Back To School Bonanza!

August 2025

Feeding Hunger, Fostering Hope,

Furthering Success

CCSC Outfits Students,

Helps Low-Income Families

You and CCSC provided 4,103 students, pre-K through 12th grade, with brand-new school supplies, backpacks, and clothing gift cards at the Back To School Community Event.

CCSC’s Back To School program has been helping struggling low-income families with school supplies since 1986. Hundreds of volunteers work each year from March through early August to help students have what they need to succeed on the first day of school.

“This program means a lot to our family, especially the gift card for purchasing uniforms,” participant Justa T. said. “The children love getting the supplies, especially the backpacks.”

“To see the smiles of the children as they pick out their backpacks is a treat,” Back To School Committee Chair Leisa Novak said. “But to see the parents smile because they can provide what their children need for school without choosing between food or school supplies, that’s priceless.”

"Back To School is not possible without the support of our donors and hundreds of volunteers, many of whom return year after year to help," CCSC Youth Services Manager Sarah Hans said. "We are especially grateful for the dedication and leadership of our volunteer committee: Alma Lopez, Jessica Canizales, Priscilla Aguilar, Karen Womack, Terri Drabik-O’Reilley, Amy Holmes, Sarah Lopez, Anne Stewart, Kenya Rodriguez, Shellyn Shoenthal, Leisa Novak (Chair), Miriam Zatarain, Elizabeth Detweiler, Perla Kenley, Courtney Lerch, Maria Berretta and Whitney Anderson.

"We also thank the staff and congregations of Faith Lutheran Church, our host site for the Back To School Community Event, and Bellaire United Methodist Church, our host site for Back To School registration," Hans added.

It’s not too late to support Back To School. Donations are accepted year-round. You can give online at CCSC’s secure website HERE or send a check to CCSC at P.O. Box 27924, Houston, TX, 77227 (with Back To School written in the memo line).

Leave a Lasting Legacy

of Love

If you are like about 60% of American adults, you have thought about estate planning but have yet to make a will.

August is National Make a Will Month, a time dedicated to the important task of planning for the future of the people and causes you love.

Estate planning is more than a legal task. It’s a chance to shape the future with your intentions, as CCSC Legacy Society member Lynn Yeoman did recently.

"Upon reflection, I decided to revise my will to better accommodate disadvantaged children, the church community, and seniors encountering challenges," Lynn said. "From my knowledge of CCSC, aided by a wonderful recent tour of its facilities, I decided that CCSC works very hard in ways that serve these communities."

Debby Leighton, also a member of CCSC's Legacy Society, agrees. "My husband and I always knew that our financial support would ultimately go to charities, which seemed “very far away” in our early years of marriage. But thanks to careful retirement planning and consideration about “greatest needs” consistent with our personal passions, CCSC was an obvious choice," Debby said.

"I trust CCSC implicitly to do the right thing with their donations," Debby added. "The money will be spent thoughtfully and wisely. There is peace knowing that in perpetuity."

Donating to CCSC's Legacy Society, in whatever way and amount you are comfortable with, creates a personal legacy. It defines one of the ways you will be remembered and helps ensure that CCSC can continue to help Houstonians in crisis and reduce the effects of poverty in our community.

For more information about the CCSC Legacy Society, visit our website HERE or contact Senior Director of Development Sara Pybus at spybus@ccschouston.org or 713-961-3993.

Summer Interns

Impact CCSC

Bank of America Student Leaders Maritza Ortiz, left, and Emily Joseph are back at school, but the positive impacts they made on CCSC’s mission continue to be felt.

The Bank of America Student Leaders program is an eight-week paid internship for high school juniors and seniors, focusing on community service and leadership development. This year’s CCSC Student Leaders worked primarily with our Emergency Services, Advancement and Administrative teams.

Maritza conducted interviews to determine ways to improve client engagement and information clarity, updating printed resources and data, and improving efficiency and readability. In our food and clothing pantries, she helped with product sourcing, resource distributions, and acknowledging contributions.

Emily surveyed peer agencies and developed an employee engagement plan, and created brochures and social media. Both interns participated in our Louise J. Moran Vision Care Program and at our Back To School Community Event. They also conceived and piloted a youth art promotion project.

“My biggest takeaway from my time spent at CCSC has been to always lead with generosity and an open mind,” said Maritza, who is beginning her freshman year at the University of Houston. “It does not cost anything to be positive, nice, and kind.”

Emily, who is entering her senior year in high school, said she learned that there is more need in Houston than she thought, but also more help. “I never really understood how many people were struggling with emergencies, things they couldn't have prevented,” Emily said. “CCSC showed me that for every person struggling there is someone out there fighting for them, trying to help.

“I always felt like people would be too divided or not provide enough help,” Emily added, “but CCSC is proof that even individuals can do grand things to help their local community."

CCSC President & CEO Michelle Shonbeck is an advocate of the Bank of America Student Leaders program.

“This is CCSC’s third year to be part of Bank of America’s summer internship program, and each year we receive young, top-notch talent who positively impact our work and our staff,” Shonbeck said. “We’ve loved having Emily and Maritza work with us this summer. They’ve fully participated in our work, successfully completing projects we identified for them as well as projects they created and initiated. The interns’ energy is contagious, and their intellect, strong work ethic, and enthusiasm fill me with hope for Houston’s future.

Connect Kroger, Randalls' Cards

to Help CCSC

Every year in August, Kroger asks that you reconnect your Kroger card to continue to earn money for CCSC while shopping through its Community Rewards program.

Visit www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com and follow the instructions to connect or reconnect your card. CCSC’s organization number is 80790.

You can also support CCSC when you shop at Randalls by linking your Randalls' card at Good Neighbor Program | Randalls

Once enrolled, you do not need to re-enroll your Randalls' card annually.

Buy Your Fostering Hope Ticket Today!

CCSC is excited to invite you to its 4th annual Fostering Hope Luncheon on September 24 at The Junior League of Houston. Tickets and tables are going fast!

This year’s luncheon celebrates CCSC’s new Strategic Vision for growth. The program will feature a panel discussion with Rev. Preston Morgan of West University United Methodist Church, Pastor Jeff Smith of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Vincent Tran of St. Theresa Catholic Church. Don't miss out on this spiritually enriching conversation. Reserve your spot while seats are still available.

Individual tickets, table sponsorships, and underwriting opportunities are available at bit.ly/CCSCluncheon. The deadline to have your name included in the printed program is August 20.

Please join us for great company, heartfelt conversations and a closer look at how you and CCSC are making a difference.

Our mission is to serve the poor, hungry, disabled and otherwise needy while respecting their religious, ethnic or cultural differences.

Give to CCSC

Become a Hope Builder

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