Editors note: The following opinion article ran in the Houston Chronicle newspaper. 

Children in Houston and across Texas are being removed from their homes by Child Protective Services in record numbers, topping 20,000 for the first time last year. Many of our children are also falling behind in school or appearing in tragic headlines. Still, putting our children in a position to embrace a bright future is among the most important goals we can accomplish.

In 2017, we proved how strong Houston is in its response to Hurricane Harvey, but now it’s time to build on that and prove how compassionate we are, too.

Don’t hold it against me, but I grew up in East Dallas. One of my earliest memories is driving by the Buckner Children’s Home, a place my parents described as God showing his love for orphans. I remember feeling shocked any kid would have to grow up without a parent but thankful there were people willing to help. That was the first impression the Buckner Children’s Home left on me. The second was how their baseball team would beat us all the time. Man, those kids could play!

Gallery Furniture has always supported a wide array of causes, from stroke detection and prevention to mental-health awareness and supporting our troops. But it’s the causes involving children that always tug hardest at my heart. Children are our future, and we can all relate to helping kids because we were all once kids ourselves.

And it’s so easy to make a major difference in the life of a child, whether as a parent, a Houstonian or a business.

To read the rest of Matress Mack's thoughts about why he joined Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls® and the Houston Astros Foundation to host a shoe drive in Houston, go to the Houston Chronicle. To learn more about how you can support the shoe drive and help vulnerable children, click here.