Houston Children’s Charity is dedicated to enhancing the lives of underprivileged, handicapped and abused children in the Houston community and surrounding areas. The "Chariots for Children" Van Program was founded in 1996 to provide specifically designed and equipped vehicles to organizations with a similar mission.

Area children’s non-profits historically suffer budget constraints, creating an endless need for assistance with transportation. The "Chariots for Children" Van Program is self-funding. HCC must continually meet the challenge of funding this vitally needed program. We are always seeking corporate individual sponsorship to provide assistance.

For many children, our vans provide transportation to treatment or therapy. For some, a first step into a larger world. Transportation is restricted to child-related activities, whether for an outing to the zoo, a trip to the movies or a first visit to NASA or the Museum of Fine Arts.

Applicants must complete a full questionnaire and meet all of the required qualifications. Recipients are responsible for maintaining the vehicle costs, taxes and insurance, and must guarantee that they can meet these costs on a continuing basis.

Since 1996, Houston Children’s Charity has awarded 93 vans, 3 trucks and 1 car to 82 agencies and 8 individual families, at a cost of $2,384,821 over the past 16 years.

The "Chariots for Children" logo and the name of the organization are displayed and maintained on the vehicle. The name of any corporation or individual providing support to this program may also be prominently displayed on the body of the van.

Gabriella J. Poole
Handicap Accessible Van
Gabriella J. Poole was born 28 weeks (premature) and later at the age of 3 was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Her handicap condition is high muscle tone that impairs her from walking and impairs her independence. To transport her back and forth her parents must use a manual wheelchair. This wheelchair has to be broken down and placed in the trunk for each car trip. The Poole’s have adapted to the challenge when it comes to transporting Gabriella from one place to another. It has become more of a physical challenge to the family as Gabriella is growing and her weight is increasing. Sometimes they have limited themselves from going out because of transportation issues.

Jason L. Mackey
Handicap Accessible Van
Jason L. Mackey was born with Nemaline Myopathy Neuromuscular Disease. He is in an electric wheelchair, has a trach and ventilator, and has 20 hours / 7 days of home nursing care a week. It has become more of a physical challenge to lift him. Jason, 13, is growing and his weight is increasing and this alone presents a challenge during transportation.

Mission of Yahweh
12-passenger van
We are a faith-based shelter that Empowers, Enriches and Restores the lives of homeless women and children and provides outreach services to low income communities. The Mission of Yahweh has empowered homeless and abused women and their children for over 51 years. The doors are always open for women in crisis. We are a truly unique refuge that not only gives food, clothing and shelter, but also is committed to rehabilitating women to become self-sufficient, productive members of society. At The Mission of Yahweh, we shelter, clothe, feed and support more than 1,600 residential stays each month. We also support thousands of Houston/Carverdale-area residents with donations of food, school supplies and other necessities.

Gracewood
12-passenger van
Gracewood, is a transitional housing and family care program serving single at-risk mothers and children in the Greater Houston area. Gracewood was opened in Houston in 2001 by Texas Baptist Children’s Home (TBCH), a residential childcare ministry founded in round Rock in 1950 as a home for dependent and neglected children. In 1979, TBCH introduced a group residential program called Family Care to extend help, hope and the love of Christ to single mothers and their children who are at risk for homelessness and poverty. In 2001, TBCH extended this highly successful ministry to Houston with the opening of Gracewood’s first campus. A second campus followed in the Spring of 2010.

Covenant House Texas
12-passenger van
Covenant House of Texas provides care for children suffering from emotional, physical, and substance abuse as well as those that are homeless. Children are transported to Children’s Protective Services, to medicalcare, legal assistance, educational and training programs, and psychosocial counseling.

Mary Scalise
Handicap Accessible Van
Mary is a single mother of five children. Three of her children were adopted from Casa de Esperanza and have special needs. She was in need of a handicap accessible van for her adopted son, Luke. He was placed in her home at 5 months old and was severely neglected and malnourished at the time. Luke is also diagnosed with cerebral palsy, failure to thrive, and epilepsy. He is now 5 years old and continues to thrive. His wheelchair weighs over 250 lbs and could not be lifted into their vehicle.