Operation Bayou City Blitz

November 7-15, 2020 | Houston, Texas

Members of the Houston platoon at a food drive as part of Operation Nourish

Event Overview

Operation Bayou City Blitz is a month-long injection of resources, energy, and volunteer-force into our ongoing, long-term operations in Houston. The city is home to an incredibly diverse population and is known for its rodeo, oil industry, and space center. Yet like many urban centers, Houston faces challenges including unemployment, declining population, and food insecurity – all made worse by the effects of COVID-19.

Since 2015, our five service platoons, comprised of over 900 volunteers have been collaborating with partners on the ground to tackle challenges like food insecurity, access to safe community spaces, and more.

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in August 2017 as a Category 4 storm, dumping more than 275 trillion pounds of rain on the city over the course of several days and claiming at least 88 lives. The communities where our service platoon members live and serve saw over 65% of their homes damaged. Though the storm has passed, Houston’s recovery efforts are still ongoing.

Since 2017, our veteran-leaders have been responding in-force to work with community members in revitalizing neighborhoods throughout Houston like Independence Heights and Kashmere Gardens. Veteran volunteers helped clean debris, repaired damaged houses, hosted food drives and more.

Operation Bayou City Blitz will continue this recovery effort. A force of veteran-led volunteers will mobilize alongside our Houston Service Platoons, partners, volunteers, and program sponsors to advance these recovery efforts and unite the community through service.

Partners

Join us for Operation Bayou City Blitz in Houston!

Join us for one of the project days

We’ll be gathering for five project days over two weeks to have an impact across Houston—and we want you to join us! Check out our projects below, and click through to register.

COVID-19 Safety: In accordance with state and federal guidance to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all projects will have a cap on volunteers. Social distancing and sanitation will be a priority, and face coverings will be required.

Jane Long Academy & Las Americas Newcomer School

November 7, 2020 | 9AM – 4PM

These two schools share the same campus in the Gulfton community and served as a supply distribution center for more than 400 families after Hurricane Harvey. The campus serves a large refugee student population and is the first point of entry into academia for many.

We will be refurbishing the Jane Long Academy’s outdoor space including building an outdoor classroom, seating, and communal lounge space. At Los Americas Newcomer School, volunteers will add pops of color throughout the campus including a school mascot mural, and upgrade outdoor learning areas including creating a trauma-sensitive garden, landscaping, and peer meditation spaces.

 

Register

Blodgett Urban Gardens

November 8, 2020 | 9AM – 4PM

The garden is on 2.3 acres and about two-thirds of the land is planted; join us as we work to support Blodgett Urban Gardens in their goal to refurbish the space and have it fully cultivated by the end of 2021.

 

Register

Independence Heights

November 11, 2020 | 9AM – 4PM

Homes in Independence Heights are continually affected by hurricanes and tropical storms. In partnership with Independence Heights Redevelopment Council, we will focus on exterior painting and landscaping for homes affected by flood damage so that residents can return to their lives. 

We will also provide signage and beautification efforts that will help the community in their goal to be recognized as a part of the Emancipation Trail, a 51-mile trail that would show the migration route used by newly freed slaves and other people of African descent in the 19th century. As one of the first black communities, and recorded as its own city in the 1920 Census, we will help Independence Heights display the stories and landmarks of their community as a result of our project.

 

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Kashmere High School

November 14, 2020 | 9AM – 4PM

We will beautify the space outdoors and create outdoor study spaces on school grounds. We will also refresh the interior of the building to add school colors and school spirit, and complete outdoor landscaping to further beautify the campus.

 

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Veterans Retreat Center

November 15, 2020 | 9AM – 4PM

The VRC acts as a gathering space for community members, families, and groups to spend time connecting outdoors and was severely impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Join us as we work together to refresh and restore the outdoor areas of the Veteran Retreat Center. We will be building, planting and more!

 

Register

Our Impact in Houston

Mass Deployment Setting out a vision for Operation Bayou City Blitz
National Days of Service/Service Platoons Houston Veterans Serve to Honor 9/11
All Houston Veterans Honor And Make An Impact In Celebration Of Veterans Day  
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Operation Bayou City Blitz is supported by

Presenting Sponsors