University of St. Thomas to Launch Student-Run Foster Care Closet

The University of St. Thomas (UST) is set to launch a new initiative, the Divinity Closet, designed to support foster care, kinship, and adoptive families in the Houston area. The Foster Care Closet, organized by the UST Foster Care Club, will provide free clothes, toys, baby supplies, and other essential items for families facing financial challenges.

The Divinity Closet aims to reduce out-of-pocket costs for families who have taken on the responsibility of fostering children. By offering tangible support, the initiative seeks to make the transition smoother for families, while also fostering a sense of community engagement among UST students.

"The foster closet is designed to be student-run and student-led, so we will have leadership and service opportunities along with the ability to engage with those we are seeking to serve," said Elisa Buroz, Foster Closet Coordinator and UST student. "Part of Catholic social teaching is the call to serve the poor and vulnerable, and the foster closet allows us to do that."

In addition to serving the community, the Divinity Closet offers students a year-round opportunity for leadership, service, and meaningful engagement with the people they serve. It's a unique opportunity for our students to practically live the values of the University and our Catholic faith.

Students, faculty, and community members can participate in four main ways: donating items or funds, sorting donations, working closet shifts, and spreading the word about the initiative. UST encourages the public to donate monetary contributions or gently used clothing to help stock the closet. Additionally, volunteers are needed to help sort donations and serve families during designated closet hours.

The closet will officially open on October 25, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at 1204 Colquitt and foster families from across Houston are invited to attend. The club is advertising the grand opening through local foster care networks and social media and is working to expand its outreach by partnering with organizations such as the Riverside Project, an Archdiocesan Foster Care Organization.

Foster families visiting the Divinity Closet will be required to bring placement paperwork from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for verification.

Volunteers are also encouraged to sign up for shifts to assist in both sorting donations and welcoming foster families as they shop for necessities. Anyone interested in contributing can email the Foster Care Club at [email protected] or participate in donation drives held at Sunday Masses once a month.