© 2026 WRVO Public Media
NPR News for Central New York
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

One Houston Church's Helping Hands

Deon Coleman scans the Astrodome for her son.
Carrie Kahn, NPR
Deon Coleman scans the Astrodome for her son.

Countless evacuees from hurricane-affected areas have been helped by Houston churches. One of those is the Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, located in one of south Houston's poorest neighborhoods.

Pastor Ronald Smith has been coordinating the church's relief efforts, which include serving meals, collecting clothes and finding apartments for survivors.

One of Smith's missions was to help evacuee Deon Coleman find her son, from whom she was separated during the transfer from New Orleans' Superdome. The two were finally reunited, along with extended family members who are now receiving much-needed assistance from Mt. Calvary.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Tags
Carrie Kahn is NPR's International Correspondent based in Mexico City, Mexico.
Recent cuts to federal funding are challenging our mission to serve central and upstate New York with trusted journalism, vital local coverage, and the diverse programming that informs and connects our communities. This is the moment to join our community of supporters and help keep journalists on the ground, asking hard questions that matter to our region.

Stand with public media and make your gift today—not just for yourself, but for all who depend on WRVO as a trusted resource and civic cornerstone in central and upstate New York.