September 15, 2026
Wellness, Made Welcoming
A look back at our Care Connections Health and Wellness Fair
Last month, we brought our Friends of the Children – Houston community together for Care Connections, our Health and Wellness Fair. BakerRipley opened their space, giving our youth, families, and neighbors a place to gather.
The goal was simple: put good resources and good company in the same place and let people take what they need. Local organizations came ready to meet parents and caregivers and share resources that can support their families. But Care Connections wasn't just about finding information. It was about creating a space where our youth and families could relax, spend time together, and enjoy being part of their community.
Our youth made the most of the afternoon, with outdoor games, a puppet show, face painting, and dancing. Kona Ice kept everyone cool with shaved ice, and Salata provided healthy lunches so families and guests could sit down and get to know one another. Those are the moments that matter, kids playing together and caregivers meeting other caregivers.
None of it happens without our community partners and sponsors. BakerRipley, Kona Ice, Salata, and the many organizations that joined us helped create a day where families could find what they needed and also laugh, play, eat, and make a few memories. It felt less like a resource fair and more like a neighborhood get-together.
An event like this is an extension of how we work. Our mentors spend years alongside our youth and their caregivers, and we've never done that alone. The families we serve are already connected to schools, clinics, and neighborhood organizations doing their own good work. When we're in the same room with those partners, all of us reach further. That's what community looks like.