skip to Main Content

How The 411 House Started

Building relationships with kids and families in East Temple.

The 411 House Journey

The 411 House journey started with founder Kim White and her mentee who lived in East Temple at Wayman Manor apartments. That friendship led her family to visit the complex weekly and build relationships with kids and families in the community. They were there to learn and saw it as a precious gift to know and be known by that community.

Fulfilling Our Mission

The house was completely remodeled and furnished in April 2019, and we spent a year building relationships and hosting events and activities for our youth.

During that year we hosted Wednesday night dinners & holiday family meals, attended concerts, football games, basketball games, and summer camp. We offered haircuts from local barbers, movie nights, and Bible studies at the house. We had guest visitors such as musicians, doctors, football players, artists & community leaders come visit and engage our youth. We had a scavenger hunt and lots of Minute to Win It competitions to build community. We cooked together. We swam together. We played together. We broke bread together.

Remodeling The 411 House

After years of learning, they felt like it was time to do more. After speaking with friends and leaders in the community, they bought a house in East Temple, former home to Myrtle Captain, to serve as a safe place for neighborhood youth to form valuable relationships and have access to more opportunities. Myrtle Captain was a local civil rights activist who was closely involved in the desegregation of Temple schools and lovingly called Mama Myrt by many kids in the community. In October 2017, The 411 House received $40,000 from Chip & Joanna Gaines, hosts of HGTV’s Fixer Upper, to remodel the house and make it as beautiful as our kids deserve.

Rising to the Challenge

When COVID hit in March of 2020, we had to make some adjustments to our programming, but we are continuing to find safe and creative ways to spend time with our youth and provide them with opportunities. This has involved lots of swimming events at the community pool, summer goody bags delivered individually to our youth, outdoor sports, and grab & go meals at the house.

MEET OUR BOARD

Tracey is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and a Registered Play Therapist. She has a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology, as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Studies. Tracey left the United States with her husband and children to work as missionaries in Nigeria, West Africa for 5 years. She started several health and education initiatives, such as proper nutrition and hydration for children, persons with HIV/AIDS, and initiated a literacy campaign for adolescents of the local pastoral tribe.

“I desired to be a part of The 411 House to use any gifts I possess to support others,” Tracey said. “1 Corinthians 9:19 and 1 Peter 4:10 are scriptures that I hold dear as I move forward in life.”

Ashley Pennington was born and raised in Temple, TX by her loving parents who were both raised in East Temple. She graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a Master of Business Administration in Accounting, as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. She is currently an accountant at a local CPA firm where she has been employed since 2018. Ashley joined the Board of Directors for the 411 House because she believes in its mission and its ability to have a positive impact on our youth and our community. She wants to help inspire and motivate at-risk youth to realize their potential. Ashley is grateful to be a part of the 411 House and is excited to see the amazing opportunities that the organization will bring to our community.

Kim moved to the Temple/Belton area in 2007 from Dallas, where she was born and raised. She has been married to Jeff since 2005, and they have two children, Grace and Tucker. She attended Texas A&M University and then Dallas Theological Seminary where she earned her Master’s in Biblical Counseling. She spent most of her working years in nonprofit and social service fields such as Child Protective Services, United Way, Young Life, and Ralph Wilson Youth Club. She and her husband spent 6 years in the East Temple community getting to know kids and families. In 2017 they started Bridge East Temple and The 411 House to support this community that they love.

Brian has been in the Temple area since 2013 after moving from Waco. He grew up in Lorena and attended Baylor University where he received a degree in Finance and Masters in Business Administration. Brian has been married to his wife JoElla since 2007 and they have three kids, Avery, Will, and Olivia. Brian is currently the President of the Central Texas South Region for Extraco Banks, where he has worked since 2001. Brian joined the board because he believes that the 411 House plays a vital role in mentoring and preparing the next generation of youth in Temple so that they can be a positive impact on our community in the future.

Dr. Remy Godfrey is a career educator of over 18 years and now currently serves as the Superintendent of Buckholts ISD. She was born in Temple and raised in East Temple. Dr. Godfrey holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Secondary Education, a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration, and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership, all from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Her passion is serving and educating youth by giving them relevant experiences that last a lifetime. Remy is passionate and blessed to be a part of the 411 House as it is growing in abundance to serve our community.

Back To Top