Causes: Food, Interfaith Coalitions, International, International Migration & Refugee Issues, Meals on Wheels, Religion

Mission: Interfaith ministries for greater houston brings people of diverse faith traditions together for dialogue, collaboration and service, as a demonstration of our shared beliefs. Interfaith ministries for greater houston provides meals and more to homebound seniors and their pets, resettlement and supportive services for refugees, interfaith relations services, and facilitation of community partnerships.

Programs: Senior services includes the meals on wheels program and the animeals on wheels program. Meals on wheels delivers nutritious weekday meals to homebound seniors and disabled individuals across four counties, as well as breakfast and weekend meals to the most frail and isolated seniors. Imgh delivered 1. 5 million meals, with an average of 4,000 seniors served each weekday. Over 1,600 individuals received additional breakfast and weekend meals to supplement their daily lunch delivery. Almost 1,300 seniors were assisted by imgh's social services staff, who provided case management and referrals to partner agencies for additional services, such as home repair. Imgh's special thanksgiving meal, which was delivered almost exclusively by volunteers, brightened the holiday of 4,000 seniors. Meals on wheels participants also received shelf-stable meal boxes in the summer and winter in case of weather emergencies. Imgh delivered 13,000 donated items to seniors, including fans, blankets, medical supplies and holiday gifts. The animeals on wheels program delivers pet food to seniors with pets, so they will not have to share their limited food resources with their animal companions. This volunteer-driven service delivered 109,000 pounds of donated pet food to 540 seniors with 1,140 pets. The meals on wheels program received $14,000 in donated facility space, $43,000 in donated advertising services, and $5,500 in donated training and other contract services during this fiscal period.

the refugee services program assists in the resettlement of refugees fleeing their homeland in fear of political, social or religious persecution. Services provided include food, housing, transportation and medical assistance; donated furniture, home furnishings and clothing; cultural orientation and employment assistance; translation and educational assistance; and other services designed to help refugees become self-sufficient within six months of arrival in houston. Refugee services partners with local congregations and civic groups to welcome refugees, and the program staff speaks 19 languages, making refugees feel more at home in houston. Imgh resettled 1,044 refugees from 18 countries, over 90% of whom were self-sufficient within six months. Imgh also assisted another 656 clients with case management, employment and other supplemental services, for a total of 1,700 individuals served. The refugee services program received $141,000 in donated refugee housing and $148,000 in donated legal services during this fiscal period.

the interfaith relations and community partnerships program fosters understanding, respect and engagement among people of all faiths through educational opportunities and community service. More than 600 people from diverse faith backgrounds participated in imgh's community programming, including dinner dialogues where participants learn about one anothers faiths over a shared meal. Imgh's youth program, ilead, brought together more than 350 students to exchange ideas about faith and to serve their local communities with an interfaith youth day of service. Imgh's network of more than 50 allied communities of faith, the interfaith circle, supports the program's work through direct service, dialogue about respect and tolerance, and emergency response. The interfaith relations program impacted over 2,000 people through partnerships, facilitation and resourcing. The interfaith relations program received $450 in donated training services.