HOUSTON – Navy Reserve Center (NRC) Houston, under the leadership of Capt. Teresa Ferry, hosted a highly successful Resource Fair on Feb. 23, 2025, to provide critical support services for Navy reservists, veterans and their families.

The fair took place from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Lone Star Flight Museum near Ellington Field, in Houston, Texas, offering easy access for Reservists on a drill weekend and local veterans, including those without base credentials.

“Since moving here, I have learned that the people of Houston love their service members and veterans,” Ferry said. “We have more than 1,000 Sailors at NRC Houston, and many of them didn’t know what support was available. This resource fair helped close that gap between service members who needed help and all the wonderful community and national resources ready to support. My goal was simple: bring resources to Ellington Field on a drill weekend, make it visible and make it accessible to veterans who no longer have base access. By hosting the event at the Lone Star Flight Museum, we enabled Sailors and veterans to visit throughout the day, and other service members could come by during their lunch break. It was a win-win!”

Ferry noted that the Houston area presents unique challenges for reservists and veterans because the city is not a traditional fleet concentration area for the Navy. “We’re limited in organic resources—like a Department of Defense financial counselor and a Psychological Health Outreach Program professional—but there is so much more available right outside the gate,” she said. “Local organizations specialize in transition assistance, employment, mental health, morale, community involvement and peer support. However, events are often held in other parts of the city, and there’s a saying here that ‘Houston is an hour away from Houston.’ That can make it tough for our Sailors to attend if they only have a short window. By bringing the fair here, we removed that barrier.”

Ferry hopes this initial event will become a long-standing tradition. “I would love for this to become an annual event,” she said. “I’ve spoken to a few groups about hosting it next year, since I’m transferring this summer. It’s a great opportunity to connect, engage and support each other.”

The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP) supported the event with communications assistance and flyer design. Participating organizations offered resources in mental health, employment, financial counseling and more, all aimed at helping service members and veterans thrive in and out of uniform.

Participating organizations and services included:

Mental Health & Wellness: Military OneSource, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Vet Center, Easterseals, Wounded Warrior Project, Harris Center

Employment & Transition Assistance: U.S. VETS Houston, Texas Veterans Commission, Dress for Success Houston, NextOp, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Transition Assistance Advisors

Veteran & Family Support: USO, American Red Cross (therapy dogs and blood pressure checks), Operation Homefront, Navy League, Camp Shield (supporting women veterans)

Legal & Financial Assistance: Lone Star Legal Aid, Department of Defense financial specialists

Veteran Service Organizations: American Legion Post 490, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7109, Fleet Reserve Association Branch 159

“Participating in this resource fair was a meaningful way to honor active-duty, Reserve, Guard and veteran military service,” said LaGaydra Murphy, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) and veteran outreach manager for Dress for Success Houston. “Some of these service members face challenges. By offering a resource fair, organizations helped veterans access career opportunities, financial stability, health care and personal development. I was honored to stand on both sides, as a veteran and as a resource for those who served alongside me.”

For anyone who was unable to attend, details about the participating organizations remain available to ensure continued access to valuable resources.