Cypress Community Assistance Ministries

CAM's goal to restore individuals and families to self-sufficiency is accomplished on several fronts. Client Assistance serves people who are struggling financially due to a crisis, providing short-term help for rent or mortgage and utilities. These individuals go through a one-on-one interview with an Assistance Counselor, and a determination is made as to the effectiveness of short-term assistance. CAM's goal of all families in our area having enough to eat is accomplished through our Food Pantry. Senior citizens and adults with mobility issues receive home delivery of food once a month. For people who are unemployed or underemployed, Operation Jobs provides services to help secure permanent full-time employment. For individuals who need instruction in the English language, year-round ESL classes are provided. For people who need assistance preparing for GED testing, CAM offers year-round GED classes in addition to one-on-one tutoring. All programs are geared to offer a helping hand to people who are struggling to get back on their feet.

CAM has been successfully helping members of the community for over 30 years by providing these programs and services:

• Client Assistance provides emergency financial assistance and food for qualifying families and individuals. Emergency financial help is available primarily for rent and utilities. The Food Pantry allows individuals and families to "shop" with points for the food, toiletries, and cleaning supplies they and their families need.
• Special Delivery provides home delivery of food, toiletries, paper goods, and cleaning supplies to senior citizens and disabled people with mobility issues.
• Operation Jobs provides one-on-one job counseling, resume preparation, cover letter preparation and reference letter requests. Job leads are updated daily and are emailed to clients on a regular basis. Clients are educated on interview skills and salary negotiation.
• GED classes are offered on a year-round basis and a waiting list is maintained.
• Four levels of ESL classes are provided on a year-round basis.
• Merriment at the Ministry is CAM’s Christmas program, providing a generous distribution of toys to underprivileged children in the community.
• At Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas individuals and families receive boxes of food with not only the ingredients for a tasty holiday meal, but with food for the family while the children are on break from school.
• CAM's Back to School program ensures each child in the area starts school with their own backpack, school supplies, new underwear, and a pair of new shoes. Each child is also provided a voucher to be used to purchase clothing in Angels' Attic, CAM's resale store.
• Angels’ Attic, CAM’s resale store, allows people to shop with vouchers from Client Assistance. Clothing, household goods, and more are available for purchase at affordable prices by the community as well, with all proceeds going to fund the ministry.

Cypress Assistance Ministries' 30 year history of serving the community is testament to our capability of meeting the goals. We evaluate the needs of the community and maintain or modify programs based on those needs. CAM’s key strengths include the organization’s demonstrated ability to provide high quality, necessary services, which help people gain their self-sufficiency. Staff is committed, and the services and programs offered are monitored for quality. When there is a challenge, the organization meets it through innovation. CAM has an excellent reputation and is looked to by other service providers as a leader. In addition, assets include a Board of Directors with several members that possess deep experience in business, finance, and accounting who practice proper governance and oversight, all while supporting the staff; multiple revenue streams including a resale store that funds the majority of the administrative costs; a clear mission, filling basic needs in the community; a strong supportive volunteer base; and the ability to evaluate, make changes, and move forward as the needs in the community evolve.

Over the course of the last 30 years Cypress Assistance Ministries has grown from a one-person local outreach ministry feeding people from the backseat of a car to an effective 501(c)3 community organization that serves over 15,000 people per year. The next step is to locate all services under one roof with the space to add and expand programs.