Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Frost-Tadlock.
Courtney, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My journey with Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) began almost three years ago when I started as a volunteer. At the time, I was wanting to get back involved in my community after moving back to the area after completing my Master’s Degree, and a colleague had recommended volunteering at NAM. I started in the Meals on Wheels Program provided by NAM, which delivers hot, nutritious meals to seniors and disabled adults for lunch. and from there, I fell in love with the organization.
As an employee, I started as the Program Coordinator for Meals on Wheels, scheduling volunteers to drive, ordering food for the seniors, and even delivering the meals when needed. After over a year with the Meals on Wheels Program, a position was available on NAM’s Development Team, so I took a leap of faith and applied. Since then, I have proudly served as NAM’s Community Relations Coordinator, working with our volunteers, congregations, service organizations, and business partners on various opportunities to uphold NAM’s Mission of striving to meet basic human needs through Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
Every day at NAM is so rewarding because there are so many different things we do to help our community; whether it is with Meals on Wheels, the Nutrition Center, the Children’s Clinic, the Family Violence Center, the Learning Center, the list goes on!
While my journey here at NAM is still in its early stages, NAM has been impacting our community of Northwest Houston for the past 35 years, changing and growing based on the needs of our neighbors. I am proud to be part of an organization that has evolved to meet the needs of the community and an organization that continues to build stronger, deeper relationships with its various partners. Words cannot describe how meaningful our work here at NAM is to our community, and how inspiring it is to know that every day when our staff and our amazing volunteers walk through the doors, they will be changing lives.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The roads in Houston are never smooth and neither are our journeys, but here at NAM, we embrace change and learn to expect the unexpected. Non-profit organizations serve a special role in our society because they do the work that other sectors cannot do and what people sometimes forget to do in our community. What I find so unique about NAM it that as an organization, NAM continues to grow and evolve based on the needs of our community, adding new programs and finding creative ways to generate a positive impact in our area.
Everyone is aware by now that Hurricane Harvey was devastating to Houston and surrounding areas almost one year ago. At NAM, as soon as we were able to get staff on site, there was a line at the door of people looking for help. Within the first 30 days, NAM helped thousands of people with food, clothing, cleaning supplies, and toiletries along with helping make arrangements for people to locate places to stay. But the work is far from over. We still hear from time to time on the news how FEMA is discontinuing hotel stays and how families are still living in damaged homes, and NAM has time and again answered the call.
NAM created a Relief Services Program to help those still impacted, even today, establish some type of normalcy after Harvey. I am so inspired by our organization because we continue to persevere and develop new and better ways of helping of Neighbors in Need. The road is never easy, but I have hope for our community and our great city because of the work we do here at NAM.
Please tell us about Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM).
NAM is unique as a social service agency because I have never seen an organization model like it before. We have approximately ten different department areas that break down into 12 plus program and services areas, so if there is a need, we either have it at NAM or know they people who do. The uniqueness of NAM is what I find most appealing because there are so many different ways to help your neighbor and NAM has a holistic approach in providing services, so that if someone comes to us for food, they can also see a doctor for their child, or look into GED/ESL classes, or find activities for their parent/grandparent in our active senior program. There is so much to choose from that almost anyone who wants to volunteer can find their passion when they come here.
As Community Relations Coordinator at NAM, I work with our volunteers, congregations, service organizations, and business partners for various projects around NAM as it relates to volunteer opportunities. My niche is that I can communicate to various groups opportunities to serve their community based on their interests and skill sets; whether that is through a food drive or making bookmarks for kids, there is so many creative and fun ways to get involved. I absolutely adore our volunteers because they do so much!
Our volunteers dedicate their time, talents, and resources in order to make a better community, and I am so proud that I have the privilege to serve with them. Volunteers are the lifeline to our organization and I cannot tell you enough about how great they are and what they mean to NAM and to me personally. Our volunteers are what I am most proud of and they are what sets us apart because each and every one of them (all 2,500 in fact!) are wonderful people, who take the time to change the lives of their neighbors each and every day.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Not necessarily my favorite, but one of my most memorable experiences was at a time when I was about ten or 12 years old and my parents were out of work. I remember how we were not going to celebrate Thanksgiving. I remember how sad everyone was because it was supposed to be a joyous time for families.
But I also remember how we went to a local non-profit in Montgomery County who helped us, I remember how nice they were and how excited my sister and I were to have helped our parents cook Thanksgiving Dinner. The organization and the generosity of the community got our family through Christmas at a time that there would not have been gifts under the tree or food on the table. I remember how happy we were that others were willing to give us gifts when they didn’t even know us.
While it may not be a happy memory, it reminds me of where I come from and the importance to give back. I have the opportunity every day to fulfill a need for a family just like mine and I know every day that I come to work, I am not just coming to do a job; I am coming to make a difference.
Contact Info:
- Address: 15555 Kuykendahl Road Houston, TX 77385
- Website: http://namonline.org
- Email: volunteer@namonline.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/namhelps/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NAMNeighbors/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/namneighbors
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
