What is NAM?
Northwest Assistance Ministries is a non-profit organization established to help the needy of Northwest Harris County. Governed by a board of business professionals, clerics, and other concerned people, NAM offers some of the following services:
Second Chance Retail Shop
This serves as a place where clients whose needs are assessed in the assistance office are able to select basic household necessities and clothing for no cost. Volunteer activities vary from merchandising and sales to marking, sorting and pricing goods, assisting customers, clients and donors. No experience is required and training takes place on the job. Fund raising proceeds from sales cover the overhead of the ministries plus a significant proportion of assistance monies. A low-cost store is housed at NAM's headquarters where everyone in the community can find good values at bargain prices.
Rotary Learning Center
The Center needs volunteers to teach students basic literacy, math, and English as as Second Language and to prepare students for the GED and citizenship. After attending a short training session, students will observe and participate in on-the-job training at the learning center.
Food Pantry
It takes many volunteer hands in the Food Pantry to achieve NAM's goal that no neighbor leaves hungry. Pantry workers handle all of the details involved in its operation including organizing the donated food on shelves and filling grocery orders to distribute food to those who come for grocery orders to distribute food to those who come for assistance. The assistance counselor determines during the client interview who receives food assistance; pantry volunteers prepare the order. Volunteers may work as is convenient but are encouraged to commit to a regular day and shift time.
Community Gardens
Located at Plymouth United Church of Christ and Klein United Methodist Church, volunteers are needed to plant, pick, water, weed, etc. All food grown is distributed to needy clients through NAM's Food Pantry. Two to three hours per week is requested, at the convenience of Garden Coordinators and the volunteer.
Meals on Wheels
NAM's Meals-On-Wheels program delivers hot nutritious lunches to the area's homebound, elderly, and disabled using scores of volunteers. The Meals on Wheels office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The volunteers drive once a month (or more often if they choose). The meals are ready to be delivered by 11:00 a.m., so it is important for the driver to be punctual. This is a volunteer area in which a couple or parent and child can work together.
In order to volunteer, please call 281-885-4609 or visit the NAM site at www.NAMonline.org.