Raymond Kiser
  • Religion
  • Class of 2018
  • Austin, TX

Raymond Kiser Participates in McMurry University Mission Team

2015 Dec 11

Raymond Kiser of Austin, TX is one of the mission team from McMurry University Religious Life group who will be spending part of their Christmas vacation helping others at the Houchen Community Center in El Paso, Texas, from December 14-19.

The team will perform service projects at the center, which could include cleaning, painting, helping in the thrift store, and unloading the foods delivered for food distribution. They will also fill the food distribution grocery bags and participate in the distribution itself.

Students and administrators participating are Payden Dompe, Rob Fabrizio, Kristal Gomez, Chris Kiser, Camille Martinez, Beckett Medford, Carly Payne, Jack Payne, Rebecca Williams, Jeff Lust and Amanda Cokonougher.

The team is also taking donated toys for the toy distribution that will take place along with the food distribution. Families get to 'shop' for one toy per child from toys donated to the center.

A non-profit multi service organization located in South El Paso, Houchen was originally started by Mary Tripp who helped young girls to learn English, better ways of sanitation, health and cooking. The young girls were recent arrivals in the United States. Rose Gregory Houchen, a Michigan school teacher, visited Mary Tripp and saw the need for a settlement house. She donated $1000 dollars toward building the house which was completed in 1912 and named for her.

Houchen strives to build self-esteem and encourages education among South El Paso's disadvantage population. It is located in the heart of the Segundo Barrio which is the lowest income area in the city of El Paso and one of the lowest zip codes in the United States in addition to having a rich cultural history.