There can be a lot of confusion during times like these, both for those directly affected by the disaster and those who feel they can only watch from afar. This discussion will be geared towards helping to guide both anyone IN NEED OF HELP and anyone WANTING TO HELP to the information they might need.
From Chris Church (http://tinyurl.com/y7oxgu4u):
Quoting my friend Suza who goes to great lengths to understand these things well and relay them to others:
MONEY & time are more useful than stuffs right now.
If you need rescue, you can do one or more of these:
Call Texas Coast Guard at 281-464-4851
Call Citizens Rescue Line at 713-881-3100
Go any social media outlet and type: EMERGENCY Rescue [add your location] and type the hashtag symbol (#) followed by HARVEYSOS.
If you are in Houston and wish to volunteer:
http://www.volunteerhou.org/
If you need shelter in Houston, check this map:
http://tinyurl.com/ycpyjovv
Want to Donate?
- Houston Food Assistance: www.houstonfoodbank.org/ - Texas Search and Rescue: http://www.texsar.org/ and https://igivehere.org/TEXSAR - Portlight Inclusive Disaster Strategies: http://www.portlight.org/home.htmlgroup (helps with evacuation of disabled persons during this hurricane) - Texas Diaper Bank: https://texasdiaperbank.networkforgood.com/projects/33717-change-a-life (diapers for shelter groups)
- Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group (CDRG): www.CoastalBendCan.org/CBDRG (a state recognized long-term recovery non-profit group created to address the unmet needs of Coastal Bend area residents affected by disaster. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, areas of the Coastal Bend will no doubt be devastated and long-term recover needs of the under-served population will emerge. Please visit the website to donate. volunteers will be called as needed.
Help in Dallas!
- Volunteers & money donations are needed most in Dallas. * remember that address i gave for dallas hurricane donations? They are overflowing with supplies and need $ to get a bigger warehouse, as well as people to help them sort. The faster it gets sorted, the faster they can send loads of requested items to shelters: https://trustedworld.org/volunteer-opportunities/ - Go out to eat Wednesday, September 6 at any restaurant on this list and they will donate 20% of sales to the hurricane relief efforts in Houston. There are more than 32 restaurants to choose from in Dallas, and new locations are being added to the list each day : https://www.centraltrack.com/announcing-dtx4htx-one-night-citywide-dallas-fundraiser-for-houston/
- Got CERT training? Connect with the Office of Emergency Management or Dallas Cert to volunteer: www.dallascert.org/
Elsewhere and Otherwise:
- After Labor Day, Burners Without Borders- Corpus Christi is setting up a relief station for gifting donations and offering clean-up help. They will also need (sanctuary) mental health support volunteers. Let us know if you want to go volunteer, otherwise you can send money donations via PayPal to: bwbcc0@gmail.com - Volunteers for Corpus Sanctuary sign-up here: http://tinyurl.com/y9u8ns94 - Burners without Borders Houston is working out a plan for volunteers to help. If you are in the area, sign-up here: http://tinyurl.com/y7tufn43