Bates Mission

Today is World Homeless Day, 🏠 Did you know that nationally, approximately 29% of homeless youth between the ages of 13 and 25 spent time in foster care? 😔 Unfortunately, these young adults face increased risks of trafficking, abuse, and mental health crises, in addition to the challenges of homelessness. At Bates Mission, we're a small but dedicated nonprofit doing what we can to support these young adults as they transition into adulthood. We're committed to expanding our reach and services as we grow, and you can help us get there! Here's how you can get involved: * Donate to help us provide essential resources and support. * Volunteer your time or skills to make a difference. * Share this post to raise awareness about youth homelessness. Every bit of support helps us get closer to our goal of supporting more young adults in need. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in their lives. ❤️

Monday night was un-brie-lievable! 🧀 🤩 We had such an amazing time at our charitable "Cheese 101" class, enjoying delicious bites and friendly company. Thank you to everyone who came out to spend their Monday night with us and support Bates Mission! Thank you also to the fantastic team at Antonelli's Cheese--and our VERY special hosts--for making sure everyone had an amazing time. If you haven't been by their Hyde Park shop or attended one of their cheese classes, you're missing out on great cheese and even better people!

PAL is a state-funded initiative offering essential independent living training, support services, financial resources, and more to help foster youth aged 16-21 transition successfully into adulthood. This program supports young adults at a critical time in their lives, yet half aren't benefiting from it. Why is that? Is it because of a lack of awareness or misinformation about the program? Perhaps unnecessary hurdles or restrictive enrollment procedures make it difficult for them to participate. 🕵️♀️ By exploring these potential barriers, we can work towards ensuring all foster youth have access to the support they need. Let's raise awareness and advocate for smoother access to PAL. Share this post to spread the word and help make a difference! 📢❤️

Happy National Cooking Day! 🍳🥘 Our culinary life skills program is heating up. We just delivered a boxtruck full of kitchen equipment and meal kits to young adults in the Texas Panhandle. We're planning more onsite cooking classes to cook and dine with young adults all across the state. 🍽️👩🍳 Plus, we're cooking up some silly but educational online content to teach kitchen techniques and budgeting tips, all to get our future chefs excited about cooking. Who knows, we might inspire the next culinary superstar! 👨🍳✨ Help us stir the pot and reach more young adults! Your support can make a real difference. Donate today to keep the kitchen magic going: https://lnkd.in/gGCRXQu8 ❤️

🧀 Still on the fence about our Spirit Night at Antonelli's Cheese Shop? 🧀 Don’t let this "grate" opportunity pass you by! Join us for a delicious night of cheese pairings and fun on September 30. 🧀🍷 Seats are filling up fast, and we wouldn’t want you to miss out on the cheesy goodness and a chance to support Bates Mission. Grab your tickets now before they're all gone! 🏃♂️💨 http://bit.ly/4e6Ty40

🍂 Happy fall, y'all! This weekend we celebrated World Gratitude Day and the first day of fall, and they're both great reminders to reflect on the good stuff and the awesome people around us. As we welcome cooler temperatures, we’re grateful for the warmth and support from our Bates Mission family. 🍁 Join us in spreading some gratitude this fall—whether it’s a heartfelt thank you to a friend, a kind word to a stranger, or just a moment of reflection. Here’s to a season full of cozy moments and the joy of being part of this special community! 💖 What are you grateful for today? #WorldGratitudeDay #ThankYou #BatesMission #Gratitude

🧀🧀 Dive into deliciousness at our next Spirit Night! Join us for Antonelli's Cheese, LLC (dba Antonelli's Cheese Shop) 'Cheese 101' class on Monday, September 30. From 6:30 to 9:00 pm, indulge in seven scrumptious cheeses paired with delicious accompaniments. Plus, a portion of every ticket ($45 each), drink, and take-home treat sales will support Bates Mission. 🎉 Seats are limited, so don’t miss out—grab yours now and enjoy a fun, flavor-packed evening! It's going to be a gouda time! 😄 Register here! http://bit.ly/4e6Ty40 #SpiritNight #CheeseLovers #BatesMission

📣📣Our next Spirit Night is going to be a delicious one! We've scheduled a special Cheese 101 Tasting class with Antonelli's Cheese Shop! The event will be held at their South Lamar Community Tasting Room on Monday, September 30, from 6:30 - 9:00pm. The Antonelli's team will be doing all the hard work--guiding us through a delicious plate of seven different cheeses along with some perfect pairings--and then donating a portion of the ticket and beverage/take-home cheese sales back to Bates Mission. Space is limited, and trust us . . . you do NOT want to miss this special evening hosted by a special local business that supports our community. As their motto says, "Do Good. Eat Good." 🧀🍷🥖 P.S. Do you have a lcoal business that would like to partner with us for an upcoming Spirit Night? Email us at info@batesmission.org. Visit the event website to get your tickets before they're gone! https://lnkd.in/gB-i5Y63

🖤 This National Suicide Prevention Week, we’re shining a light on a critical issue affecting foster youth. In Texas, the suicide rate among this population is three times higher than the general youth population and surged by 335% from 2017 to 2021. Our work at Bates Mission aims to provide support and resources to help former foster youth navigate their challenges and build a brighter future. Each time you read or share our posts, make a donation, or volunteer your time, you're helping us and our partners provide hope and healing for these young adults. Together, we can make a difference. 💙 The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress – whether that's thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help. You don’t have to face this alone. Call or text 988 or visit https://lnkd.in/gXtiuciE for more resources. #NationalSuicidePreventionWeek #SupportFosterYouth #MentalHealthMatters #YouAreNotAlone #988Lifeline

What an amazing night at Hope, Heroes, and Handbags! 🌟🛡️👜 Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center's annual "purse bingo" fundraiser was last night, and so many people came out to support this important organization. Thank you, WilcoCAC, for supporting vulnerable children in our community, and a special thanks to Nancy Winston for hosting our table!