National Trends and Services

This program facet addresses issues and concerns that impact the daily quality of life. Linking with other organizations has strengthened this resolve. Activities included the following:

Aided teen mothers in the Fort Bend County Area, paying transportation for prenatal care for unwed mothers from the Fort Bend County area to Galveston (County Hospital) and donating basinets for newborn babies; offering workshops to develop pre-employment skills for teen mothers.

Collaborated with The Houston Connection (Houston, Missouri City, Port City), contributed jointly to local food pantries (1988-1991).

Another Houston Connection project (1990) was the restoration of houses for the elderly, sponsored by the Harris County Housing Authority. Links from the three chapters scraped and painted houses, mowed lawns, tended flower gardens and hauled off fallen limbs. This project included Connecting Links.

The Houston Connection (Houston, Missouri City, Port City), furnished a home for teen mothers in conjunction with Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

Served as volunteers for the CARING CRADLES, FORT BEND COUNTY BABY SHOWER, which was sponsored by Channel 13, Kroger Supermarkets and the March of Dimes.

Participated in the Carl Lewis Walk-A-Thon for the UNCF for several years.

Organized and participated in The Links Walk-A-Thon (national signature project).

Manned telephones for and donated to the UNCF Telethon and Fund Raising Parties for many years.

Manned telephones for the University of Houston Public Broadcasting fundraisers.

Participated in KTSU Public Broadcasting’s first fundraiser.

Cuney Homes - The Chapter for a number of years has been involved with the Cuney Homes, a public housing complex, by sponsoring its annual clothing and household furnishing sale and using the proceeds to purchase food baskets for senior citizens in the complex. Fresh fruits and vegetables are provided monthly to the seniors of this complex. Through the years this project has evolved into a health and book fair for youngsters. Any clothing not sold at this event is donated to the Star of Hope Mission and the Urban League.

Conducted successful voter registration drives in the Fort Bend County area as well as in the greater Houston area. Partnered with the Houston Coalition to improve voting participation in “under-voting precincts.” In Harris County, supporters included the NAACP, the Houston Women, SHAPE Community Center, People for the American Way Foundation, Congress of Black Women - Houston, Missouri City Links, William Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity, KMJQ Radio and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Observed “Make a Difference Day” – The Missouri City and Houston Links along with volunteers and members of the Missouri City Baptist Church worked to repair the homes of elderly residents of Richmond, Texas. Armed with donations and supplies from Simmons Carpet and Furrows of Stafford, the volunteers from Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity and the Links worked to make a difference for the elderly.

“Make a Difference Day” – Challenged all The Links chapters to do a project to make a difference.

In collaboration with IBM, purchased shoes for needy families for Christmas; individual chapter members purchased gifts and food for families in the Cuney Homes.

Collaborated with Sister-Link Project by establishing a partnership with Just-A-Sister-Away (JASA) House of Texas, Inc., a nonprofit, community-based organization whose objectives is to help break the cycles of homelessness, abuse, hopelessness and poverty among women and children by serving as a bridge between crises and stability. JASA House was our community service project for the 1999 conference.

Collaborating with Sterling Bank, Half-Price Books and the South Texas Links Six Cluster Chapters (Missouri City, Houston, Port City, Texas Spring Cypress, Gulf Coast Apollo and Fort Bend), donated funds and books for young children to the Ben Taub Hospital Library.

Sponsored an Organ Donor Day at various churches to get the public to sign up as Organ donors.

Supporting of the Blue Triangle Community Center.