Our people, our strength.
The staff members at Metro Relief are a unique group of people who are here to serve you. It is our desire that, from your first contact with our organization, you'll see our passion for our friends living on the streets. Each member of our team serves a very specific role in leadership, outreach, case management and mobilizing volunteers. We are grateful to have the best of the best working together.
Metro Relief Executive Team
Austin Bonds
Founder and CEO/Executive Team
has the relentless passion of Christ behind our mission. With help from others and divine intervention at a very young age, he avoided prison by committing to probation terms, attending college and working in the student cafeteria.
Just before he began classes, tragically, Austin’s mother was brutally murdered in what is still an unsolved case. Four years later, with much determination, he finished his Bachelor’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. Austin moved his growing family to New York City in pursuit of homeless outreach missions. For some years, Austin helped grow operations, which led him to plant Metro Relief in Dallas Fort Worth in 2011 multiplying the impacts of mobile outreach. Austin makes it a consistent priority to help other major cities grow their own mobile outreach programs. Even with the 15-year growth of the Metro Relief team impact in DFW, our CEO Founder can still be found changing oil on an outreach bus or sharing a cup of soup with a soul on the streets. He is growing people who want to help people.
Monica Crishi
Development Director at Metro Relief
grew up in the nonprofit world, spending most evenings, weekends and holidays at the community club or clinic with her mom. Finding fulfillment and motivation here, she knew service would be her life.
Monica enlisted in active duty Army in 2004 at the height of Post 9/11 deployments. She served the Army for four years and then served the Marine Corps for another eight years in family programs. She earned a BS in Medical Studies and MS in Administration. Monica’s best works were in program direction, human resources, and training development. In HR and on Boards, she has grown multiple 501(c)(3) organizations, overseeing fundraising strategy and partnerships for community initiatives. Monica excels at connecting people’s passions to tangible impacts, whether that be donating their time, talent and/or resources. Monica lives in Flower Mound, her birth city, with her big strong husband and two silly dogs.
Jasmine Hutchins
Director of Finance
was originally born in Louisville, then to South Carolina and Florida, and finally moved to Texas in her early teens where she has proudly built her life and career.
Growing up in a military household with a father who served and later became a pastor taught Jasmine the values of discipline, faith, service, and hard work from an early age. She began working in bookkeeping and accounting in college and has since developed a strong passion for helping 501(c)(3) organizations manage and strengthen their financial operations. Jasmine holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her children, her family and friends, and her pitbull Belle, along with traveling and trying new foods.
Stacy Kennedy
Human Resource Director/Assistant to Austin Bonds
moved to Texas from the Finger Lakes region of New York, and right away, she began volunteering with Metro Relief. Seeing and filling a need, Stacy cut hair for our friends on the streets during our bus outreach.
Soon, she began as the bookkeeper and assistant for Austin, setting the stage for our future Finance Director. She has kept a level of organization to Metro Relief operations and to Austin’s momentous calendar through the years. Stacy developed into an experienced mobile case manager, and with holistic strategy, she serves the volunteer team with various added levels of administrative and operational support. Human Resources is only one part of her role in providing resources to humans, as Stacy is also our tech guru, supply manager, warden, janitor, historian, cook, mom, aunt and sister.
Corrie Kern LMSW
Director of Operations
was raised a mobile missionary kid and continues a life following Christ. Corrie earned a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Texas Tech and a Master’s in Social Work and Therapy from University of Texas at Arlington.
Married for almost 30 years, her family travels often with their parents and adult children. Her career began in education, teaching students movement, the Spanish language and topics of health and wellness. AmeriCorps Vista program brought her to grant writing, mobile case management and eventually our director. Corrie has been blessed to volunteer in multiple ministries. She has a heart for the lost and hurting, so she works through Metro Relief to minister to His children.
“You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.” Corrie ten Boom
Dallas/Fort Worth Team
Alex Wendt
Mobile Case Manager
was born and raised in Dallas, TX. She is happily married with two amazing children and enjoys riding motorcycles with her husband all over Texas.
As a teenager and into her adult years, Alex struggled on and off with alcohol and drug addiction. However, she turned her life over to God and has since overcome her struggles. For 13 years, Alex worked as a bartender, but her life transformed when she discovered Metro Relief while completing probationary hours. She fell in love with the volunteer work and the mission. When her community service was over, Metro Relief asked her to stay, and Alex began her career as a mobile case manager in 2022. Alex has a deep compassion for those who struggle with addiction, as it runs in her family. Working with the team at Metro Relief has been a fulfilling experience for her. We all share the same passion for helping those who are truly in need. Alex is grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact in her community.
Amber Allen
Mobile Case Manager
was born and raised in The Colony, Texas. Amber considers herself blessed to be able to assist people to access ID and Birth Certificates, diverting them to drug treatment or sober living, and/or navigating them into a new home.
In her personal life, mental health and drug addiction have been a part of her life since birth. She is glad to know that mental health and drug addictions are beginning to be understood and better managed. Those who face these health problems, maybe who were not aware of it or had no support, now have opportunities to get the help they need. Being able to love on all our friends on the streets is a privilege and a blessing. Amber wouldn't choose any other career path and is thankful to be a part of something so beautiful and rewarding. She has 4 wonderful children Micah 23, Emilia 21, Peyton is 21, and Corbin 11. At home while cooking, cleaning, eating tacos, etc., she loves the sound of her kids playing games or making music.
Dylan Cook
Mobile Case Manager
was born and raised in Wylie, Texas, and was fortunate enough that the game of soccer has taken him all over the world. Dylan played and attended school in both England and Spain and lived with people from many different cultures and walks of life.
The experiences helped give Dylan a more global view. After his playing career came to an end, Dylan was looking for a new purpose and dug into his drive of being a voice for the voiceless. He began volunteering in November of 2023 at Metro Relief and knew immediately that this was something he wanted to do. Dylan makes a huge impact in our communities with his kind eyes, quiet strength, smart follow up, and caring engagement.
Shannon Mays
Mobile Case Manager
has strong people skills that are well aligned with Metro Relief’s outreach and case management work. He has hands-on experience in community engagement, program coordination, and relationship-building through roles with
Big Thought extra curricular programs and the Boys and Girls Club of Dallas basketball, football, and soccer programs. Shannon says his Grandpa is his best friend, and you would probably want his Grandpa as your best friend too. More than half way through a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, he is committed to helping people today and tomorrow. When not working or studying, Shannon loves spending time with family watching sports and playing some basketball or Playstation.
Sarah Grainger
Marketing Coordinator
was raised in Dallas and loves to cook, decorate, throw parties and organize events. She serves on her community’s HOA Social Committee just so she can do all of those things regularly! Sarah enjoys spending time with family, being creative and engaging with dogs of all types.
From an early age, Sarah felt God’s calling and grew up with activities, family and friends all in church. While she never had a family history of divorce, abuse, addictions and tragedies, Sarah found herself today in her mid-40s a widow having experienced abuse and addiction several times. God was rebuilding her and drawing her back to Him and a life of service. Sarah started volunteering on the Metro Relief bus in March of 2024 and immediately connected with the fulfilling experiences! She is honored and overjoyed to be a part of the Metro Relief team. Excited to see what God will do through us!
Professional In Action Volunteers
Ellen Stitzer
Volunteer Coordinator/Events Team
Ellen came from Pennsylvania to the wild west on advice from her father. She spent 45 years in the food industry as a certified chef, restaurant developer and foodie entrepreneur. She has a heart for God, people, travel and seafood. Her daughter and grandson share a home with her and her son and daughter in law live in New York. As an active volunteer in leadership, youth ministry and food pantries she brings a unique skill set to Metro Relief.
Mark Hines
Project Associate - Development Department
Mark grew up all over the country as the child of a US Marine. The family returned to Texas after his dad’s retirement. Mark attended UT Austin and has recently retired from a 40 year career in Municipal Engineering and Public Works.
Mark “got personal” with Jesus in college through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Campus Christian Center at UT Arlington. He has been involved in the bus outreach with Metro Relief and is looking forward to “being God’s hands and feet” to the homeless.
Vivienne Ferrill
Event Associate/Development
I was born and raised in Kansas City. After a brief detour, I have called North Dallas home for the last 30 years. I am a graduate of thr University of Kansas and a retired retail professional from JCPenny. I am part of the People helping People ministry at my church, Friendship Baptist Church of the Colony.
Arlene Baril
Assistant Event Coordinator - Development
Recently retired, Arlene brings a wealth of experience in retail/customer service and assists in the coordinating of our fundraising events.
Bill Gonterman
Finance Office Assistant
Bill is orinally from Michigan and served for 36 years in public accounting. He assists Tammy in our growing financial management tasks and serves as a volunteer on our Outreach Bus
At Metro Relief, Beau is excited to support outreach efforts, connect churches and individuals to the mission, and explore potential national and global partnerships.
Beau and family are presently raising support to join the team at Metro Relief. Please click on DONATE (top right hand corner) and find them in the dropdown list if you would like to support their family.