Attending the Central Fort Bend Chamber’s “Breakfast in the Bend” is always a powerful reminder of what makes Fort Bend County so special. Held on the first Tuesday of each month, the gathering is one of the Chamber’s signature traditions—a monthly event that spotlights an area nonprofit alongside its host business, drawing community leaders, business owners, and neighbors together in support of a great cause.
One recent program honored Mercy Goods, an organization doing meaningful work by investing in people, creating opportunity, and strengthening lives through craftsmanship, mentoring, and community support. The response was so overwhelming that the event had to be relocated to Gino’s Italian Joint, which stepped up to host a much larger crowd than originally planned.
Mercy Goods was founded in 2017 by Zach and April Lambert to address a real gap: the shortage of job skills and support systems available to at-risk youth in our county. From their workshop and retail space on Morton Street in Richmond, they teach students—many from Lamar CISD—everything from custom carpentry and candle-making to customer service and business operations, paired with one-on-one mentorship. In 2019, they launched Teen Mom Nights to support pregnant and parenting teens on their path to financial independence. In 2025, Mercy Goods became a fully independent 501(c)(3). Their mission is a great example of service in action—helping individuals build skills, confidence, and a path forward.
Thank you to the Central Fort Bend Chamber for consistently bringing our community together, and to Gino’s Italian Joint for stepping in to host such a large and enthusiastic crowd. Mornings like these show the heart of Fort Bend County: people showing up, supporting one another, and working together to make our community stronger.
