Office Depot. NAM will distribute supplies to 3,500 children as part of its Back-to-School Program this year, and the extra donated items will be shared among other ministries collecting school items for children. Backpacks and vitamins were also received by Stonebridge Church in Magnolia, Humble Area Assistance Ministries, Katy Christian Ministries, Memorial Assistance Ministries, Spring ISD and Klein ISD.

Modified Donation Acceptance Policy

As many of you may be aware, the government passed the Consumer Product Safety Act that went into effect February 10, 2009 prohibiting the selling or reselling of clothes and toys for children 12 and under if they contain more than a specified percentage of lead or a plastic additive called phthalates.

We have just become aware of a fairly affordable testing solution for lead and phthalates. Because of this new option, NAM will begin conducting business as usual regarding the acceptance of ALL donated goods.

Once we have the testing equipment in place, you will once again see children's items for sale in our shops. I have also received calls from volunteers concerned about the NAM's ability to distribute books in our Children's Clinic and throughout the ministry. NAM has received a certificate of safety from the manufacturer which will allow us to continue to distribute new books to children.

We thank you for your patience and support as we continue to work through this process.

Carole

New Law Poses Challenges for NAM

February was a time of change for NAM, as you may have noticed if you’ve visited any of our three resale shops recently. As a community organization, we pride ourselves on striving to serve the basic human needs of our neighbors at all stages of life, from infants to seniors. However, new regulations for the sale and distribution of children’s items have presented us with a challenge in meeting some of the needs of children in our community.

On Feb 10, 2009, new requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act took effect, prohibiting the selling or reselling of clothes and toys for children 12 and under if they contain more than a specified percentage of lead or a plastic additive called phthalates.

There has been much confusion surrounding the new law and its application to resale stores, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has clearly stated that although resellers are exempt from testing and certifying children’s merchandise, they will still be held liable for any merchandise they sell that contains the contaminants.

We do our best to ensure that NAM is in compliance with all federal and state regulations, and so we have chosen to discontinue the sale and distribution of merchandise for children 12 and under in our resale shops as well as our programs.

We know NAM and our supporters care about the safety of our children. In fact, many of our programs work to ensure the security, health and well-being of children on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, although this law was passed with good intentions, it seems like it has been interpreted quite broadly. Some services that NAM once provided for families and children will no longer be available. Not only are we no longer able to provide low-cost children’s clothing, books, toys and furniture at our resale shops, we also are unable to give some of these items to children through our programs. Many families in dire need have counted on NAM’s assistance in providing free items, such as clothing and baby furniture, for their children. For years, NAM has been able to offer these essentials thanks to support from neighbors helping neighbors.

In recent years, up to 10% of NAM’s resale shop revenue has come from the sale of children’s merchandise. Last year, this translated into approximately $170,000. Revenue from the stores goes toward helping community members in need through our multiple social services programs.

Although many resale shops like NAM’s throughout the country are hoping for a reprieve on these strict regulations, it seems unlikely that any clear changes will be made in the near future.

We intend to keep you informed of any changes that arise in the law, but for now, we are considering creative and efficient ways to continue to serve our youngest neighbors in need.
We are now emphasizing the need for more furniture donations to our resale shops to replace the lost revenue from children’s merchandise. In terms of program necessities, our future focus may be on the donation of gift cards, rather than merchandise, to fulfill the needs of our clients.

These new regulations have presented a considerable challenge to NAM, but with the continued support of our donors, volunteers and community supporters, it is a challenge that we will face with the type of determination that has made NAM so effective as a community resource for more than 26 years.

If you are concerned about the impact of the new federal regulations, please contact your legislators or visit www.congress.org.

For further information or updates, please check the Consumer Safety Product Commission's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Thank you for your continued support,

Carole Little

New Law Will Impact NAM Resale Shops

On February 10, 2009, new federal regulations will go into effect that prohibit the reselling of children's clothing or toys for children 12 and under unless they are tested for lead and a plastic additive called phthalates. You may have seen TV news reports or newspaper articles about these regulations. Testing can cost anywhere from $35,000 - $50,000. The broad scope of the complicated law and it’s interpretation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") could effectively make it illegal for parents to resell their children’s clothing and gear at a garage sale, on eBay, Craig’s List, or through consignment stores or annual children’s consignment sales. If donated to a nonprofit like Goodwill or Salvation Army, those organizations can’t legally resell it as of February 10th. Hand-me-down clothing for kids ages 12 and under will be illegal to resell. It will be a banned hazardous product. The fines of $100,000, potential jail time and label as a felon for violations are stiff.

On Tuesday, the CPSC tentatively exempted the following: items with lead parts that a child cannot access; clothing, toys and other goods made of natural materials such as cotton, silk, wool and wood; and electronics that are impossible to make without lead. That still leaves clothes made from polyester or other non-cotton materials and toys made from plastic needing to be tested or thrown out. It also means that only clothes without embellishments – zippers, snaps, buttons, tags – qualify.

It appears unlikely that a solution will be found before the law goes into effect on February 10. At best, there may only be a temporary pause on the sale of many items.

NAM cares for the well being of our clients and plan to be in full compliance with any regulations that are set.

Please feel free to contact me or Dale Leatherman at dleatherman@namonline.org should you have any questions.

Carole Little