Lions Club of Houston Cy-Fair Spearheads Clothing Drive for CFISD Students in Need
In a concerted effort to serve a lesser known need in the local community, the Houston Cy-Fair Lions Club recently completed an initiative aimed at supporting children across the Cy-Fair ISD (CFISD). At the heart of this initiative was an impactful clothing drive, sparked by a revelation at the Mid-Winter Conference of District 2-S2 Lions held earlier this year.
"At the conference, we learned about a homeless high school student in Montgomery County who had to borrow a dress to attend a scholarship competition," said Sandy Martin, secretary of the local Lions Club chapter. "Her story truly hit home for us, leading us to question if there were more children within CFISD facing similar circumstances."
Living in a car that did not run, this student had just two sets of clothes, which she washed by hand at a local restroom. She received free clothes from her school district's Clothing Closet, a vital support that paved the way for the much-needed dress she wore to the scholarship competition. And this student is one of an alarming number of children in the Greater Houston Area who struggle with the same unmet needs, including right here in the Cy-Fair community.
A Prom Boutique pop-up in CFISD that helps ensure all CFISD seniors After reaching out to CFISD, Martin discovered that there was, in fact, an urgent need for clothing among many students in the district. This was not just an issue for prom season, but a year-round problem.
"We were surprised to find that despite the apparent affluence of the district, there were numerous children lacking proper clothing," Martin revealed. "We knew something had to be done."
Martin proposed a clothing drive, a grassroots initiative that promptly gained traction within the club. Each Lion member was asked to consider spring cleaning their closets and dressers to donate good, usable clothing for children in the district, in addition to awareness and outreach through social media.
"The response from our members and the local community was overwhelming," Martin recalled. "We received not only prom-related clothing but also everyday wear for children of all ages. Seeing our SUV filled to the brim with donations was a moment none of us will forget."
Sandy Martin's SUV stuffed with clothing donations for CFISD students generouslyThe clothing donations, handed over to Ms. Kimberly Hines, Youth Services Specialist at CFISD, were met with gratitude, wagons and people ready to unload and distribute the much-needed attire to children across the district.
"Throughout this endeavor, we've seen firsthand the true meaning of our Lions motto - 'We Serve'," Martin asserted. "We as Lions are committed to stepping up and serving our communities, and we encourage everyone to consider 'helping others' as a life accomplishment."
To learn more about the Houston Cy-Fair Lions Club, visit houstoncy-fairlions.org.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
