Young Professionals Mark Harvey's 1 Year Anniversary | Hurricane Awareness Day
August 20, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact: Barbara Thomason, President
281-440-4160 | BarbaraT@HoustonnNWChamber.org
Young Professionals Mark Harvey’s 1 Year Anniversary
Northwest Houston, Spring, Klein, Cypress Creek Community—Formation, the Young Professionals committee of The Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with H-E-B, Northwest Assistance Ministries and Habitat for Humanity Northwest Harris County are honoring the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey with Hurricane Awareness Day on August 24, 2018. An event will be held at the H-E-B located at 20311 Champion Forest Drive, Spring, TX 77379 from 11:30-1. Speakers from NAM and Habitat will explain hurricane relief that is still available to those who suffered losses from Hurricane Harvey. In addition, the group will distribute hurricane preparedness kits as well as information about how to apply for assistance.
“When we had our first steering committee meeting to re-launch Formation, the group decided that we wanted to focus on community outreach. And when we thought about honoring the one-year anniversary of Harvey, we instantly thought about all of the people in our community that still need help”, said Leslie Sloan, membership development manager for the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce.
When Sloan reached out to H-E-B about helping host the event, there was no hesitation. “Providing aid in times of need is the cornerstone of H‑E‑B's Helping Here philosophy, which promises to stand by communities during times of crisis. For more than 100 years, the company has demonstrated its commitment to communities in crisis by donating financial support, emergency supplies, drinking water and food, as well as providing efficient ways for customers to assist those affected by a natural disaster”, said Beverly Leday, area community coordinator for H-E-B.
Samantha Gonzalez, fundraising manager for Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) and chair for Formation explained what assistance their organization brings to the community. “To date, NAM has raised over $5 million in relief funds and assisted more than 10,000 individuals impacted by Hurricane Harvey with food, clothing, hygiene products, rent and mortgage, utility bills, home repairs, furniture, vehicle repairs and replacement and business equipment. NAM has also added trained therapists to our staff and has been working with organizations like Mental Health America of Greater Houston to help anyone suffering from the mental and emotional strain that a natural disaster can cause. That assistance is still available. If you, or someone you know, are still in need of disaster relief assistance please e-mail DisasterRelief@namonline.org or call (281) 885-4593 for more information.”
Habitat for Humanity Northwest Harris County also has assistance still available and like NAM, they are trying to get the word out to the community. Soleil Watt, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity Northwest Harris County stated, “Habitat for Humanity Northwest Harris County made a commitment to be a leader in long-term recovery efforts in our community. As we approach Houston’s one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, so many families are still displaced. We would like to remind impacted families that they are not alone in this fight and Habitat for Humanity Northwest Harris County is here as a resource. Please contact us at 281-477-0460 so we can help assist your family.”
“We are pleased to see the interest that Formation, our group of Young Professionals, have taken in serving the northwest Houston community,” adds Barbara Thomason, Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce president. “They are our future and they are setting an incredible pace.”
Formation engages energetic people between the ages of 21-40 who have an interest in forming the future of the Houston Northwest area. The program offers resources that will help members not only grow in their leadership skills, but also get connected, educated, involved, and have an impact in the Cypress Creek Community. By providing events tailored for their needs and interests the Formation group will see firsthand the function and membership of the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce.
Boat traffic replaced cars in the midst of the catastrophic flooding brought by Hurricane Harvey beginning on August 25, 2017.
About Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce
The Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce is a 43-year old association serving the interests of business and the community of northwest Harris County. For more information about the Chamber and about Formation, go to www.HoustonNWChamber.org. To learn more about the “Grow Northwest” Initiative, go to www.GrowHoustonNW.com.
∞
Contact:
Barbara Thomason, President
BThomason@HoustonNWChamber.org, (281) 440-4160
