Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.
Matthew 25:40
About
Moving Waters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in September 2019 and is an organization committed to improving the quality of life in our homeless brothers and sisters in the Galveston and Houston area by providing showers via a mobile shower service. Our mission goes to the heart of what Christ tells us “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Moving Waters works to bring the light of Jesus in the homeless to the surrounding community, and providing showers is an imperative first step. Our Gospel-centered ministry accomplishes this through:
Volunteers,
In-kind donations,
and cash donations from the private, non-governmental sector such as churches, individuals, foundations and corporate support.
Moving Waters’ focus is to apply the Gospel, our core values, and business principles to accomplish our mission of serving our homeless brothers and sisters while working to affect positive change within our communities.
EIN: 84-2861230
Jennifer Park, Founder & Executive Director
Jennifer Park grew up in Midland, Texas where with her family she learned to love and serve the poor and homeless. After graduating from the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2010, she moved to Houston with her husband. Through her work in various settings, she saw firsthand the effect a shower can have on an individual recovering from illness or trauma. In tying together her love for the less fortunate and her knowledge gained through her career, Jennifer founded Moving Waters and works to effect positive change in our homeless brothers and sisters in Houston.
Keri Case, Shower Operator
Board of Directors
Jimmy Patterson, President
Jimmy Patterson and his wife, Karen, recently moved to the Houston area after 30 years in Midland, Texas. Jimmy was Director of Communications for the Diocese of San Angelo and editor of the diocesan newspaper from 2005-2017 and was a longtime writer and editor for the Midland Reporter-Telegram. Jimmy has been awarded for his writing and was named national Family Columnist of the Year in 2009 by the Catholic Press Association, and in 2013 for investigative reporting for writing from Amman, Jordan on the plight of displaced Syrian refugees and how they were aided by Caritas International. He is a recipient of the Fr. Michael J. McGivney Award for Volunteer Journalism for his story on efforts by Big Bend residents to assist the people of Boquillas, Mexico. Jimmy has written several books, including “A History of Character: The Story of Midland, Texas” (2014), and, with Midland oilman Jim Henry, is co-author of a series of award-winning children’s books, “Tales from Hoop N Holler.”
Jimmy’s wife, Karen, is an accomplished nature and landscape photographer. She and Jimmy together published a children’s picture book entitled “Midland A-Z” in 2017. He is currently working with Don Evans, former United States Secretary of Commerce (2001-2004), on his memoirs. Jimmy served as board president, interim executive director and fundraiser for The Way Retreat Center in Midland; was a board member for Midland Fair Havens, a transitional housing facility for women and their children, and was a member of his church’s parish council. He was also on staff in a communications and public relations capacity for United Way of Midland, the Midland Chamber of Commerce and Centers for Children and Families.
P.J. LeBlanc, Treasurer
Born and raised a Ragin’ Cajun in Lafayette, Louisiana, P.J. moved to Houston in 2014. He first because aware of Moving Waters while taking a Faith & Poverty class through Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church.
“I had always donated to or participated in small ways to a variety of church-sponsored charities and events. But I had started to feel called to a more personal involvement with those in need,” he said. “Moving Waters' humble approach struck me as a simple yet powerful way to reach those so easily forgotten."
P.J. has a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and advanced degrees in Physics, but currently works in IT. He has been married to the love of his life, Cameron, since 2009 and they have 2 daughters and a son.
Tyler Varisco, Director
Dr. Varisco is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes of Policy and Assistant Director for Research Development in the Prescription Drug Misuse Education and Research Center at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. Dr. Varisco is a registered pharmacist and a trained health services researcher. He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. His research focuses primarily on evaluating and improving the quality of care for persons with opioid use disorder. In his prior work, Dr. Varisco has leveraged a variety of primary and secondary data techniques to identify and ameliorate systemic barriers to harm reduction and treatment in provider offices and pharmacies. With funding from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts, Dr. Varisco is currently leading a collaborative effort between three colleges of pharmacy, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, and the National Community Pharmacists Association to create pharmacy specific, evidence based practice guidelines to promote access to buprenorphine in community pharmacies. He is also a co-investigator on the Texas Improved Dissemination and Evaluation of Single Use Disposal Systems (TIDES), a multi-year project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
David Taylor, Vice President
David Taylor joined the Moving Waters team after years of serving in various nonprofit leadership roles. David is a father of three, Lauren, Christopher, and David II and grandfather to Emerson and Philip. He and his wife Charleen have been married since 1979.
David earned a BS in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, and founded and operated his own construction company, Houston Northwest Bldg., Inc., for nearly 40 years.
David’s previous volunteer roles have included serving in the Prince of Peace Catholic Community on the Finance Council, the Building Committee, Master Plan developing and budgeting, and Project Manager for the Church in the construction of five major Church projects. He has also worked with Provision, Inc. on its Building Committee, with Magnificat Houses, Inc. on its Board of Directors, as well as the Christian New Creations, Inc. Board of Directors.
David currently serves as board member and volunteer for the Society of St. John deMatha Prison and After-Prison ministry and board chairman for Harvest and Hope Food Rescue.
Karen Luther, Director
Ms. Luther has worked for Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) for 6 years. She began her time at NAM as the Family Violence Center Youth Prevention Educator. She also served in the Pediatric Health Center as the Community-Centered Health Home Manager, who was working collaboratively with the community to create a healthier community by addressing the social determinants of health that impact health outcomes. Ms. Luther was the Pediatric Health Center Director from 2019 to 2022. She is currently NAM’s Client Services Director helping people in need gain access to emergency basic needs, such as food, rent/mortgage and utility assistance.
She holds a Bachelors in Speech Communications from Hampton University and a Masters in Divinity from Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield, PA. Prior to her tenure at NAM, Ms. Luther worked in education, served as the Executive Director of the Brown Family Health Center in Nacogdoches, Texas and continues to serve as an adjunct professor for Springfield College where she teaches on numerous topics of early childhood education. She is also a licensed minister and speaks at numerous conferences and workshops.
Darlena & Rickey McBride, Directors
Rickey and Darlena McBride are both retirees from the Midwest region. They have lived in Texas for seven years. Rickey has over 37 years of experience as a District Manager in the insurance business, and Darlena has worked 15 years in retail sales and over 20 years as a licensed cosmetologist. Together, they have four children and six grandchildren. Rickey is an ordained deacon, and Darlena is a licensed evangelist. They serve in their church, Life Change Ministries and both participate in outreach community services, including volunteering for Moving Waters. In their spare time, they love to eat, fellowship with family and friends, and travel.
David Bond, Director
David and his wife, Anita, have been married since 1987 and have lived in The Woodlands, TX, since 2000. David is very active in his community and is passionate about serving those who are less fortunate. He is a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and volunteers at St. Anthony’s Food Pantry 2-3 days a week.
Currently, David serves on the Board of The Woodlands Family YMCAs, a position he has held since 2013. He previously served on the Board of A Child’s Wish, an organization dedicated to granting wishes to children in Louisiana with life-threatening illnesses, and the Fellowship Foundation, which focuses on supporting at-risk youths in the New Orleans and Ft. Worth, TX areas.
David and Anita have three grown children and two granddaughters. They love to travel, especially since their children and grandchildren do not live in Texas. David was born in North Louisiana and grew up in New Orleans.
After a 32-year career as an attorney, first with Texaco until 2001 and then with Chevron, David retired in 2019. He received his law degree from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1987. Before attending law school, David graduated from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA, in 1984 and from Jesuit High School in New Orleans in 1979.
Founding Board Members
Elizabeth Hutchinson
Elizabeth served as Treasurer and then as Chief Financial Officer through Summer 2022.
Senya Zigtema
Senya served as Treasurer for the Board of Directors from 2019-2021.
Maggie Genzer
Maggie served as Director for the Board of Directors from 2019-2022
Carrie Taylor
Carrie served as Director as well as President of the Board from 2019-2023
Bruce Koons
Bruce served as Treasurer of the Board from 2021-2024