DALLAS, Nov. 30, 2021 – North Texas families in need of new home furnishings and related goods, like diapers, tools, bedding, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and more, will have the opportunity to get those items for free during the Morning Star Prayer Center Hope on the Horizon Holiday Giveaway. Registration is not required for the drive-up giveaway, which takes place from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Forest Hill Civic and Convention Center (6901 Forest Hill Drive, 76140). 

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The Morning Star Prayer Center Hope on the Horizon Holiday event is co-sponsored by humanitarian aid organization World Vision and Fort Worth-based Community National Title, in partnership with the City of Forest Hill, to help families still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic address basic needs as the holiday season kicks into high gear. It is open to the public and includes special outreach to faculty, staff, students and family members of schools in seven DFW-area school districts, including Bynum, Everman, Fort Worth, Frost, Hubbard, Milford and Mount Calm Independent School Districts.

​The giveaway is one of many outreach efforts Morning Star Prayer Center co-founder Helen Epps has launched in recent years to provide spiritual and natural provisions to families in need, both locally and abroad. Epps has been at the forefront of pandemic relief efforts since 2019 and has stepped up to provide similar support following the devastation left behind in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

​In March, Helen was publicly recognized by World Vision for helping distribute food and essential items to thousands of North Texans – over 120,000 this year alone. And since joining forces with World Vision three years ago, her non-profit team has provided food, furnishings, family emergency kits, school supplies and more to well over a quarter million Texas residents.

“I’ve witnessed how Elder Epps is able to quickly distribute the resources we provide – furnishing homes, putting food in pantries, giving hope to perfect strangers – and she’s done it all by grace, through faith and with fervent prayer,” said Roberta Taylor, World Vision U.S. Coordinator for North Texas Partnerships. “I only hope our partnership continues to grow so we can reach more and more of the world’s most vulnerable families.”

And Epps wouldn’t have it any other way. The former president of the Greater Fort Worth Association of REALTORS® knows what it feels like to work, not eat and go without the most basic needs during the holiday season. And she allows her most painful memories to fuel her purpose.

“Every gift we give through Morning Star Prayer Center is a gift I’ve received,” said Epps. “I see a piece of myself in each person we’re able to bless, so to be able to give back a measure of the love I’ve received means everything to me.” 

Participating families are encouraged to arrive early for Saturday’s contactless giveaway. Volunteers will load items directly into vehicles to maintain safe social distancing and ensure the health and safety of event goers. To volunteer to help load vehicles during the Hope on the Horizon Holiday event or to support future Morning Star Prayer Center efforts, visit morningstarprayerctr.com or call 817.413.9414. Learn more about World Vision and donate to support the organization’s U.S.-based Christian humanitarian outreach at worldvisionusprograms.org.

ABOUT MORNING STAR PRAYER CENTER

Morning Star Prayer Center is a Fort Worth-based Christian non-profit organization offering weekly prayer, restoration and resources to ministers, families and communities battling food insecurity, financial hardship, crisis recovery and spiritual fatigue. At Morning Star Prayer Center, people of all backgrounds organically come to know Jesus Christ through prayer, fellowship, authentic relationship and the love of God’s people. For more information, visit morningstarprayerctr.com. 

​ABOUT WORLD VISION 

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit WorldVision.org/media-center or on Twitter at @WorldVisionUSA.

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CONTACT:

Roberta Taylor
World Vision U.S. Coordinator for North Texas Partnerships
Phone: 469.253.5205 
Cell: 469.733.8611
rtaylor@worldvision.org
3325 Roy Orr Blvd. Suite 300
Grand Prairie, Texas 75050
worldvisionusprograms.com