Jacob Paz, a 17-year-old Buckner client, spoke from the heart when he shared how his relationship with Buckner changed his life.
“Buckner has helped me, especially in my walk with the Lord and building my faith,” Paz said. “Buckner introduced me to a program which has helped me understand relationships with friends and family. They also helped me achieve hope, hope for the future when challenges come my way.”
Hope shines here®
More Houstonians like Jacob will benefit from the variety of programs at the new Buckner Children and Family Services of Houston campus.
Buckner hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration for the 6.88-acre campus in North Houston, on Saturday, August 3. Nearly 100 people gathered to celebrate a bright future for Houston families, including community members, area leaders, Buckner friends and employees.
The event highlighted the Buckner Family Hope Center® at Northside – the first program on campus – as well as future plans to include other core programs Buckner provides that are designed to protect children and strengthen families, such as counseling, coaching and education, with the goal being self-sufficiency, a brighter future and generational transformation.
The Family Hope Center model offers community and wrap-around support for both families and children to experience empowerment, educational opportunities and aid.
It’s all about family: Building strong families and strong communities
The campus also hosted a back-to-school event with a school supply distribution, food, music and fun. In total, 288 families received school supplies and pairs of new shoes and socks from Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls®.
More than 1,200 people received information about opportunities from Buckner, as well as other community collaborators who were there to support families and children in the North Houston area.
“Family is at the center of everything we do,” said Buckner President and CEO Albert L. Reyes. “Building strong families is one of the ways we protect children, but strong families also make strong communities.”
The Buckner Children and Family Services of Houston campus is strategically located in the neighborhood called Northside, which straddles the border of the Houston and Aldine Independent School Districts. The area is considered one of Houston’s most at-risk communities where vital programs and services are needed.
According to the City of Houston, Northside’s residential population is 74% Hispanic. Nearly half of the families living in Northside have an average income under $25,000 per year, and 58% of residents are without a high school diploma.
Likewise, the surrounding area of Aldine is experiencing a rising population but inadequate wages, and limited housing and social services. In Aldine, 91.6% of children are economically disadvantaged.
Buckner plays an important role in supporting vulnerable community members – specifically families and children.
“The future of Buckner’s work in Houston looks bright and full of hope,” said Reyes. “Today is only the beginning of our vision for serving this community."
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