HomeAid Houston Plants Seeds of Support at Compassion United
HomeAid Houston staff and volunteers get their hands dirty to bring fresh produce to the clients at Compassion United. Pictured left to right are: Stephanie Lampe, Newmark Homes Houston; Terri Watt, Compassion United; Kristin Hanson, Loan Depot; Kirsten Robbins, HomeAid Houston; Rachel Dawson, HomeAid Houston; and Christy Maloney, Coburn Supply Co.
Sometimes the most meaningful projects don’t involve a hammer or a hard hat. Sometimes they just require a willingness to show up, dig in, and do something good.
That’s exactly what HomeAid Houston staff and volunteers did when they gathered at Compassion United this spring to plant an herb and vegetable garden for the organization’s clients. Tomatoes, peppers, and a variety of fresh herbs now fill the space, ingredients that will make their way into the meals that clients prepare for themselves and their families.
It was a small project by some measures. No groundbreaking ceremony, no ribbon to cut. But for the people Compassion United serves, access to fresh produce isn’t a given, and the ability to grow, harvest, and cook with ingredients you’ve tended yourself carries a meaning that goes beyond nutrition.
“HomeAid Houston has long been a champion of projects that address the practical, day-to-day realities of people experiencing housing instability, and this small garden carries on that tradition,” says Carole Brady, HomeAid Houston executive director. “While much of our work focuses on the physical construction and rehabilitation of shelter, initiatives remind us of something equally important: that dignity shows up in the details.”
For the volunteers who participated, the day offered something, too. There’s a satisfaction in working with your hands toward a clear and immediate purpose: planting something you know will be used, by people who will benefit directly from your effort.
Compassion United serves individuals and families navigating some of life’s hardest chapters. The programs and support they provide help clients work toward stability and independence. A garden that lets those clients cook a meal with ingredients they helped grow is a small but genuine expression of that mission.
HomeAid is grateful to the volunteers who gave their time and energy to make this project happen, and to Compassion United for the meaningful work they do every day. If you’re interested in supporting community initiatives or volunteering for a future project, visit homeaidhouston.org.