About Us

The first president of Charity Guild of Catholic Women was elected and the group adopted its formal name. In 1952, Charity Guild Shop was established as a retail consignment shop staffed and managed by 100% volunteers. First located in the 1600 block of Westheimer, it later moved to a converted gasoline station on Woodhead. By 1960, the Guild received non-profit status, purchased the property at 1203 Lovett, and that year donated $9,000 to children’s charities. And in 1981, annual pledges of $50,000 were established to benefit San Jose Pediatric Clinic. $10,000 was donated to other children’s charity.

In 1990, a capital campaign was launched to raise funds for a new building to be erected on the acquired adjoining Lovett property. With 100 percent of the Guild membership and generous donations from Houston foundations, the money was raised to pay for the new property, and to build the shop at the present location which was completed in 1995.

The next years would bring a dramatic increase in volume of customers, consignors and volunteers with the total annual gross sales reaching $1 million. The Guild decided additional property was desperately needed. In 2004, properties at 1206 Lovett and 3315 Graustark were purchased.

A capital campaign began in the summer of 2004, and the Lovett and Graustark properties soon became parking lots. The second phase of the capital campaign entitled “Building for the Future of a Child” began January 2007, to fund construction of the expansion of our present building onto the Mount Vernon parking lot. Completion is currently scheduled for late 2010.

The Charity Guild continues its legacy of service to the community by supporting numerous organizations that help children, most notably the San Jose Clinic which has had the Guild’s unwavering support for over 85 years. Over the past 10 years alone, the Guild has given approximately $3 million to children’s charities. It continues as an all volunteer organization of dedicated women.

Through the generosity of our members, consignors and benefactors, we have made contributions to Children’s Charities including:

AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc.

Catholic Charities/Foster Children

Christus Foundation for Health Care

Communities in Schools, Houston, Inc.

Covenant House

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

Friends of MHMRA of Harris County

Justice for Children

LifeHouse of Houston, Inc.

L.I.F.E. Local Infant Formula for Emergencies

Salvation Army- Family Residence

San Jose Clinic

SEARCH- House of Tiny Treasures

Spring Branch Community Health Center

Vita Living, Inc.

Active Members 363

Associate Members 97

Emeritus Members 16

Leave of Absence Members 1

Non-resident Members 10

Inactive 5

Provisional Members 49

TOTAL MEMBERS 541

Number of Volunteer Hours Logged for year: 77,952.54

Number of Volunteers: 381 in shop, 410 on Committees

The forerunner of the Charity Guild of Catholic Women began in 1922 when Mrs. Lucian R. Carroll invited a group of Catholic ladies to her home for a luncheon benefiting the growing number of needy children in Houston. With a collection of $59 to establish a “charity fund”, these ladies began their work to help poor children. Soon, this group of Catholic ladies started meeting in private homes to sew layettes for the Mexican Mission Clinic. That original Mexican Mission Clinic has grown into the San Jose Clinic. Guild members also volunteer their time and treasure to help with San Jose’s annual Christmas party and gifts, annual Easter egg hunt, and back-to-school project. A sewing committee continues to present layettes to needy families of newborns.

Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto, Mr. & Ms. Gary Kubiak (coach of the Texans), Bishop Joseph Fiorenza, President 2008-09 Nora Wogan.