Wesley Community Center

❤️ Celebrating the Love That Brings Generations Together!

We loved welcoming the grandparents who stopped by Wesley to visit their grandchildren in our Early Childcare Program for Grandparents Day! These special moments remind us how important family, connection, and community are in a child’s life.

At Wesley, we believe supporting children means supporting the families and loved ones who help them grow. For more than 120 years, we have worked to strengthen families, create opportunities, and build a community where everyone has the chance to thrive.

Your generosity helps us continue providing programs and services that support children and families at every stage of life. Together, we can make a lasting difference for the next generation.

Help us continue building a stronger community, one family at a time. ❤️

Give today: https://wesleyhousehouston.org/donatepage/

16 days to go! We couldn’t be more excited for this year’s Spirit of Helping Luncheon!

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Elaine Turner and help us celebrate Memorial Drive United Methodist Church as we honor them with Wesley’s Volunteer of the Year Award.

It’s not too late to join us! Sponsorships and reserved seating are still available. Don’t miss this special afternoon of community, purpose, and impact.

🎟️ Reserve your seat or become a sponsor: https://givebutter.com/soh2026

Program Spotlight: Helping Our Neighbors Put Food on the Table

At Wesley, we know that having enough food at home is an important part of building a stronger, more stable future. That’s why our Food Programs are here to help individuals and families stretch their monthly food budgets while making sure they have access to nutritious food.

Our Choice Pantry is open Monday through Friday, giving neighbors the opportunity to choose the foods that best meet their families’ needs and preferences. We also offer Drive-Thru Food Distributions on the 3rd and 4th Saturdays of each month, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

But our Food Programs are about more than groceries. They are about choice, dignity, and making sure our neighbors know they are not alone. Through connections to benefits and Wesley’s other wrap-around services, we work alongside families as they take steps toward greater stability and self-sufficiency.

📍 Wesley Food Pantry | 1235 Lorraine St., Houston, TX 77009
📞 To schedule a Choice Pantry appointment, call 713-236-9008 and choose option 5.

Learn more about Wesley’s Food Programs:
wesleyhousehouston.org/food-programs/

Take the next step and register for free ESL classes at Wesley!

Looking to improve your English or feel more confident communicating in your everyday life? Wesley Community Center’s free ESL classes are here to help you learn, practice, and grow.

Classes are available for beginner and intermediate/advanced learners, so there’s an opportunity for everyone to take the next step in their English journey.

📅 Monday–Thursday
⏰ 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 Wesley Community Center, 1906 Cochran St.

Registration is easy! Scan the QR code on the graphic or call Mr. Cooper at 713-821-8957 to learn more and get started.

We’d love to have you join us!

COMMUNITY IN THE KNOW

What does financial security look like for older adults in our community?

A new report from the AARP Foundation’s Economic Security Monitor takes a closer look at the financial realities facing adults 50 and older with low incomes. The findings show that rising household costs, food insecurity and limited emergency savings continue to create real challenges for older adults across the country.

This is more than a national statistic, it reflects why programs like Wesley Community Center’s Senior Program are so important. Our seniors deserve access to connection, support, resources and a community that recognizes the challenges they may be facing.

We believe staying informed helps us better understand the needs of our neighbors and the importance of programs that help older adults remain connected, supported and engaged in their communities.

Click below to read the full report and learn more about what the research is telling us about economic security for older adults.

https://tinyurl.com/yeyjack2

Wesley Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month!

At Wesley Community Center, Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, histories, and contributions of the Hispanic community.

For more than 120 years, Wesley has been part of a community shaped by people from many backgrounds. Today, we are proud to serve individuals and families whose stories, cultures, and traditions continue to make our community stronger.

This month, we celebrate the heritage and contributions of our Hispanic neighbors, clients, volunteers, staff, and supporters, and the many ways they help make our community a place where everyone can feel welcomed, supported, and connected.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month from all of us at Wesley!

🎓 This Can Be You.

A new opportunity. A fresh start. A goal you’ve been putting off that you’re finally ready to reach.

Wesley Community Center offers FREE Pre-GED & GED Test Preparation Classes to help you take the next step toward earning your High School Equivalency Certificate.

Our free program includes:

📚 Pre-GED & GED preparation
📝 Assessments, pretesting and practice tests
💻 Computer-based learning and testing preparation
👩‍🏫 Classroom instruction
🎯 No-cost GED testing

Ready to get started? Don’t just scan the QR code—call our GED Coach, Damon Cooper, at 713-821-8957 to schedule an appointment to complete your assessment and go through orientation.

👉 Scan the QR code on the flyer or call Damon today.

Your circumstances today don’t have to determine where you go next.
This Can Be You.

She is a designer. An entrepreneur. An author. A life coach. A philanthropist. And a woman whose journey has been defined by creativity, resilience, reinvention, and purpose.

For more than 30 years, Houston’s own Elaine Turner has built an incredible career rooted in creativity and entrepreneurship. From building her namesake fashion brand into a recognized luxury business, to navigating life’s challenges and embracing an inspiring new chapter with Edit by Elaine Turner, her story is one of courage, growth, and discovering what truly matters.

Now, she is stepping onto the Wesley stage for a special conversation at our 2026 Spirit of Helping Luncheon.

Join us as Elaine shares more than the story behind the handbags and the brand. Be there as she shares insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, building success with purpose, and the importance of showing up for our community.

📅 Friday, October 23, 2026
📍 The Briar Club
🛍️ 11:00 AM – Elaine Turner Pop-Up Shop
🎤 12:00 PM–1:00 PM – Luncheon Program & Special Conversation

We cannot wait to welcome Elaine Turner and share this meaningful conversation with our community. You won’t want to miss it! Purchase a Table Today!

https://givebutter.com/soh2026

Our seniors had some very special visitors at Wesley! Barrio Dogs stopped by with their furry friends to bring a little extra joy, and a whole lot of support to our senior community. ❤️

During their visit, Barrio Dogs provided dog and cat food, an extensive list of pet resources, and the opportunity for seniors to sign up for free vaccines, microchips, and spay/neuter services for their beloved pets.

Partnerships like this are so important because they help us connect our community with resources that support the whole family, including the four-legged members! 🐶🐱

We’re grateful to Barrio Dogs for showing up for our seniors and helping make sure they and their pets have the support they need. This is what community looks like! 💙

Meet I.L.: From Starting Over to Building Her Future 💙

After relocating to Houston with her two daughters, I.L. came to Wesley Community Center facing housing instability, unemployment, and financial hardship. She knew she wanted a more stable future for her family—and dreamed of becoming a small business owner.

Through Wesley’s ICJ Navigation Program, I.L. connected with Job Readiness and Financial Opportunity Center services. With continued support and determination, she completed job readiness training and secured full-time employment with FedEx. She then reached another important milestone: securing her own apartment and creating a stable home for her daughters.

But I.L. wasn’t ready to stop dreaming. Through a Wesley referral, she completed entrepreneurship training with INNOVA at MAM Business Academy and began building her Christian-based small business, offering personalized products and devotionals. Today, she continues growing her business through Wesley’s Small Business Pop-Up events.

I.L.’s journey shows what can happen when determination meets opportunity and support. What started as a fresh start in a new city has become a growing future for I.L. and her family.

💙 Your support helps make stories like I.L.’s possible. Give today and help Wesley connect more families with the resources and opportunities they need to build a stronger future.

https://wesleyhousehouston.org/donate/