MW Cleaners to Help Men in Salvation Army Choir with Father's Tie Drive - Kingwood

Published: Jun 04, 2015, 11:00am

Mike Nesbit, CEO of MW Cleaners

Many holidays occur each year where family members are rightfully happy with their lot; however, it is easy to forget about those less fortunate. This Father’s Day, as dads across Houston are unwrapping all their snazzy new ties, MW Cleaner’s encourages them to donate their old ones to help men in recovery. MW Cleaners is hosting a tie drive to benefit the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center.

MW Cleaners CEO Mike Nesbit is proud to host this tie drive for the second year in a row. “At MW Cleaners, we are continually looking for ways to make a positive impact in the community that we serve. Providing these ties and supporting these men is just a natural extension of what we do each and every day; serving others.” Nesbit has been instrumental in community awareness and outreach for more than 30 years.

Located in downtown Houston, the Harbor Light Center offers recovery programs and shelter for the homeless and addicted men of the community. The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center – which provides shelter for 325 men – is also the home of the famed Harbor Light Choir. The choir is made up current and former participants of the shelter’s programs. As part of their work therapy, they commit a year of their lives to working and singing in the choir. During their year, the men of the choir keep a rigorous daily schedule. Seven days a week, the choir stays in perpetual movement from 7:00 a.m. until mandatory lights out at 10:00 p.m. Activities include communal meals, morning chapel, exercise, homework and discussion times, rehearsals, individual counseling sessions, bible studies and evening chapels.

From June 1-June 20, donation centers will be set up at all Houston area MW Cleaners locations. The ties can also be included with regular customer pickup orders. Nesbit observed that many of these men are fathers themselves, so tie donations could give them a nice Father’s Day gift.

Each of these men have amazing stories of struggle, recovery, faith and success towards self-dependence. The Choir Director is 56-year-old Marshall W. Rice. He was addicted for 38 years, beginning at age 12. He finally came to the Salvation Army in 2010, after, in his words, “being tired of being sick and tired.” Through the work of the center, and the support his family, he has been clean for over three years now.

“My message to anyone struggling with addiction is turn right and go straight. Let go and let God. Give yourself a change. Think healthier. Learn to listen and just stop and think,” Rice said.

The choir manager, Mike Walker, is a former heroin addict. He also started using as a young teen, and came to Salvation Army in 1998.

“I got tired of living the way I was living, and my health was failing me,” he said. “I used heroin for so long, and I had also been shot in the back. To this day, my health problems are a reminder of my past.”

He began singing in the choir as soon as he entered the center. In 2000, Walker took on his current role managing the choir. He has been clean for the last 17 years.

“My message to anyone struggling with addiction is to try not to stay in the addiction. God never intended for us to have a beat-up body, bad health, or bad quality of life. He wants us to enjoy life and be a blessing,” Walker said.

Although the choir has traveled far and wide to perform at events with well-known musical artists and dignitaries, their true mission is that their songs would ignite hope, faith, and love in the hearts of everyone who listens to their performance.

“This very special group of men in recovery shares their gift throughout the community,” said Nancy C. Brainerd, the President and Executive Director of the Downtown Houston Association. “Whether it is in an auditorium of wide-eyed children asking for autographs or in a group of professionals offering hugs and words of encouragement after a performance, the Harbor Light Choir touches the lives of its listeners. As they perform, hearts are softened, hope is renewed and barriers of misunderstanding vanish.”

MW Cleaners is using their resources to hold a tie drive for these men. Not only will these ties help the men look presentable for church, it will also help them move their lives forward for job interviews. While a used tie may seem to be a small thing, in the hands of someone who has been through what some of these men have, a good tie may be what gives them the confidence to get the job that changes their lives.

MW Cleaners has 35 stores in the Houston area and 13 locations in the Austin area and includes free pickup and delivery service. There is no Harbor Light location in Austin, so donated ties will be sent to the Houston center. For details on services and locations, call 1-877-MWCleaners (1-877-692-5326) or log on to www.MWCleaners.com. The Harbor Light Center is located at 2407 N. Main Street in Houston. For more information on the work of the center, visit their Facebook page—Harbor Light Choir, or contact the office at (713) 224-9201.