Dear BBBS Families,
We’re excited to invite you to a special event designed to support and celebrate you and your Littles! On Saturday, November 22, join us at BBBS Greater Houston for a morning filled with expert guidance and stylish empowerment. Whether you're seeking answers about your child's educational or developmental needs or looking to help your daughter feel confident in a new outfit, this is a wonderful opportunity to do either—or both!
- 📣 Special Needs Support Fair- Get answers from experts on your child's educational needs
- 🌸 Pink Spines Closet- Shop new and gently used clothing for girls and teens
📅 Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
🕙 Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Big Brothers Big Sisters – Greater Houston, 1003 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77002
Click here to register: https://forms.gle/bdJjQi6nZBpQxfz99
📣 Special Needs Support Fair: Join us for a free, hands-on event designed to support families of children with special needs. Meet professionals, ask questions, and get practical advice in a welcoming, judgment-free space.
💬 Experts On-Site:
Developmental Pediatrician – Learn about developmental levels, ADHD, genetic causes of delays, and where to seek medical help.
Dentist – Tips for oral hygiene with non-cooperative individuals.
Behavior Specialist – Strategies to reduce behavior challenges.
Reading Specialist – Literacy assessments, Dyslexia testing, phonics programs, and parent support.
Speech Therapist – Help with speech/language concerns and free/low-cost resources.
Occupational Therapist – Fine motor development and therapy options.
Physical Therapist – Gross motor development and therapy options.
Special Education Team – Review IEPs, testing, and ARD meeting advice.
Insurance Specialist – Guidance on Medicaid and ACA policies for children with special needs.
Additionally – A parent of a special needs child available to listen and share experiences, and a Resource table with recreation and job opportunity flyers.
We're also proud to unveil:
🌸 Pink Spines Closet – A Community-Driven Space for Littles and Their Families
Step into confidence with free clothing, shoes, and accessories thoughtfully curated to help Littles shine—whether at school, work, or special occasions.
👚👗👠What’s Inside:
-Racks of new and gently loved items for tweens and teens
-Styles that reflect confidence and personal expression
-Volunteers on-site to help style outfits and guide guests through the closet
👨👩👧👦 Who Can Shop: Littles and their families are welcome to browse and select items completely free of charge.
🕒 Open only during select BBBS events, during designated hours.
Pink Spines Closet is a proud community partner of BBBS Lone Star – Greater Houston.
While they are participating in BBBS-hosted events, please note that Pink Spines Closet operates independently. If you choose to explore their closet, click on their link, or submit a request form, you’ll be interacting directly with Pink Spines Closet. Any information you share will be managed by their organization and may be shared with BBBS only as needed.
We’re grateful for both partnership and the valuable resources they offer to families.
Hope to see you there,
Janis Doty (She/Hers)
Special Projects Coordinator
📞 Office/Text: 281-531-8819
📧 Email: [email protected]
Want timely updates about upcoming events, resources, and opportunities?
If you are Big Brother or Big Sister and are on Facebook, please join our BBBS Greater Houston Community-based Bigs Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/bbbshoustonbigs
If you are a Parent/Guardian, please join our BBBS Greater Houston Parent/Guardian group: www.facebook.com/groups/bbbsparentsguardians
We post reminders, updates, and helpful info—don’t miss out!
BBBS PARTNERSHIPS
Sailing Angels with Captain Dave
Description: Matches and Families are invited to learn about sailing and sailing safety, and then enjoy a sailing adventure! The sailing adventure is about two to two and a half hours long. The first half hour is spent getting to know the crew and sailing safety, and when you leave the dock, Littles help steer the boat as you motor out to open water. Littles will learn knot-tying, navigation, and piloting of the sailboat along the way. Once the sails are raised, Littles can take the helm and steer the boat!
Date: Please select your day (during the week or weekends) on the link below.
Time: Be at the dock by about 9:30am for pre-boarding safety training so you are prepared to set sail by 10am.
Location: The boat departs from a marina in Kemah. Exact location will be delivered with confirmation.
Registration Link to Sign Up: Sailing Angels
YMCA Memberships for Littles and Bigs: FREE YMCA Memberships for Littles and Bigs: The YMCA of Greater Houston partners with BBBS to offer free memberships to Littles and Bigs. Membership is valid for one year and may be renewed as long as the Little/Big is active or the Little is on our waitlist. If the Match closes, membership discontinues the following month. Parents/Guardians must accompany the youth to the YMCA to complete their enrollment. Children under age 12 cannot use the YMCA facility without the presence of a Parent/Guardian or Big. Active Bigs and Active or waitlist youth may click this link and a membership application will be mailed: YMCA Sign-Up
tutoredbrAIn.com is a free tool that can help improve reading comprehension with the use of innovative technology. This web app utilizes AI-generated short stories and questions to help readers enhance their ability to understand and retain information. Everyone should have access to high-quality reading material and the tools to develop their reading comprehension skills. The goal is to create a community of lifelong learners who can confidently engage with various types of text and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. At tutoredbrAIn.com, they are committed to promoting literacy and helping individuals achieve their full potential.
REMINDERS
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has announced a national partnership with T-Mobile, where we have the opportunity to connect our eligible Little/Mentee families to the T-Mobile Project 10 Million. This initiative has T-Mobile providing FREE 100 GB of internet per year for 5 years AND a FREE hotspot (including free shipping) to qualifying families. There are no fees, costs or annual re-certifications. Check out the following link to see the eligibility requirements and to learn more: T-Mobile Project 10 Million
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is offering tips to our volunteers on how to make the most of the Match relationships with Littles and their families. During each episode, you’ll hear from a Big and a Parent/Guardian as they share how they’ve enriched their mentoring relationship through positive experiences, collaboration, and engagement. You can listen to episodes 1-5 by clicking here: https://bbbsofamerica.podbean.com/
MATCH ACTIVITIES IDEAS:
- Miller Outdoor Theatre has free performances all summer long: https://www.milleroutdoortheatre.com/performance-list/
- Discovery Green has free yoga, Tai Chi, Screen on the Green, and a lot of fun activities for Bigs+Littles and Littles+Families.
- Check out Hello Woodlands for fun and free events in the Woodlands/
- Houston on the cheap is your resource for saving money on entertainment, fun, restaurant deals, special events and other bargains: https://www.houstononthecheap.com/
- Looking for a list of Things to do in Houston, with kids? Check here for restaurants, activities, things to do, and places to go: https://www.jillbjarvis.com/
- For a list of 365 Things To Do In Houston, you can find general activities and events here: https://365thingsinhouston.com/\
- Every Thursday, the Houston Museum District opens its most popular museums for free! Explore the Children’s Museum https://www.cmhouston.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmbhouston, Museum of Fine Arts https://www.mfah.org/visit/visiting-mfah-free/, the Museum of Natural Science https://www.hmns.org/, the Health Museum https://thehealthmuseum.org/visit/, and others for absolutely no admission fee. Location: Museum District, Houston TX 77005
- Explore the Houston Zoo for free on the first Tuesday afternoon of each month during the school year! See animals, climb through the piranha tank tunnel, pet the goats, and more! More info here: https://www.houstonzoo.org/plan-your-visit/prices-and-discounts/free-tuesdays/ Location: Museum District, Houston TX 77005
- Watch an estimated 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats take flight at sunset from the Waugh Drive Bridge Bat Colony Location: Allen Parkway at Waugh, 77002
- Get a free boat ride in, either from Galveston to Bolivar and back (you might spot some dolphins on this one!) or on a tour of the Houston Ship Channel
- Visit the Houston Police Department’s stable that is home to nearly 40 police horses. Bring carrots, apples, and peppermints to feed them—just make sure you’ve got a big bag!
- Experience the light sequences of James Turrell Twilight Epiphany Skyspace art installations, occurring daily at sunrise and sunset
- Explore scenic walking trails, embark on a kids' scavenger hunt, and enjoy beautiful 60-acre gardens at Mercer Botanic Gardens
- Play tennis, skateboard, explore the playground, & more at the Alief Neighborhood Center and Park
- Take a walk, enjoy a picnic, or play ball at one of Houston’s most beloved and iconic landmarks - Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park
If you are Big Brother or Big Sister and are on Facebook, please join our BBBS Greater Houston Community-based Bigs Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbbshoustonbigs
If you are a Parent/Guardian, please join our BBBS Greater Houston Parent/Guardian group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbbsparentsguardians
SERVICES AND TOOLS FROM OTHER AGENCIES AND PARTNERS:
- A free, confidential helpline operated by United Way of Greater Houston, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, the 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE connected more than 1.25 million of our neighbors with help in 2023. Top calls were for utility assistance, rent and mortgage assistance, housing, public benefits assistance, and food assistance. https://unitedwayhouston.org/what-we-do/211-texas-united-way-helpline/
- If you or a person you know is thinking about harming themselves or needs to talk to someone — get immediate support. Use this link to the Trevor Project to connect via chat or text or call 1-866-488-7386. You can also call or text The 988 Lifeline at 988 (chat: 988lifeline.org)
- Hopelab, CenterLink and The It Gets Better Project have a free online resource for LGBTQ+ youth imi to support their mental health and well-being
- Chat with like-minded peers in live chats designed for youth! Q-Chat provides online discussion groups for LGBTQ+ and questioning teens ages 13 to 19.
- The Family Acceptance Project offers a plethora of resources including, but not limited to, a family support resource guide, an educator guide for supporting families, and educational posters about the importance of family acceptance available in 11 languages.