UPDATE: Homeless veterans remembered at Christmas by women realtors

UPDATE:

The Montgomery County Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS completed their final phase of their “Operation Holidays For Heroes” project by distributing gifts to homeless veterans Christmas Eve. Many of its members made it a family event, getting their children into the spirit of giving, by helping with the distribution of gifts that were distributed to a shelter housing veterans who were previously living on the streets.

ORIGINAL STORY:

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- For the ninth consecutive year, the Montgomery County Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS packed up their annual “Holidays For Heroes” project, stuffing hundreds of stockings for actively serving troops and for veterans who would otherwise be forgotten during the holiday season.

This grassroots project started with just a couple hundred stockings in 2006, and grew to as many as 1500 stockings (2011), dispatched in ‘Care” packages to actively serving troops around the globe. Residents of The Forum in The Woodlands made and decorated 400 of the stockings; others in the community contributed the rest. Area merchants donated the snacks to stuff the stockings, school children made the holiday greeting cards, and the cost of packing supplies and postage were underwritten by area businesses through sponsorships.

For the ninth year in a row, refreshments for the packing volunteers were provided by Congressman Kevin Brady, who has often cited this as one of his favorite community projects.

Co-chairs, Pam Oleksy and Jeanne Lewis, oversaw the project again this year: the fifth for Pam, and the fourth for Jeanne. Next year, Cynthia Head will rotate in to co-chair with Lewis. In 2015, the program will be taking on some additional projects, evolving to fill more than just stockings.

“We’re now focusing on the returning service personnel and establishing a program to get them integrated back into the workforce in civilian life,” said Oleksy. “We’ve partnered with Lone Star College to create an endowment fund specifically earmarked for veterans. The fund will enable returning veterans to establish a new career so that they can financially support their families.”

A total of $15,000 has been raised by the Montgomery County Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS to set up the endowment, which will perpetuate ongoing scholarships for years to come.

“So many other organizations are now supplying actively-serving troops with packages, and we welcome it,” said Lewis. “This has enabled us to step back and assess what other gaps exist, that we can fill.”

One in particular, is the plight of homeless veterans.

“Houston has one of the highest number of homeless veterans in the country,” said Oleksy. “We’re trying to circumvent that with the scholarships to Lone Star College. Next year we’ll be working with the college to put a program together that will consist of some courses specifically designed to address returning veterans’ needs. We’re very excited about this program.”

This year, veterans in need are on the ‘care’ package list. Many of the stockings will be distributed to a shelter housing veterans who were previously living on the streets. One of the gaps Lewis spoke of includes aiding these veterans with essential needs and jobs.

“Our program will now be a year-round effort and not just a holiday project,” said Oleksy.

“The fundraising will be ongoing,” said Lewis. “We’ll need donations to fill the gaps.”

To contribute to the projects, donations can be mailed in care of Jeanne Lewis at The Homefinder Center, 2000 Woodlands Parkway, The Woodlands, Texas (77380). Make checks payable to WCR Holidays For Heroes. For more information contact Lewis at 281-719-6392. Also “LIKE” their Facebook page at the link provided.