With the help of the entire Harlingen community, what began as a single, small closet more than 25 years ago has now expanded into an entire building.
Harlingen CISD held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new site of the HCISD Clothing Closet on October 6.
The event featured food, games, music, and information booths.
Director of Family and Community Engagement Dr. Jose Luis Cavazos welcomed and thanked guests for attending the fiesta-themed event before introducing Board President Dr. Bobby Muniz.
“Can you imagine this was once just a closet?” Dr. Muniz said. “But look at how much it’s grown. Thank you to our Family and Community Engagement Department and our entire HCISD community for your time and donations. Your efforts have made the clothing closet what it is today. On behalf of the school board, we thank each and every one of you for your commitment to the students and the families of HCISD.”
The goal of the clothing closet is to ensure that every student has clothing, school supplies, and personal hygiene items needed to attend school.
Superintendent Dr. Alicia Noyola spoke to the audience about the impact of the HCISD Clothing Closet.
“The clothing closet has been around for 25 years,” Dr. Noyola said. “Just think of the impact that something like this has on our families and our community. Thank you to our staff, our organizations, and our city of Harlingen, and all its residents for keeping our clothing closet stocked. Thank you to the entire Harlingen Community for the outpouring of love and support for our students across this school district. In HCISD we carry a theme that we are better together and today is an example of that.”
In the last three months, the HCISD Clothing Closet has served more than 1,440 families.
“The event is awesome,” parent volunteer Maria Cardenas said about the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It’s a nice little family get-together.”
Aside from helping families in need, the clothing closet also serves families going through emergencies, disasters, or hardships.
Diana Alvarado was one of the parent volunteers who helped to set up and organize the new closet.
“It’s very nice to help as a volunteer,” Alvarado said. “The clothing closet helps us, but it also helps other parents that may need it.”
The new HCISD Clothing Closet is located at 216 North 21st Street in Harlingen, Texas.
Parent and community volunteers will help to maintain and operate the new location.
The HCISD Clothing Closet is currently in need of shoes and new packs of underwear and socks in all children and adult sizes.
To request clothes and supplies or to donate, contact the Family and Community Engagement Department at 956-427-3515.
