Faith West Academy is known for their high academic standards and Christian education. They have been a staple in the Katy community since the early ’80s. We have shared about Faith West’s curriculum and their individualized learning, but we think they also deserve recognition for their community outreach.
Faith West is committed to the families of Katy and the surrounding areas. Faith West gives back to the community through several outreach projects. They have a non-profit organization, the Eagle Initiative, and they give back each year to Living Water International which provides clean water to communities in needs. What we want to showcase today is their work with Child Protective Services here in Houston.
Each year, Faith West hosts several events for CPS. Some events are geared toward providing the children in CPS care with fun activities in which they might not otherwise have an opportunity to participate. One of this events is the CPS Christmas Dinner.
CPS Christmas Dinner
This year will be Faith West’s 10th year sponsoring this event. 50-70 children in foster homes and shelters throughout the Houston area are invited to attend a night of fun that many of them have never experienced. Siblings are brought together than no longer live with each other and they get to experience the magic of Christmas because of Faith West’s generosity. The children enjoy dinner, cookie decorating, a candy bar, a bounce house, basketball games (for the 
older students), a hayride, and a Christmas story! Santa attends so they can take pictures with Santa as well! Prior to the event each child submits to their caseworker a list of 3 things they would like for Christmas. The teachers, staff, and parents choose an “angel” to purchase gifts for. Faith West wraps them and gives them to the children at the dinner.
Cathy Sturm with FWA comments that “It actually blesses the volunteers as much as it does the children. Some of us have been doing it since the beginning and we plan around this event. It can be very heartbreaking and rewarding at the same time. To hear a child tell Santa that all he wants is to spend time with his brother or sister is hard to hear, we just hope that we bring them joy and time together at least for the evening.”
This year Faith West is expecting 70 children and they can always use the community’s help. One of those ways is by donated gift cards. Many of the children ask for gift cards, especially the older kids. They can also use monetary donations to help underwrite the cost of producing this event. Even a few extra gifts such gloves, a blanket, stuffed animals, are always appreciated as they often have someone show up that they did not have a gift list for.
To get involved, send them an email at [email protected] or call them at 281-391-5683.