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For the third consecutive year, Trinity Center will support our neighbors during the hottest days and times of the year by serving as an enhanced Cooling Center. Starting June 29th, and through October 1st, our extended summer hours will be Monday through Thursday from 1:00–7:00 p.m. Our regular operating hours and services from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. will remain the same throughout the summer. What can neighbors expect during our afternoon hours? - Air-conditioned indoor space - Up to 20 afternoon showers - Clothing - Meals, snacks, and refreshments throughout the afternoon - Cooling and hygiene items - Access to a rest area to sleep and recharge - And much more! WE NEED YOU to make this happen! Here are many ways you can help ⬇ SPONSOR A MEAL! 🍲 Provide a home-cooked dish, store-bought meals, or simple ingredients we can put together here! There are many options to sponsor a meal, and you can decide to sponsor one meal or up to a whole month. Cook & Serve It Cook & Drop Off Assemble On-Site Buy a Meal or Sponsor One We'll be serving 60 meals a day, and right now we need coverage for Thursdays. DONATE COOLING ITEMS! 🧴 We want to help neighbors stay prepared by providing items and resources that help them stay cool and safe. Below are some of our most-needed items: Umbrellas Sunglasses Hats Water Sunscreen Cooling towels Hydration packs Portable fans Foot powder Backpacks Everything we need is on our Amazon Wishlist—or you can shop for the items yourself and drop them off. Get creative and gather your friends and family to put together Cooling Care Kits for our neighbors. It’s a fun, meaningful way to get your community involved (kids too!) and spread some love in the hottest time of the year. 🫶 Donate clothing, ESPECIALLY MEN'S CLOTHING! 👖 What we will need most: Men’s pants/shorts (all sizes) Men’s shoes (all sizes) Belts Drop off info: 🔹 At Trinity Center: Monday to Thursday, from 9 AM to 6 PM. Fridays only until 1 PM. 🔹 At St. David's Church front desk: Tuesday to Friday, 9 AM to 2 PM, or Sunday, 9 AM to 12 PM. VOLUNTEER! ❤️ Help facilitate showers by distributing clothing to neighbors, assisting with mailing tasks, and supervising the rest area where neighbors can sleep, among other duties. In addition to meeting basic needs, we also like to create spaces that support our neighbors’ mental health and sense of community. If you or someone you know would like to lead an activity with neighbors—such as bingo, lotería, board games, or crafts/painting (we have plenty of supplies), please reach out! We would love to coordinate and work together to create something that further benefits our community. Got a skill you love sharing? Haircuts, job training, financial literacy, art, music, whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you. Let's connect and make something happen! Didn't see anything you're able to support us with right now? You can still show your support with a financial gift. Every dollar goes directly toward extending our afternoon hours and providing life-saving services that keep our neighbors safe, cared for, and out of the heat. Have questions or want to chat about a specific item? Contact Carter at carter.l@trinitycenteraustin.org. We’d love to hear from you! We truly couldn’t do this without you. THANK YOU for believing in this work and in the people we serve. ❤️

Our Barbara Jordan Gala this year was such a special night for many meaningful reasons. See some highlights below: We had the honor of celebrating our Trinity Streets churches and school partners, reflecting on the ministry that laid the foundation for what is now Trinity Center. Representatives from all eight partners joined us, sharing in the celebration of their impact and the ways they continue to positively influence our neighbors through Sunday worship and meals shared in community.  Trinity Center co-founder, Doug Bell, took us on a beautiful journey through our history, reminding us of the main purpose behind Trinity’s founding: to LOVE our neighbors. The rest of the night served as a reminder that, even 26 years later, as things have evolved and services and resources have expanded, everything still points back to that same purpose—to love our neighbors. We also had the honor of welcoming David Gray, Director of Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations and other members from the City of Austin. David shared thoughtful and passionate words about how important it is for people experiencing homelessness to have a helping hand—through agencies like ours that serve as navigation centers, through supporters who believe in our mission, and through individuals who care for one another with compassion, kindness, and nonjudgmental care. It was a night filled with gratitude and inspiration as we celebrated the crucial impact we made together for our unhoused neighbors last year, including operating a cooling center during the summer for the second year. This year's  Barbara Jordan event raised $210,000, and we are so immensely grateful for our supporters, long-time advocates of Trinity Center, volunteers, sponsors, and those who weren’t able to attend but continue to show their love in one way or another. If you weren’t able to attend this special night, it’s not too late to support and contribute to our fundraising efforts! The work continues, and our purpose, to love our neighbors in many ways, remains as strong as ever. We hope to see you next year! NOTE: Scroll down and under ‘Sub Fund’, select Barbara Jordan Donation Whether you joined us, contributed, sponsored, or supported us in any way, we are very thankful for you. 💛

Join us for the Barbara Jordan Celebration, Trinity Center's largest, most impactful fundraiser of the year! Ticket price at the door on the night of the event:  $150 Confirm attendance by emailing manuela.a@trinitycenteraustin.org   and pay at the door ! Thursday, April 9th 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM NEW LOCATION! Chez Zee Restaurant 5406 Balcones Drive In recognition of:  Sunday Ministry Partners Trinity Streets Special Guest: David Gray - Director Austin Homeless Strategies & Operations We hope you join us for an inspiring evening celebrating partners, supporters, and advocates. When we come together, change happens, hope grows, and communities thrive . See you there!

“What is Trinity Center to you?”  we asked Frank one morning over a cup of coffee. His answer came without hesitation: “Everything.”   “Trinity Center is where I eat, shower, get clothes, drink coffee and water, and receive hygiene items to stay clean and healthy. You have everything for us,”  he said.   Around the Center, Frank is known for his easy laugh and his love of music and chess. But behind his bright smile is a long journey. A Vietnam veteran, Frank has experienced homelessness on and off for years—the last eight being the hardest. “I still haven’t gotten used to being on the streets,”  he says. “It’s hard to move forward when your mind stays in the past…”   When Frank first saw the line outside Trinity Center years ago, he didn’t know what to expect.  “I thought, if people are waiting, it must be for something.”  He joined the line—and found more than a meal. He found a community.  Years later, Trinity Center is still here for Frank — not only as a place to go when he’s hungry, or to find a safe routine in the uncertainty of his days, —it’s also a place that helps him move forward. Most recently, through Trinity’s ID Assistance Program, Frank is reclaiming his vital documents, a crucial step toward becoming eligible for shelter or housing.    While waiting for permanent housing can take time, Frank makes the most of every resource Trinity offers. In addition to checking his shelter and housing status each week, Frank connects with partner organizations that visit Trinity Center to offer veteran support, medical insurance assistance, and mental health services. He was also a regular visitor during our extended hours when we served as a Cooling Center during the intense summer months.  “I was so grateful this summer to have a place to come instead of being on the streets all afternoon. When you closed at night, I was okay — I’d eaten dinner, was clean, and ready to find a place to spend the night.   This is a good place to be — good people. God bless you always,”  said Frank.   Even after 25 years, Trinity Center remains grounded in its foundation of radical hospitality . Frank’s experience reflects what your generosity makes possible every day. Because of supporters like you, Trinity Center remains a vital bridge between surviving and rebuilding —a place where neighbors find stability, dignity, and hope.    Your  gift  today ensures that neighbors like Frank continue to have a safe, welcoming space to take their next steps toward housing and healing.  Thank you for being part of meaningful change

Do you have old, broken, out-of-fashion, or just unwanted jewelry? Now is the perfect time to give it a new purpose—and create real impact for our neighbors in need. Gold 4 Good recycles and refines your old chains, rings, bracelets, mismatched cufflinks, or earrings, then donates the market value of your gold or platinum items directly to nonprofit organizations. Join us on Thursday, Dec. 4th  at Trinity Center  for a special evening with Gold4Good ! Bring any jewelry you’d like to donate and take the opportunity to learn more about Trinity—its mission, its services, and its commitment to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. Whether you’re brand-new to Trinity, somewhat familiar, or a longtime volunteer, we’d love to have you with us. Come enjoy a meaningful night of giving back in a unique and truly impactful way! When: Thursday, Dec. 4th - 6 pm to 8 pm Where: Trinity Center - 304 E 7th St Parking: Free parking at the St.David's Garage. Important information about entry: Please enter the event through Trinity Center’s main door on 7th Street. If you park in the garage, exit onto Trinity Street and walk to the main entrance. A Trinity Center team member will be outside to help with directions if needed. Donations made on the day of this event will be shared equally between Trinity Center and St. David's Episcopal Church! Can’t make it to the event but still want to donate your jewelry? You can still be part of this meaningful effort! Visit the Gold4Good website  below to explore other ways to send in your jewelry. They’ll provide a prepaid shipping label and make the process simple and hassle-free. Look for the Prepaid Shipping Label Request  as you scroll down their site. Email Board President Martha DeGrasse if you have any information about the event or would like more details! martha@degrasse.com

For its second year, Trinity Center served the downtown community as a Cooling Center—a refuge and place of rest for our unhoused neighbors during the hottest months and most dangerous hours of the day. For three months, our incredible staff and volunteers showed up with compassion, endurance, and love, creating a space where people could find safety, hydration, showers, meals, human connection, and more. What began as a response to extreme heat has become something far more meaningful—a reminder that dignity, rest, and care are essential, not optional.   As we close this year’s Cooling Center initiative, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to every staff member, volunteer group, and supporter who made it possible. Together, we served thousands of visits and met critical needs that go far beyond physical relief. We reminded our neighbors—and ourselves—that community means showing up when it matters most. Thank you for being part of this work and for helping Trinity Center remain a place of hope, welcome, and belonging in the heart of downtown Austin. We are excited to share the video below, which highlights the amazing work we accomplished this summer. Thank You. If this project moved you, you already understand how vital it is to give our unhoused neighbors hope, connection, and a place where they feel truly loved. The hottest days may be winding down, but we’re still here—serving our neighbors in every way we can—and we still need your support to keep that love and care going. 💙 Consider donating to our mission today  💙

Last Thursday, we wrapped up the final month of Cooling Center hours — with September made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of Glimmer Austin. We’re full of gratitude to Glimmer, and to all the partners, volunteers, staff, and supporters who made it possible for us to offer, for 3 months, a safe, air-conditioned space where our neighbors could rest, take showers, access meals, water, clothing, and restrooms — and, most importantly, experience care and dignity. ✨ Today, we want to share one of our visitors' testimonies— a powerful reminder of why showing up day after day this summer was so important for our unhoused community.  Latasha was one of our faithful visitors since the cooling center started. Each day, Latasha came in with her husband, Derrick, and their dog, Angel, during Cooling Center hours to find far more than relief from the heat. They were able to access daily showers, clean clothes, nourishing meals, cold water and Gatorade, bathroom access, air conditioning, and a safe place to nap for a few hours. “I’m so grateful that I get to shower almost daily, and for how clean they leave it after each person. That’s important. The staff and even security work with me when I need to shower, and they help by staying with Angel while I’m in there. This place is different in how they treat you. They treat you well here.” It’s been almost a year since Latasha experienced her first episode of homelessness, and it has been rough. In her words: “It hurts to see how people look at you differently. I used to have a job, people knew me, and now everything is different. Judgment is so cruel.” With everything that comes with being on the streets—struggling to find a job, getting into shelter, facing sleep deprivation, and dealing with the dangers of the nights—Latasha is grateful to have a place like Trinity. Not only does it give them and their dog a safe space indoors when it’s dangerously hot outside, but it also serves as a place she can count on to remind herself to keep going and keep fighting. “I’m hopeful every day that we are going to get a place someday. When that happens, oh, I am going to kiss the keys, the doorknobs, the floor—get a ladder and kiss the ceiling. I am hopeful. Thank you guys, you are nice. We will do our part and be kind; you keep doing your part, and we can all be a happy family and get things done.” If you’ve made it this far, it means our mission has touched you. You understand the importance of giving our neighbors hope, a network of support, and a place where they feel truly loved. The hottest days may be winding down, but we’re still here—serving our neighbors in every way we can—and we still need your support to keep that love and care going.

Trinity Center has successfully completed almost two months of its Summer Cooling Center , now in its second consecutive year serving the unhoused population in downtown Austin.   The Cooling Center Project officially reopened on June 30th and currently operates Monday through Thursday, 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., through the end of September.   Alongside air-conditioned rest, we are offering showers , clean clothing, housing assessments,  meals,  summer hygiene supplies, bus passes, ID assistance, services from partner organizations such as Community Care, and designated spaces for relaxation—whether for naps, playing basketball, or watching movies.  Since June 30th, the Center has recorded more than 3,000  visits and provided over 2,000  meals, more than 500  showers with clean outfits, 700+  hygiene kits, and other essential services. The continued success of this project depends on ongoing community support. WE NEED YOU TODAY! We’re counting on our community of supporters more than ever  this year so here are the many meaningful ways to get involved: Donate men’s clothing : You can purchase  underwear through our Amazon Wishlist, donate shorts, pants, and shoes, or buy them on your own  (please note, we only accept new underwear), and drop them off at our location.  Drop off info:  🔹 At Trinity Center:   Monday to Thursday, from 9 AM to 6 PM. Fridays only until 1 PM. 🔹 At St. David's Church front desk:  Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, or Sunday, 9 AM to 12 PM. Buy Men's Underwear Sponsor a meal: We want to ensure a daily afternoon meal that is nutritious and balanced. Whether a home-cooked dish, store-bought meals, or simple ingredients we can put together here, any type of contribution is deeply appreciated. There are many options to sponsor a meal. SIGN UP HERE! Volunteer your time: Meal Sign-Up Provide cooling supplies: Everything we need is on our  Amazon Wishlist —or you can shop for the items yourself and drop them off. Amazon Wishlist Want to get creative? Gather your friends and family to put together Cooling Care Kits  for our neighbors. It’s a fun, meaningful way to get your community involved (kids too!) and spread some love in the hottest time of the year.  🫶 A financial gift: Contribute funds for Cooling Center operations! Donate here! And most importantly: spread the word!  Share this with your friends, family, coworkers—anyone who might be moved to help. THANK YOU!

Every single day at Trinity Center, we welcome more than 100 neighbors through our doors. Many of our visitors are experiencing homelessness, living with very limited or no income, and some are just days away from losing their housing. They come for many reasons—breakfast, help with getting an ID, checking their mail, hygiene supplies, a warm cup of coffee—and many come for a shower and a fresh change of clothes. There are a few other places in town to shower, but what makes Trinity Center different is how  we do it—with radical hospitality, and the support of incredible volunteers who create a space that feels safe, a space where one leaves feeling dignified and cared for. Currently, we are able to offer clothes on designated shower days, and we also have dedicated clothing distribution days during the week. And if someone walks in with an urgent need for clean clothes, we do everything we can to help them on the spot. Here's the tough part: we’re running out, and we run out quickly "Being unhoused means facing an uphill battle—not just with hate and lack of resources, but for men, also with a lack of pants. Sometimes, we have to wear only shorts, even in the winter, or pajama pants, which puts us at a serious disadvantage. " - Mark - Trinity visitor Most of our visitors are men, and that’s where the need is greatest. Our donations of men's clothing simply don’t match the demand. The numbers show it—we provide clothing to more than 50 men each week —and the reality is harsh. Sometimes we just don’t have pants, shoes, or even a belt to offer. And neighbors end up leaving with unfilled clothing needs. This summer, the need is even more urgent. In July, August, and September, we’re serving as a cooling center, offering daily showers in the afternoons for both men and women, almost doubling the # of men we help with fresh clothing in a week. It’s been a life-changing resource for so many, but with the increased demand, our clothing bins and racks are stretching thin. What we need most right now: Men’s pants  (especially sizes 32–36) Men’s underwear  ( new only ) Men’s shoes  (all sizes) Belts If you want to help, here’s how to do it: 👖 Donate clothes! Ask your friends, family, coworkers, or community groups to donate! 👟 Host a men's clothing drive! Got a group of students, colleagues, neighbors, or church members? Start a small collection drive—it’s easy to set up and the impact is huge. You’ll be surprised at how many people want to help when given the chance. 🩲 Give online or send items our way! Short on time? You can still help! Donate funds online or shop directly from our wishlists. Even $10  helps us get basic items into the hands of someone who truly needs them. Drop off donations : At Trinity Center or at the front desk of St. David's Church in the donation bin, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. On Sundays, donations can be dropped off at St. David's only, from 9 AM to 12 PM. For more information about how to execute a men's clothing drive, contact Volunteer Coordinator Manuela at manuela.a@trinitycenteraustin.org Purchase through our Amazon Wishlist Financial gifts. Please write 'Men's clothing' in the memo to ensure the funds are allocated specifically for this purpose. Taking a shower and putting on clean clothes shouldn’t be a luxury—it’s a basic human right. It’s about dignity, comfort, and being seen. THANK YOU for helping us ensure no one walks out our doors without the essentials they deserve.

“I never thought I’d be in this situation,”  James told us, reflecting on how quickly life changed. It’s a phrase many of us could say—but for James and so many of our neighbors, it became all too real. James grew up in San Marcos. He had a job, friends, and loving parents who always had his back. Life was stable—until it wasn’t. When his parents fell seriously ill, James gave up everything—his job, his relationship, his home in another city—to care for them. Ten days. That’s how quickly his world changed. He lost both parents within ten days of each other. And in their absence, he was left not only with heartbreak, but also with their home, debts, and no safety net. The weight of grief, bills, and unemployment began to close in. Eventually, he lost the house—and with it, his footing in the world. Suddenly, James found himself living on the streets, navigating fear, isolation, and the daily struggle for survival. The harm these situations cause to a person’s mental health is often not emphasized enough—and how easily one can slip into drug abuse as a result. That’s what happened to James. In May, James walked into Trinity Center for help with ID assistance. He found more than just paperwork support—he found people who saw him, who welcomed him. Since then, James has become a part of our community. He receives his mail here, picks up clean clothes, and watches movies with popcorn and lemonade on Fridays, and comes on Sundays for a worship service. He told us that taking communion has helped him stay grounded and resist falling back into addiction. “It’s helped me stay focused,”  he said. “It’s helped me feel a little like myself again.” When we launched our Cooling Center  in July—with extended hours, showers, meals, air conditioning, and more—James became one of our most frequent visitors. Every afternoon, he gets to shower and get fresh clothes, and enjoy a safe place to sit, relax, watch TV and just be. He recently started playing basketball in the gym with other neighbors, something that’s brought both movement and joy into his days. With our extended hours, case management has become more accessible—and James is now working one-on-one with our team to retrieve his documents, become eligible for work again, and ultimately reconnect with the life he lost. 'I just want to feel normal again, go back to work, and get in touch with the people I care about—the ones I pushed away during these years,' he told us. 'I want to feel happy again. '" James is one of many in the unhoused community downtown who just need a little push—a bit of help to regain hope. And we’re grateful to be able to offer that. The Cooling Center is so much more than cold water and air conditioning—it’s about reminding our neighbors that they’re not alone, that being safe from extreme weather shouldn’t be a privilege, and that they are human, with rights and dignity, just like everyone else. Stories like James’s—about regaining hope and access to basic needs once taken for granted—are only possible thanks to contributions from YOU, our supporters, who believe so wholeheartedly in our mission and in the work we do. Together, we’re not just meeting basic needs—we’re reminding people they matter. Help us keep going—for James, and for the many others still waiting for that small but powerful push toward a better tomorrow.

Trinity Center is once again stepping up to serve as a Cooling Center  this summer—offering life-saving relief from the dangerous Texas heat to our unhoused neighbors. Starting on June 30th, our extended hours will be  Monday through Thursday, from 1:00–7:00 p.m. Services that will be provided: Daily showers, meals, cooling and hygiene items, bus passes, mail checks, ID assistance, MAP assistance, and more. WE NEED YOU TODAY! We’re counting on our community of supporters more than ever this year so here are the many meaningful ways to get involved: Donate men’s clothing : Daily showers are one of the most cherished services during our Cooling Center hours.  Each day, 25 to 30 neighbors will have the chance to enjoy a refreshing, private shower. While we’re grateful to have shower facilities available, we face an ongoing challenge: providing clean men's underwear and shorts or pants for guests to change into after their shower.  Help us elevate this service! You can purchase underwear through our Amazon Wishlist, donate shorts, pants, and shoes, or buy them on your own (please note, we only accept new underwear), and drop them off at our location.  Drop off info:  🔹 At Trinity Center: Monday to Thursday, from 9 AM to 6 PM. Fridays only until 1 PM. 🔹 At St. David's Church front desk:  Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, or Sunday, 9 AM to 12 PM. Volunteer your time Sponsor a meal: We want to ensure a daily afternoon meal that is nutritious and balanced. Whether a home-cooked dish, store-bought meals, or simple ingredients we can put together here, any type of contribution is deeply appreciated. There are many options to sponsor a meal. Provide cooling supplies: Everything we need is on our Amazon Wishlist —or you can shop for the items yourself and drop them off. Want to get creative? Gather your friends and family to put together Cooling Care Kits for our neighbors. It’s a fun, meaningful way to get your community involved (kids too!) and spread some love in the hottest time of the year.  🫶 A financial gift: Contribute funds for Cooling Center operations! And most importantly: spread the word!  Share this with your friends, family, coworkers—anyone who might be moved to help.

We are happy to share that we surpassed our fundraising goal  of $215,000 through ticket sales, sponsorships, and generous night-of donations! For 25 years running, we’ve been blessed with a community whose support fills us with hope, gratitude, and appreciation. Your love for Trinity Center and our neighbors continues to inspire us year after year. Click the pictures to see the full gallery Click the pictures to see the full gallery Credits: Photographers of Westlake If you attended, donated, sponsored, or in any other way showed up in support of our mission  —  THANK YOU!  It was a night united by one common bond—Trinity Center—and one shared goal:  to uplift our neighbors in body, mind, and spirit with the care and resources they deserve.💛 Shout-out to our sponsors: Commemorative Sponsors: Bryan & Beth Plater Heather and Paul Dennison Riki Rushing & Allen Gilmer The Shepherd 5 Points Family Foundation Presenting Sponsors: McCullough Heating and Air Conditioning Underwriting Sponsors: Rob & Anna Belle Williams Louise & Peter Pincoffs Martha DeGrasse Eric Leibrock The Whitley Charitable Foundation Supporting Sponsors: Charles & Kirsten Moody Jess Chapin & Laurie Eiserloh Mark & Cissy Warner Karen Blair Melinda Taylor & Jim Robertson The Three Sisters Alexander Schoenbaum Neighbor Sponsors: Hon. Geoff Connor St. David's Episcopal Church Men's Group Molly & Ed Sharpe Lowell & Elizabeth Keig Randy Baird & Karen McLinden Ellen Dorsey & Jim Susman Special THANKS TO: Mary Venn FUNauctions, LLC Chef Ray Trono Videographer , Jeanie Garrett St. David's Hospitality & Event Coordinator, Alexis Washington Photographers of Westlake , Kate Svedersk & Jennifer Tolan Barbara Jordan committee Your love for our neighbors continues to inspire us year after year.