08Jan 2021 by Houston ToolBank No Comments

Houston ToolBank 2020 Recap

Uncategorized
Houston ToolBank 2020 Recap As we enter the year 2021, we at the Houston Community ToolBank would like to do a quick recap of the year and the changes we all experienced. 2020 was a year for creativity and the expansion of health and safety for the Toolbank and all the nonprofits we serve. The Houston community was able to find new ways to serve their neighbors while keeping the nonprofit community afloat.  Our ToolBank Team members are still working through this pandemic, providing tools to our member agencies, who continue to risk their health and safety to serve the Houston community in numerous ways. We chatted with our staff to see how everyone's year went, both personally and professionally. Sum up 2020 in 1 word How did 2020 change…
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13Oct 2020 by Houston ToolBank No Comments

University of Houston Coastal Center

Uncategorized
The University of Houston Coastal Center is home of the Texas Institute for Coastal Prairie Research and Education; a 925-acre facility located in La Marque, TX. Evelyn L. Merz, who previously served as a volunteer, has been the program director of the UH Coastal Center since October 2019. Their habitat restoration work at UHCC is ongoing and long-term. They're restoring and maintaining native coastal tallgrass coastal prairies through the reduction of invasive plant species. They use a combination of mowing, herbicide treatment, and prescription burning for control. On October 7, the fire crews did an all-day prescribed burn of coarse woody mulch that was generated by the physical removal of dense thicket growing along the edge of the Aumann Prairie. There were 10 volunteers from the La Marque and Hitchcock…
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25Sep 2020 by Houston ToolBank No Comments

Team Rubicon: Operation Drew It Again

Community Involvement, Member Agencies
The Team Rubicon team has been a great addition to the ToolBank family during the pandemic. Erin Twichel is a volunteer for disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and community assistance at Team Rubicon. One of their most recent projects, Operation Drew It Again, was held in August in Rio Grande Valley, Texas. They had 14 volunteers from all over Texas that participated. Team Rubicon deployed to The Rio Grande Valley in response to Hurricane Hanna. They provided muck out work, debris removal, expedient home repairs, and chainsaw operations to affected homes. "The Houston ToolBank has helped our organization by providing Team Rubicon with essential equipment in order for us to provide our services while following optimal Covid-19 safety precautions and standards." -Erin
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30Jun 2020 by Houston ToolBank No Comments

Target Hunger

Community Involvement, Member Agencies
Target Hunger is one of our many member agencies that have been positively involved in the Houston community during this challenging time. Check out their response to Covid-19 and how they manage to still impact the community below!How has Covid-19 affected the way you serve the Houston community? Our normal day-to-day includes picking up surplus food from grocery stores, produce distributors, retailers, hotels and convention centers, sports arenas, etc. and delivering this perfectly edible prepared and perishable food to over 90 charities across the city. COVID has affected the way we serve the community in many ways. With events being cancelled, hotels, convention centers sports arenas and caters, do not have the food they ordinarily donate. However, we received an abundance of quality items as kitchens temporarily closed, allowing us…
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15Jun 2020 by Houston ToolBank No Comments

New partnership with Green Mountain Energy Sun Club

Community Involvement, News
The Houston ToolBank is excited to announce a grant from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club to support an increase in sustainability at the ToolBank. The first part of the grant is in support of our new rain capture system, which includes the installation of a 500 galloon metal rain tank to gather the water that falls on the ToolBank's roof. The roof, which is over 12,000 square feet, will collect 85 gallons per inch of rain that falls. This rain will be used by our staff, members and volunteers to clean tools, saving water and reducing runoff into the Denver Harbor neighborhood. Rainwater capture system, with information panel to teach visitors! The second element is support for two off-the-grid shipping containers that will be placed in Katy and League City…
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04Mar 2020 by Houston ToolBank No Comments

Living Paradigm CDC Volunteer House Project

Community Involvement
We love seeing our member agencies play a positive role in our community! April Ward has been a Board Member of Living Paradigm CDC for 6 years, and has been in the Director Role after Harvey. The Living Paradigm CDC organization recently participated in the Volunteer House project on Independence- Studewood Heights in Houston. The volunteers included All Hands and Hearts and other local volunteers. They rebuilt a fence that had fallen down after Harvey between the volunteer house and their neighbor Ms Washington using some of the best tools here at the Houston Community Toolbank. You guys rock! All Hands and Hearts Volunteer rebuilding a damged home.
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18Feb 2020 by Houston ToolBank No Comments

City of Pasadena Parks and Recreation Volunteer Project

Community Involvement
One of many of our member agencies have recently partaken in a positive community event. We love being able to lend out our tools to our members who are actively and positively serving in the community. Take a look at the wonderful things this member agency is doing! Tammy DeLosSantos is the Grant Writer for the City of Pasadena Parks and Recreation. They recently held the Apache Tree Planting Project at Crenshaw Park and Preston Medians in Pasadena TX on February 1, 9-11 A.M. There were 100 Volunteers from Pasadena ISD and other local volunteers. The project consisted of an award that was awarded to the organization with a tree grant of 100 trees by the Apache Corporation. The ToolBank has helped this organization by filling in the gaps when…
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13Jan 2020 by Houston ToolBank No Comments

Welcome 2020 Board Members!

Toolbank Board
It's finally 2020 and man do we have some exciting things in store for the new year! We are ecstatic to have an impeccable team of talented individuals who come together to make the Houston ToolBank an impactful organization. As we accelerate into a new decade, we are eager to lend out a helping hand to those in need, and are extremely grateful to have such an engaged board of directors. We appreciate their generous support, time, and dedication.. Climb aboard as we introduce this year's board members. John Byrd (Byrd GEO), Jennifer Casey (Houston Responds), John Crabb (90mph), John Goodrich (SPX Flow), Lauren Hollins (Rice MBA Board Fellow), Danielle Lincoln (Chevron), Tony Nicosia (Cox Automotive), Joe Quinto (Team Rubicon), Vanessa Richards (KPRC Channel 2), Roger Spee ( Stanley Oil…
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17Dec 2019 by Houston ToolBank No Comments

Welcome To The Toolbank!

Toolbank Board, VISTA's At The Toolbank!
Hey everyone! I am Carleshia Davis from Houston, TX. I’m a new Communications and Events VISTA and I will be serving at The Houston Community ToolBank. While here, I will work to promote the positive impact the organization has in our community.  I am exhilarated to serve and take part in being the solution to problems across my city! Prior to starting service as an AmeriCorps VISTA, I recently graduated college. As a fresh college graduate, I was a bit lost in trying to figure out an occupation that was for me. After using my resources and reaching out to a previous educator, I gained some direction in what it was I wanted to do. As an active member in my community, I wanted to be more involved and become…
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18Nov 2019 by Houston ToolBank No Comments

Mayor’s Proud Partners Awards

Toolbank Board
John Crabb The award accepted by Chairman of the ToolBank Board On November 14, 2019 Keep Houston Beautiful hosted the 35th Mayor’s Proud Partners Awards. That award ceremony spotlighted 19 exceptional projects and programs, supported by businesses, individuals, youth and community groups that have made a positive, lasting impact while giving back to the City of Houston’s environment. The award ceremony was held at the Hilton Americas hotel and included a delicious brunch breakfast. Second Servings, a fellow member agency of the ToolBank, took the excess prepared food from the ceremony and delivered it promptly and safely to charitable meal providers. This Is one example on how the ceremony hosted and coordinated by Keep Houston Beautiful's Executive Director, Amy Reed, worked tirelessly to ensure that it exemplified it's theme with…
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