Katy Christian Ministries Executive Director Deysi Crespo has confirmed that the local 501(C)3 organization has purchased a new headquarters building at 3506 Porter Road just east of the city of Katy’s limits after a successful capital campaign. KCM provides a food bank, family crisis intervention and other social services and raised funding for the purchase through a charitable capital campaign.

“We did set a goal of raising $305,000 that would help us for the down payment of the property,” Crespo said. We hit the road running really fast and on fire and inviting our partner churches to come alongside our vision, and our community members.”

To view our follow up coverage with Crespo, click the video link below.

Crespo said the capital campaign, while it had raised $231,000 which allowed the organization to put the down payment in place. However, the capital campaign is ongoing to continue to raise funds to help KCM settle into its new home.

Crespo said the new facility, which still requires some renovation, will allow an increase in the size of the ministry’s food pantry and allow consolidation of administrative and caseworkers into one facility over time. The nonprofit’s two resale shops in downtown Katy and on Kingsland Boulevard just east of The Grand Parkway will remain in operation where they are. Currently, operations staff and caseworkers are located in two different sites on First Street in Katy and on Dominion Drive just south of Taylor High School. Crespo said the facility needs renovation and new furnishings to serve the ministriy’s needs. Crespo estimates the capital campaign needs to raise another $74,000 is needed to accommodate those needs.

Crespo said the move to the new facility is going to take about two years and will begin after the building is remodeled, which is expected to take roughly two months.

“Right now, which I call year one (the move is set for) our food pantry, our Social Services Department and Administration,” Crespo said. “In year two, it’s going to be our crisis center; so, in 2022 we’ll be doing another build out to welcome our crisis center staff.”

Crespo said she anticipates a move from the current office and food pantry location sometime in April. Her goal is to make sure all of the ministry’s clients know ahead of time so that the move will impact them as little as possible. She is working with staff on a transition plan that will include supplemental assistance being issued the week before the move.

“I am looking at how not to affect the food availability to our families during this transition,” Crespo said. “If I do have to close the food pantry during this move, I think, at the most I may anticipate it pausing maybe for a week. That could be detrimental for many of our families but that’s why I am planning right now.”

Crespo said she is excited to be able to expand the food pantry once the move is complete, which is one of the main reasons the capital campaign is continuing. The new food pantry location will have more square feet on the ground, but will also have a much higher ceiling which will accommodate larger refrigeration equipment and shelving to store more food for clients.

“Our idea is to stack up food to utilize the height of this building,” Crespo said.

The new facility also offers space for a community garden to help KCM provide fresh produce, which Crespo says will also make a good place for caseworkers to get away after intense client meetings.

KCM’s partnerships in the community won’t be impacted by the move, Crespo said. Referring clients to community partners such as Hope Impacts, Clothed by Faith or Christ Clinic will continue to flow smoothly. The location of the new building also helps serve one of the highest-demand areas for services in the Katy area, she said.

“This location is housed in one of our top three zip codes that we serve for client assistance,” Crespo said. “So that was one of the first things that we (asked) from the very beginning – Is this accessible to our clients?”

Crespo is excited for the future in KCM’s new home.

“From a client support standpoint, I look at the overall picture for the food pantry,” Crespo said. “And providing additional space for our clients and for them to be in a comfortable environment (that isn’t as cramped as our old space.)”