At Harvest House, we’ve seen firsthand how crisis, stress, and instability can keep families stuck in survival mode. This spring we launched a bold new initiative to break that cycle—Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World, a 20-week curriculum designed to help clients understand how poverty works—and how to overcome it.
Unlike one-time financial aid or temporary relief, Getting Ahead addresses the deeper causes of poverty. Participants learn how to stabilize chaos, identify hidden barriers, navigate community resources, and create actionable plans for a better future. The program is built around reflection, discussion, and discovery. Each week, clients receive childcare, share meals, and walk together toward lasting change.
The outcomes are compelling: in similar communities, 85% of graduates saw an increase in income, 88% reduced their debt, and 92% reported a higher level of hope. That’s what this program is all about—hope.
As one participant put it:
“Understanding tyranny of the moment helps me to understand how to create more stability for my children, and this will help to avoid the pattern [..] of emotional trauma it causes [them].”
Graduates don’t just transform their own lives—they become mentors, employees, and community changemakers. They bring others into the program. They model resilience for their children. And together, they help build a stronger, more stable Burleson.
This is more than a class. It’s a turning point.
If you’ve ever been greeted in the pantry by a cheerful smile and an open heart, chances are you’ve met Brenda.
Brenda first came to Harvest House in the 80s as a mom in need — seeking clothes, pantry items, and Christmas help for her kids. Today, she’s one of the people providing that same help to others. “I like to talk to people and pray with them. Harvest House is like my family; it feels like home.”
Whether she’s stocking shelves, helping clients shop, or offering a heartfelt prayer, Brenda brings joy and compassion to everything she does. Volunteering, she says, is her therapy: “People always tell me to slow down —but I can’t. If I do, I might not move again!”
Brenda reminds us that even when life is hard, there’s always good in the world — and often, it looks a lot like her.
Her advice to anyone thinking about volunteering?
“It’s the best experience of my life. You need to do this.” If YOU are interested in volunteering, sign-up HERE.
And the Winner Is …
We’re thrilled to announce the
winner of our Off-Road Raffle:
Dustin Dreier!
Thanks to YOU—our amazing supporters—we sold 338 tickets and raised $30,800 to support vulnerable clients in our community. Every ticket purchased helped fund essential resources like food, clothing, and emergency financial aid for local families on the brink of crisis.
This raffle wasn’t just a fundraiser—it was a movement. It brought our community together in the most exciting way, uniting folks from all walks of life around a common cause: lifting up our neighbors in need.
Whether you bought a ticket, shared a post, or cheered us on from the sidelines, you helped make a real difference. From all of us at Harvest House—thank you for showing up, giving back, and making hope go off-road!
- Soups
- Canned veggies (except green beans)
- Canned tomato products
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Peanut butter & jelly
- Canned meats
- Shop at Walmart
- Shop at Amazon
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