Thanks to grant funding from the Education Foundation of Harris County (EFHC) for the 2026 fiscal year, Waller Independent School District and its initiative to best serve its at-risk student population welcomed new space and new opportunities.

“This grant has been an answered prayer,” said Dr. Dean Guerra, Waller ISD’s liaison for at-risk and highly mobile students. “This CARE Closet has been a dream for so long.”

CARE Closet opened the doors to its new location in September, moving to the Waller ISD’s former administration building and expanding its space to now include multiple rooms filled with clothing, shoes, school supplies, hygiene kits, food toys and other essential items. Before receiving the funding, CARE Closet was confined to a single classroom.

Education Foundation and Partnerships Director Trina Silva joined Guerra, family CARE team member Adela Cornejo and Director of State and Federal Programs Kim Seiley on Nov. 6 for a tour of the facility. Waller ISD received a $10,000 EFHC Partners in Education grant, which provided funding for critical infrastructure including shelving, hangers, wagons and other items to allow for the expansion.

CARE Closet officially opened Sept. 24 and will open once a month throughout the school year. Any family with children enrolled in Waller ISD is eligible to receive clothing assistance and other items. Appointments are available for emergency situations.

Through two dates, the initiative has served 107 students and their families with more than 400 clothing items and 250 hygiene kits.

The CARE team is also personalizing the space for the students it serves and creating a community space. Liaisons are collecting student artwork, working with student artists to decorate the building, and also developing a garden outside the front entrance.

CARE Closet illustrates the impact of an EFHC grant, helping turn a long-held dream into a tangible resource that meets immediate needs, builds community and gives students the support they need to thrive.