Greetings!
Remember when you were little, and you started seeing pumpkins on neighbor’s porches and a paper ghost hanging around here and there? Halloween was just around the corner and on the playground at school, costumes were the main topic of every conversation. The knowledge that you could dress up and be someone else for a day was just too exciting to pass up. Couldn’t you just feel the change in the air as the big day approached – and not just because the weather was getting cooler? Halloween has always been my favorite holiday and as a kid I couldn’t wait for October to arrive. I started planning my costume months in advance, and the more elaborate the design the better as far as I was concerned. Even as an adult, I still dress up on Halloween night to pass out candy to neighbor kids!
Halloween 2020 will be a much different story as our world has changed drastically this year. Students are attending school via a computer screen, smiles on faces are hidden by masks – and not necessarily by Halloween masks, and little kids are essentially banned from trick or treating on October 31st. At Halo House however, we are trying to maintain as normal an existence as possible. Blood cancers are still affecting people daily and unlike some of the other housing options in Houston, we haven’t stopped moving patients and caregivers into apartments. We are slowly opening previously closed areas of our facility and volunteers will soon return to man the front lobby desk and help with numerous tasks all with COVID-19 precautions in place.
Halo House serves such a vital role in our community and in this issue of Halo House Happenings not only will you read about what our guests think about living here but you will also read about ways that you can help us provide the best service to patients and caregivers. From providing meals and supplies to being a daily, weekly, or one time volunteer, there are countless ways in which to help – just give us a call!
As October slides in, I hope to see many more of you around Halo House – especially if you are wearing your Halloween costume!
Wishing you treats and no tricks,
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Kristen Stubbs
Executive Director
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It’s Almost Here – Don’t Miss Out on the FUN!
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Our 10th annual Halo House Gala is just around the corner and we don’t want you to miss out on the fun. The Be Kind and Rewind Halo House Virtual Gala will take place on November 14th beginning with the pre-show at 6:30. The Virtual Gala will start promptly at 7:00 pm!
With lots of laughs, fun, and inspiration, you will want to stay tuned to every single minute of this very important fundraising event. Gather your friends and family and tune in from the comfort of your very own living room.
Bid on exciting silent and live auction items such as an HD Drone with GPS capability or an Interactive Portable Projector by CINEMOOD. Or maybe you want a personal concert with country music singer Cooper Wade and his band or a private wine tasting with Halo House’s very own Dr. Nathan Fowler. Whatever it is you want, our auction has it!
Register for the gala here (and receive one free raffle ticket) and don’t forget to purchase extra raffle tickets for an additional $5.00 or 5 tickets for $20.00. You could be the new owner of a 64GB iPad Air – the drawing will be held the day before the Gala so watch out for more information coming soon!
Questions? Contact the Halo House staff at [email protected] or call 713.665.8852. We look forward to “seeing” you on November 14th!
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Featured Family -
Candyce & Jerry Hinkle
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Meet Jerry and Candyce Hinkle from Little Rock, Arkansas. Jerry and Candyce started their cancer journey in September of 2018 when Jerry was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Jerry began receiving treatment at the University of Arkansas Medical Center and went into remission just in time for his stem cell transplant to begin. Shortly after receiving his first remission status, Jerry was diagnosed with a Ependymoma brain tumor. Jerry had surgery to remove the malignant brain tumor and had to relearn how to walk and swallow following the surgery. |
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Quilt Guild of Greater Houston
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When a new family moves into Halo House, they are gifted with a stunning, high quality, handmade quilt from The Quilt Guild of Greater Houston (QGGH), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the art of quilting. QGGH is a group of quilters and quilt lovers who meet to share the love of this art form. You don’t need to be a quilter to join the guild; anyone with a love of quilts is welcome. Founded in 1976 with an initial membership of just 25, the Guild has grown over the years and has had membership numbers as high as 470 people.
In 2014, two QGGH members, Betty Rivers and Marilyn Kowalski recommended that Halo House be a recipient of the quilts. Since then, Halo House has received over 400 quilts to pass onto guests growing from 25 quilts in 2014 to 102 quilts so far in 2020. For the past 6 years, Janet Becker, chairperson of the guild’s charity group known as the Comforters, has worked with Halo House to make sure there are always enough quilts to give out. The group’s unofficial motto is “He who Sleeps under a Quilt is Comforted by Love” and since 2013, the group has made over 500 quilts each year hitting an all-time high of 664 quilts in 2015. When Halo House gets low on quilts, Janet always rushes to the rescue with more!
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Halo House Heros - Sara & Al Jara |
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Meet our Halo House Heroes for the month of October, Sara & Al Jara, owners of the iconic Houston bar, The Marquis II.
Al, a Houston native, began college in New York but returned to Houston to finish his college career at the University of Houston. While at UH, Al met and became friends with Halo House’s very own Dr. Nathan Fowler. In 1998, Al accepted his first position with Marquis II as a bouncer and 5 years later met his wife Sara whom he married in 2012. Al and Sara’s first child, Cristian, was born in 2013 and two years later they welcomed their daughter Olivia. After working at the Marquis II for 10 years, Al decided to acquire the bar in 2018. Al lovingly refers to the Marquis II as a Houston “Museum of Memories” and the couple’s purchase makes them the 4th owners of the bar in its 75-year history.
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Call to Action!
Supplies Needed
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At Halo House, we recognize that most of the time our families arrive in Houston for cancer treatment overwhelmed, frightened, and with nothing but a few hastily packed belongings in their suitcase. They often don’t think about the fact that they might need paper goods, plastic bags, kitchen items, and more in order to move into an apartment for months on end.
On the day of move in, every one of our families receives a beautiful tote bag filled with the items they will need to make their first few nights at Halo House worry and stress free. You, your family, your church group, or your community association can help us keep our supply closet stocked with items that we need to make our guests comfortable. If you would like to contribute, click here to access our Amazon wish list and help fill our supply closet. Your gift will make a Halo House family feel comforted and welcome throughout their stay with us.
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