Kelly Hickman: Strengthening Community Impact as New Community Vice President of the Junior League of Houston | Community

Kelly Hickman, a Garden Oaks resident and newly appointed Community Vice President of the Junior League of Houston, is on a mission to increase the League’s impact through enhanced community projects and volunteer engagement. With a focus on both financial contributions and the power of trained volunteers, Hickman aims to highlight and support local nonprofits, ensuring their vital work is recognized and supported by the broader community.

“My top priority for Junior League community projects this year is to find ways to increase the impact of our programs in our community through trained volunteers and financial contributions,” Hickman said. “I would like to see the League use its resources to showcase these wonderful nonprofits, not only to League members, but also to the outside community through publications like this one. This will further strengthen the support they receive from others.”

The impact of volunteering: making a difference in the heights

The Junior League of Houston plans to contribute approximately $2 million in volunteer time and direct financial support to several projects in the Heights area. Hickman provides detailed examples of how this support will benefit local projects and organizations:

Kids Meals in Houston

Located in Garden Oaks, Kids’ Meals Houston addresses food insecurity for children ages 5 and under who are unable to access free school meal programs. The organization also provides healthy meals to children ages 18 and under when school is not in session.

“The Junior League provides approximately 45 volunteers who each volunteer 60 hours of time within the organization to prepare these healthy meals,” Hickman said. “We also contribute financial assistance and program support to cover the cost of the meals our volunteers produce.”

OURS…Be a resource for children in child protective services

BEAR is the only 501(c)(3) organization that works with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, providing basic needs and support services to children. Junior League volunteers support the BEAR Necessity Room by stocking and maintaining donated clothing, toys and toiletries.

“Our volunteers also purchase the items needed to keep the warehouse well stocked,” Hickman said. “We provide about 10 volunteers who each volunteer about 60 hours and provide additional financial support.”

DePelchin Children’s Center

DePelchin provides comprehensive services to ensure that all children live in safe, caring homes.

“We dedicate the majority of our volunteer time to the residential treatment center to help children removed from their homes in Fort Bend County,” Hickman notes. “We are also supporting the construction of a new Junior League of Houston Volunteer Services building at the DePelchin headquarters, which is expected to be completed in June 2025.”

Children’s Defenders

Child Advocates volunteers represent the best interests of children in foster care. The Junior League supports this organization by offering remote activities such as creating therapeutic scrapbooks for children.

“We also participate in special projects like holiday parties, Children’s Festival and quarterly birthday parties,” Hickman says. “Particularly in the Greater Heights area, we participate in Childspree, where volunteers work with a child to purchase school supplies at a local Target store.”

Beyond the Heights: Initiatives with a Wider Impact

While many of the initiatives are concentrated in the Heights neighborhood, the Junior League is expanding its reach throughout Houston. One of the most notable programs is offering free cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes, available in the Galleria neighborhood. These classes include training for health care providers and a Heartsaver course that covers cardiopulmonary resuscitation, use of a stand-alone external defibrillator and relief of choking in adults and children. “Registration information is available on the Junior League website,” Hickman adds.

Additionally, the League provides volunteers for various one-time opportunities through its IMPACT placement, ensuring that trained volunteers are available for events throughout Houston, including the Greater Heights area.

Kelly Hickman’s leadership as Vice President of Community promises to bring increased visibility and support to the vital work of local nonprofits. Her dedication to leveraging the resources of the Junior League and the power of volunteers will undoubtedly strengthen the fabric of the Houston community, creating lasting positive change.

Garden Oaks resident Kaitlyn Evins Zapalac is also a member of JLH’s 2024-25 Executive Committee, serving as Vice President of Finance. Other members of the Executive Committee for this term include Mary Lee Wilkens, President; Katherine “Katie Doyle, President-Elect; Judy Peterson, Vice President of Development; Michelle Esparza, Vice President of Membership; and Jennifer Williams, Recording Secretary.

To learn more about the Junior League of Houston and the different ways it supports the Houston community, visit jlh.org.