Meet Jason Vallejo of Dallas Hope Charities

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Vallejo.

Jason, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My husband and I moved to Dallas two years ago from South Central Texas. I started volunteering for Dallas Hope Charities a couple of months after arriving in Dallas. The mission of Dallas Hope Charities is to mobilize and inspire a vibrant, inclusive and progressive volunteer force to bring tangible positive transformation to the lives of all who are marginalized. It was the mission and the programs that they were offering the community that made me want to be part of what they were doing.

The executive director at that time asked me if I would like to volunteer as his administrative assistant. I became his right-hand man and grew into that position. After volunteering several months with Dallas Hope Charities, the executive director told me that he was moving and that he would like me to step into the executive director position.

I never planned on being the executive director of this amazing organization. I thought that one day they would make me a paid admin but never expected this.

But looking back now, I can see how God was preparing me for this position long before we even moved to Dallas. I was the outreach pastor of a church back in South Central Texas but no longer felt welcomed at the church once my husband and I came out of the closet. I was told that a person like me should never be in a position of leadership and could never be in a position of leadership. It was hurtful to hear those comments, but I always chose to listen to the voice of truth that says, “I am loved by the one who created me.”

I was always looking for ways to give back, so I started to do some charitable work and serving on committees and nonprofit boards. So, looking back I can now see how all of it, even the heartache prepared me for where I am now. I love my job and can’t wait to see all that Dallas Hope Charities will become!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Non-profit work is never a smooth road. In 2018 we served 36,000 meals to those in need or that are experiencing homelessness and gave out over 5,600 bags of groceries through our pantry program. We also opened an LGBTQ+ focused young adult shelter in the summer of 2018.

We took a year to do the exploratory work before we opened the shelter. Everyone that we met with that was already doing this vital work told us that this isn’t easy work to do or else everyone would be doing it. They were right about that. The hardest part for me has been hearing all the heartbreaking stories that each of these individuals come to us with and having to turn some of them away because we don’t have a bed available for them.

Just a few months ago I had a young man called me looking for shelter because his dad wanted him out of the house by the weekend. My heart was breaking as I could hear the despair in his voice as he was telling me the situation. We didn’t have any beds available for him so I gave him a list of resources and encouraged him the best that I could. The young man ended up taking his life that week. The news of his death filled me with righteous indignation. I told our shelter committee that we need to look at expanding our shelter as soon as possible. I know that we can’t save everyone, but the need is so much greater than the two beds that we currently have. We will be adding four more beds by June giving us a total of six beds.

I always remind myself that what we’re doing has a purpose no matter how rough the road may seem.

We’d love to hear more about your organization.
Dallas Hope Charities is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. We’re now in our third year and have accomplished a lot. The majority of our programs are focused on the homeless community.

We are mostly known for our three feeding programs. Especially our Saturday morning breakfast program that is hosted at the Cathedral of Hope every Saturday. What makes this program stick out among all the other feeding programs in Dallas is that this meal is served diner style every Saturday. We have volunteers that greet our guests and show them to their table where they are then waited on just like in a restaurant. The food is brought to them on actual plates will rolled silverware. The coffee is poured into coffee mugs and juice into glasses.

We opened the first LGBTQ+ focused shelter in Dallas last summer. Dallas Hope Charities also has an AIDS Financial Assistance Fund that allows us to assist those living with HIV/AIDS with medical, utility and rental assistance. Every year we also give away Thanksgiving baskets to families that would otherwise go without a holiday meal.

What were you like growing up?
I spent a lot of time with my family growing up and very rarely spent time with friends outside of school. I was timid as a kid when I would first meet someone, but just for a bit then I would be telling them jokes and making everyone laugh.

Playing sports like football, baseball, and running track were things I loved doing growing up. I also loved being outdoors and going camping with the family.

Pricing:

• It takes $20,000 to house and provide resources to one resident in our shelter for a year
• $100 per month recurring gift helps us feed 600 hungry people per year through our feeding programs
• $75 per month recurring gift to our AIDS crisis fund allows people each year living with HIV/AIDS to keep their lights on or keep a roof over their head for another month

Contact Info:

• Address: 5910 Cedar Springs Rd Dallas, TX 75235
• Website: https://www.dallashopecharities.org/
• Phone: 214-351-3834
• Email: jvallejo@dallashopecharities.org
• Instagram: @dallashopecharities
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasHopeCharities/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharitiesDallas

Image Credit:
Jason Vallejo, Executive Director

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