Photos courtesy Extended Family, Inc.People
Hello Woodlands Nonprofit of the Month: Extended Family, Inc.
The Hello Woodlands Nonprofit of the Month is brought to you by Randy Lovelace of Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies and highlights a local nonprofit organization that serves the Montgomery County community.
The nonprofit of the month is Extended Family, Inc., a local non-profit organization that is dedicated to supporting families in significant transition by meeting them exactly where they are in life and helping them get where they need to be. Read our interview below with Montoya Kyles-Spates, Founder and CEO of Extended Family, Inc.
THE INTERVIEW
Tell us about your organization, Extended Family, Inc.
Extended Family, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families in significant transition by meeting them exactly where they are in life and helping them get where they need to be. We work to eliminate the barriers that families face when struggling with housing instability, unemployment, mental health, lack of access to resources, and more. Our core philosophy is that life shouldn’t be so hard to live—especially for families that are already doing their best to survive.
We provide practical support such as household furnishings, emergency transportation assistance, job- readiness support, referrals to mental health services, laundry tokens, food, and other essentials. Through our community thrift store, Deuces Thrift & Liquidation, we also offer low-cost shopping options while generating funding for our outreach programs. In every service we offer, we aim to restore dignity, hope, and sustainability to the lives of those we serve.
What is the organization’s story?
The story of Extended Family, Inc. is one of compassion, resilience, and purposeful growth. What began as a deep concern for the well-being of homeless children quickly evolved into a greater mission: to strengthen the entire family unit. In our early days, we partnered closely with the No Dreams Lost Foundation, an organization focused on the needs of homeless youth. Through that work, we saw a critical gap—while children were being supported, their parents were often left behind with no safety net.
This realization fueled our decision to expand the scope of our impact. We knew that by empowering entire families—mothers, fathers, caregivers, and children alike—we could prevent homelessness, reduce generational trauma, and foster long-term stability. Today, we continue to evolve, building bridges between community members, organizations, donors, and families in need, ensuring no one feels forgotten.
How did the organization start?
Extended Family, Inc. officially began in 2018, growing out of a deep and meaningful collaboration with the No Dreams Lost Foundation, a Phoenix-based nonprofit serving homeless children. While working with these children, we noticed a profound pattern: they were often part of family systems that were unraveling due to poverty, trauma, and lack of support.
We realized that if we only focused on the children, we were missing a crucial part of the solution. These children had parents—many of them hardworking, but struggling—who simply needed the right support system to stabilize their homes. We made the conscious decision to create a new organization focused on wrapping support around the whole family, not just individual members. That vision birthed Extended Family, Inc.—a place where families can find the help, hope, and tools they need to move forward, together.
What is your mission and why?
Our mission is to empower, uplift, and restore families in crisis by providing direct services, supportive resources, and community-based programs that foster sustainability and independence. We believe that no family should be broken apart by circumstances that can be changed with compassion, support, and access to resources.
Right now, our highest priority is acquiring financial support and community-based volunteer partnerships to take our impact to the next level. With consistent funding and active community involvement, we can extend our reach, increase our visibility, and provide even more immediate solutions to families in transition. This growth will unlock powerful outcomes: fewer children in foster care, fewer parents living in shelters, and more families thriving with dignity and purpose.
We know the need is great—and so is our capacity to respond, if we’re equipped with the right support. That’s why we invite others to join us in making life sustainable for families that deserve a fighting chance.
Who and where do you serve?
Extended Family, Inc. serves whole families currently in any stage of transition, including those experiencing housing instability, job loss, mental health struggles, domestic violence recovery, re- entry from incarceration, or other life-altering challenges. Our primary focus is helping families reach long-term sustainability through support systems rooted in mental wellness, emotional comfort, and practical resources.
We are proudly based in Spring, Texas, and actively serve families throughout Harris and Montgomery Counties, while remaining open and accessible to underserved communities in neighboring regions who are in urgent need of support. We believe that every family deserves access to stability, wellness, and hope — regardless of where they are on their journey.
What programs and services do you offer?
Extended Family, Inc. provides a range of compassionate, community-centered programs designed to address immediate needs while building pathways to long-term success. Our core services include:
- Deuces Thrift & Liquidation Store – A low-cost community store offering clothing, furniture, and household items. Proceeds directly support families in need, and the store also partners with local school districts to offer Deuces Bucks as incentives for student participation and achievement.
- Family Health & Counseling Services – Providing therapy and emotional support for individuals, couples, and families. We focus on mental health wellness, relationship building, trauma recovery, and empowerment.
- Referral Services – Connecting families with housing programs, employment resources, legal aid, food assistance, and medical care through our network of community partners.
- Transportation Support – Including bus passes to help individuals get to work, school, or appointments—ensuring transportation is never a barrier to progress.
- Laundry Assistance – Providing laundry tokens to low-income families so they can maintain cleanliness and dignity in their daily lives.
- Household Support – Assisting with basic household needs such as bedding, kitchen items, hygiene supplies, and small furniture to promote a safe and sustainable living environment.
These services are the foundation of our commitment to making life easier, healthier, and more hopeful for families on the edge of breakthrough. We are not just a nonprofit—we’re an extended family for those who need one most
What makes this organization unique?
What sets Extended Family, Inc. apart is our whole-family, whole-heart approach. While many organizations focus on a single population—children, women, or individuals—we focus on the entire family unit, understanding that sustainable transformation happens when everyone in the household is supported.
We don’t just offer charity—we offer community, compassion, and continuity. Our services are intentionally designed to walk with families through their transitions, whether it’s the loss of a job, the trauma of eviction, or the emotional toll of generational poverty. We stand in the gap as a consistent and trustworthy presence, offering resources with dignity, not judgment.
We are also unique because:
- We meet families where they are—literally and emotionally. From providing a bus pass to showing up with a bed for a child, we focus on meeting immediate needs while helping families stabilize long-term.
- We integrate mental health and emotional wellness into our programming, understanding that no amount of financial support matters if a family is emotionally broken or mentally overwhelmed.
- We leverage our thrift store, Deuces, not only as a source of funding but as a place of empowerment, where families can shop for what they need, in a space that respects their dignity and choices.
- We operate from lived experience and deep empathy. Our leadership and team have walked many of the same paths our clients face. This fuels our authenticity and builds a genuine bond of trust.
Ultimately, Extended Family, Inc. is more than a nonprofit—it’s a movement of restoration, empowerment, and hope. We don’t just serve—we stand in the storm with our families until the light breaks through
How can the community get involved, volunteer, and support this organization?
Community involvement is the heartbeat of Extended Family, Inc. We believe it truly takes a village to uplift families in crisis, and there are many meaningful ways individuals, businesses, and organizations can join our mission:
1. Volunteer Your Time and Talent
We welcome volunteers with open arms and open hearts. Whether you’re an individual looking to give back or a group seeking a service project, there are several areas where your help makes a real difference:
- Thrift Store Support (Deuces Thrift & Liquidation): Help organize donations, assist shoppers, or support daily store operations.
- Community Outreach & Events: Join us during family support drives, back-to-school events, or holiday programs.
- Administrative & Program Support: Assist with data entry, scheduling, donation sorting, or helping families access services.
- Skilled Volunteering: Are you a counselor, job coach, handyman, or educator? We’d love your expertise for workshops, repairs, or mentoring families.
2. Make a Financial Contribution
Your donations directly support families in crisis. Every dollar helps us provide:
- Beds and household items for families transitioning from homelessness
- Bus passes and laundry tokens
- Emergency food and hygiene kits
- Mental health counseling and family therapy sessions
One-time gifts, monthly pledges, or in-kind donations (like furniture, hygiene products, and clothing) are always needed and greatly appreciated.
3. Host a Donation Drive or Sponsor a Family
Churches, schools, companies, and civic groups can organize drives for essentials like:
- Bedding and towels
- Backpacks and school supplies
- Winter coats and blankets
- Non-perishable foods and toiletries
We also offer opportunities to “adopt-a-family” during the holidays or during their transition into permanent housing.
4. Become a Community Partner or Sponsor
We welcome collaborations with local businesses, nonprofits, and professionals who want to invest in community transformation. Whether it’s through grant sponsorship, mentorship, internships, or co-hosted events, our partnerships are a win-win for everyone involved.
5. Spread the Word
Share our mission! Follow us on social media, attend our events, and invite others to learn more about Extended Family, Inc. Awareness fuels action—and action changes lives.
Ready to get involved?
Email us at info@extendedfamilyinc.org, call us directly at (346) 609-2224, or stop by Deuces Thrift & Liquidation at 239 Greens Rd – Houston, TX to learn more.
Together, we can build stronger families, healthier communities, and a brighter future for all.
Anything else you would like to share about your organization?
Yes—Extended Family, Inc. is not just our name; it’s our promise.
We are a safe haven for families navigating uncertain times, and we work tirelessly to ensure that no parent or child feels like they have to face life’s challenges alone. What makes us different is that we lead with compassion, serve with purpose, and stand by our families for the long haul—not just in crisis, but through their comeback.
From a single bus pass to a fully furnished home, from a counseling session to a life-changing resource referral, we are committed to walking alongside families every step of the way—until stability is no longer a dream, but a lived reality.
We invite the community to become part of this movement. With your support, we can reach more families, respond faster, and build something durable, powerful, and full of hope.
Learn more about Extended Family, Inc. by visiting their website at extendedfamilyinc.info.
ABOUT RANDY LOVELACE
To learn more about Randy Lovelace, his “Referral for a Cause” program to help local nonprofit organizations, and Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies, please call (281) 298-0440, email rlovelace@paragoninsagencies.com, or visit www.paragoninsagencies.com/woodlands.
