Astros Join HomeAid Houston to Mark Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

Minute Maid Park became the playing field for 20 families working through homelessness as HomeAid Houston and the Houston Astros kicked off Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (HHAW). The HomeAid/Astros event named Take a Minute hosted 20 families from a number of local social service agencies. Astros Jeff Bagwell and new Astros Manager Brad Mills joined the fun by visiting with the families and giving autographs and photo opportunities. The families were treated to a Thanksgiving feast, tours of Minute Maid Park, base running, autographs and gift bags.

HomeAid Houston, a Greater Houston Builders Association charity has adopted the Take a Minute theme as it applies to all aspects of homelessness. "Take a Minute to imagine spending one night on the street with your children….Take a Minute to find out what you can do about homelessness in Houston. Just taking a minute to give homelessness a face or imagining a situation that touches each of us can make a difference in the future of those facing this crisis," said Bette Moser, executive director of HomeAid Houston. "Partnering with the Astros to raise awareness about Houston's homeless is a wonderful experience," Moser added. "The organization's professionalism and true understanding of what homelessness means has added a new dynamic to HomeAid's efforts."

"The Astros organization is very aware of the impact hunger and homelessness has on thousands every day in Houston," said Marian Harper, vice president of the Astros In Action Foundation. "Our goal with the Take a Minute Day at Minute Maid Park was to draw attention to their struggles and to ask Houstonians to Take a Minute to rethink what homelessness really looks like and what we can all do to help."

The Take a Minute event was a fun way to help mark the annual HHAW - November 15th - 21st. HHAW is co-sponsored each year by the National Coalition for the Homeless and National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness. The week provides a forum for cities to bring greater awareness to this nation-wide problem.

"The average homeless family is a single mother with two children under age six," said Anathony Love, CEO of the Coalition For the Homeless in Houston. "This isn't a matter of choice for them but circumstance. It just takes a minute to make a call to a local homeless agency, or to make a donation to help."

HomeAid Houston, a Greater Houston Builders Association charity, has been building transitional housing for the homeless since 2003. Through their efforts and the donations by hundreds of GHBA members, 360 beds have been added to Houston's homeless community providing care for 4200 adults and children in crisis.