April is National Volunteer Month and the perfect time to rediscover how volunteering is beneficial to those who live, work and attend school in our local communities. Volunteerism is a powerful act that can have a profound effect on those who participate including improvements to health and wellness, along with social benefits, such as creating secure colleague relationships, stronger professional skills, and quality time management skills.
Stellar Bank is committed to supporting our surrounding communities. It is our passion to help advance the wellbeing and prosperity of everyone around us through volunteerism, donations, education, events, advocacy and more. In the past year, Stellar Bank has contributed over 3,000 volunteer hours, $1.1 million in donations, and supports over 450 organizations.
There are plenty of opportunities in the Houston area to donate your time to helping others lead a more fulfilling life. To make it easy to participate in National Volunteer Month, we’ve compiled a short list of community organizations and information on how you can get involved.
Houston Food Bank
Opened in 1982, the Houston Food Bank distributes food and other necessary essentials to those in need in the community. They also provide programs that help families reach long-term stability, such as job management, nutrition education, and much more. The Food Bank provides access to 150 million meals annually thanks to the hard-working and supportive community around them.
The Houston Food Bank has had 77,918 volunteer visits, 281,268 volunteer hours, and 51,346 unique volunteers to date, and is always looking for dedicated and excited individuals to help further their mission to create a world that doesn’t need food banks.
Want to get involved? Click here.
Houston Habitat for Humanity
Through shelter, the Houston Habitat for Humanity empowers people to build a better future for themselves and their families by offering financial and home maintenance training, building homes with volunteers, and purchasing homes with an affordable mortgage. Since first opening in 1987, the organization has served over 7,000 individuals through new homeownership and home repair, and annually pays over $700,000 in property taxes.
Houston Habitat for Humanity is recognized as a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and has earned the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, and they have been Energy Star Certified for over 23 years.
The mission of Houston Habitat for Humanity is bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. The organization is working towards a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Get involved here.
American Heart Association
With over 90 years of lifesaving history, the American Heart Association has grown to be the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is the number one killer worldwide, while stroke ranks second globally. The organization has invested more than $5 billion in research, making it the largest non-profit funding source for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease research next to the federal government.
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, with the assistance of more than 35 million volunteers and supporters. You can join!
For more information on how to become a volunteer, click here.
Literacy Now
Since 2006, Literacy Now has been making significant impacts in the Houston area community by providing readiness and reading intervention programs, interactive parent engagement, and trained volunteer mentors for the Lunch Bunch program. The organization works in HISD and Aldine ISD schools and at community sites throughout Houston to bring critical services to those who need them. Literacy Now works to empower students to read on grade level by the end of 3rd grade, helping them to remain on track to graduate high school and pursue future goals.
Literacy Now has served 1,130 students and 493 adults as of 2022, and over 22,000 children and parents over the past 15 years. The organization has 610 dedicated volunteers that have provided 1,310 hours.
Learn how you can make a difference here.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
JDRF is the leading global organization utilizing the power of research, advocacy, and community engagement to advance life-changing breakthroughs for Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that affects both children and adults suddenly. JDRF is fighting for a world without Type 1 diabetes, improving lives by accelerating breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat the disease and its complications.
JDRF has raised a total of $483 million in research support, which has been split between supporting JDRF research, other organizations with the same vision, governments, and industry partners.
There are a variety of ways to donate your time to support this important organization. Learn more about opportunities at JDRF here.
Volunteer Today
Connect with your community today by finding a volunteer opportunity where you can donate your time. Make a difference for your neighbors by volunteering at the local food bank, building shelter for those in need, and empowering children to read. Celebrate National Volunteer Month by taking the first step to find an organization near you and sign up. As a great resource, use Volunteer Houston to explore various non-profit organizations and available opportunities. Happy Volunteering!
