“They started out by handing out boxes of macaroni and cheese out of the back seat of somebody’s car just trying to serve the neighbors,” CAM Executive Director Martha Burnes said.
CAM officially became a standalone nonprofit in 1990, and 35 years later, it still primarily depends on volunteers, Burnes said.
While its food pantry has always been a staple service, the organization has since expanded to offer:
- Financial assistance for qualified residents of ZIP codes 77065, 77095, 77429 and 77433
- Free employment services through Operation Jobs
- Adult education via GED prep and ESL classes
- Clothing and household goods for those in need
- Seasonal programming for back to school and holidays
“Sometimes, crises happen, and we want to help with that. But we also want to give people the tools so that we don't see them next year,” she said. “And that is the employment services, and the GED prep classes and the English as a second language [classes]. Because if [at] the job you have, you're not making enough money, what do you need to do to get that promotion or be able to bring in more income or get that better job?”
CAM case managers verify the needs of individuals and families seeking assistance covering rent and utility bills and offer financial counseling. Burnes also said CAM never covers the full amount.
“We want people to have a little skin in the game, and even if they don't have the money, we give them other resources that might pledge toward it,” she said.
The nonprofit partners with about 40 local church congregations that help fill the gaps and refer their members who need assistance.
By the numbers
In 2024:
- 586 volunteers provided 37,104 hours of support
- 137 GED and ESL students received 3,839 hours of instruction
- 2,111 students received backpacks and school supplies
- 1.2 million pounds of food was distributed, and 36,105 people were fed
- 665 households were assisted with rent and utilities as well as $18,690 in clothing vouchers
- 1,400 job leads were provided
- 3,515 children received toys at Christmas
While congregations, individuals and other local entities help fund CAM’s services, Burnes said the Angels’ Attic resale shop is the nonprofit’s largest revenue source.
“I don't know anywhere else you can go if you're a new mom and you don't have anything but $10 to dress your baby, you can walk right in here and get four or five baby outfits,” Burnes said. “So, we view it as not just a revenue source, but also a community service.”
To help keep up with demand, CAM is opening a second location of Angels’ Attic this summer in the Willowbrook area.
Other new initiatives include the Gift a Gown prom attire drive which launched in 2024, and a new partnership with the Houston Food Bank’s Food Rx program launching this May.
“The growth in the requests for services has been really significant the last few years. ... Anybody living on a fixed income [whose] grocery bill doubled—they’ve got problems,” Burnes said. “And so, certainly, having enough funding to be able to meet the requests for service is always a worry. And we squeeze pennies until they scream.”
- 12930 Cypress N. Houston Road, Cypress
- www.cypressassistance.org
