College Station Pastor One Of 12 Statewide Volunteer Award Recipients

Screen shot from https://www.facebook.com/OnRampTX/
Screen shot from https://www.facebook.com/OnRampTX/

A College Station pastor has received a volunteer award from the state of Texas.

Blake Jennings is the teaching pastor at Grace Bible Church, and the president of the OnRamp charity.

The non profit was created by Jennings and his wife Julie after multiple single mothers came to him five years ago with vehicle problems.

Since then, OnRamp has delivered 51 donated vehicles and provided repairs to another 30. The charity also engages volunteers in both vehicle repair and client care. The organization also partners with more than two dozen local businesses and other charities.

Jennings is among this year’s 12 volunteer award recipients that were announced by First Lady Cecilia Abbott.

Additional information from Governor Abbott’s office:

Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, Honorary Chair of the 2020 Governor’s Volunteer Awards, today announced the recipients of the 37th annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards. These awards — presented in conjunction with OneStar Foundation — honor the exemplary service of individuals, groups, and organizations that have made a significant and measurable contribution to Texas communities through service and volunteering in the past year.

“The irrepressible spirit of service shines brightly in Texas,” the First Lady said. “I am honored to celebrate the extraordinary generosity of these 12 outstanding awardees, who have found selfless and compassionate solutions to strengthen their communities.”

OneStar Foundation was created to support the State of Texas by strengthening the nonprofit sector, encouraging civic engagement through service and volunteering, promoting innovative strategies to address local issues, and facilitating public-private partnerships to expand the reach of the sector. OneStar Foundation is the Governor-designated National Service Commission in Texas and administers the AmeriCorps State grant program. OneStar is also home to Texas’ Faith-Based and Community Initiative. OneStar Foundation connects partners and resources to build a stronger nonprofit sector in Texas. Learn more at onestarfoundation.org.

Pastor Blake Jennings noticed a need in 2015 when multiple single mothers in his College Station congregation came to him with vehicle problems. Blake and his wife Julie created a nonprofit called OnRamp that provides reliable transportation to people in need, setting them on the path to self-sufficiency and enabling them to better care for their families. OnRamp’s impact has been substantial, donating 51 vehicles to date, and repairing approximately 30 more. OnRamp actively engages volunteers in both vehicle repair and client care and partners with more than two dozen local businesses and charitable organizations.