Mayor Sylvester Turner recently honored 25 community partners with the 2022 Mayor's Volunteer Service Awards. The list includes churches, non-profit organizations, and individuals who served Houston.
2022 Volunteer Service Awards
As per the official City of Houston website, the Department of Neighborhoods hosted the awards ceremony at the Houston City Hall on Mar. 15. The awards had four categories, Community Engagement, Education, Social Service, and Youth.
Mayor Turner expressed his gratitude to the honorees for their service to the city. He added that the "honorees have contributed to providing shelter for families, services for refugees and immigrants, food assistance, and other acts to ensure that the basic needs of their fellowmen are met."
Mayor Turner also described them as "fine example of neighbors helping neighbors, and today we celebrate their generous, caring deeds."
A lot of the churches featured as honorees were partners with the Family Transfer center.
The organization reportedly helped migrants get together with their families and loved ones in the U.S. It also has a 500-person capacity center for migrants waiting to go to their destinations.
Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Director Betsy Ballard, President Cynthia Colbert, Director Karina Hernandez, and Bart Ferrell were the honorees from The Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
The charitable organization has been providing food, shelter, clothing, and support to the neighborhood for almost eight decades. According to their page, their organization provides support to 100,000 people every year.
The non-profit is a recipient of the 2015 and 2019 BBB Winner of Distinction for Nonprofits. It is also a member of the United Way of Greater Houston and the Catholic Charities USA.
For Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Meanwhile, Assistant Director James Banks, Communications Director Andi Cook, Executive Assistant Greg Little, and Elder Carlos Villarreal of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Houston Metro Area individually received their awards.
For the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Chris Crawford, Elder Corey Cuvelier, Jeff Gutke, and Elder Art Rascon also received their honoree awards this year.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is" a worldwide faith with over 16 million members."
The church's mission is to bring everyone to Jesus Christ through the gospel. It was Apr. 6, 1830, when the church organized.
According to their page, their founder translated an ancient prophetic record found in the American continents.
The record eventually became the Book of Mormon and is used today by the church alongside the Bible.
Texas Adventist Community Services
Director Marshall Gonzales is an honoree from the Texas Adventist Community Services.
The organization finds its roots in the "Dorcas Society," a charitable organization established by the Seventh-day Adventist church back in 1879. The community services have been serving communities for 60 more years and have impacted over 200,000 lives.
The National Association of Christian Churches
The Disaster Service Director of The National Association of Christian Churches also made a list. The association empowers Congregational Christian churches through fellowship, resources, and education.
Other organizations on the list are Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Houston Responds, and the Houston Food Bank.
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